Does Ridgewood have a chance to become the second Greenpoint? Residents and business owners say that considering the number of the number of Polish people it’s just like Greenpoint. They stress however that Ridgewood is the better representation of Polish in New York, which is new immigrant-friendly, safe and attracting youth.

Along Forrest Avenue and Pond Road, Polish language can be heard on every corner. There are associated with names of Polish businesses, mainly restaurants and stores with imported products: Kefirek, Krolewskie Jadlo, Taste of Europe II, Kredens, Polska Ksiegarnia, Europa Deli. So it’s not a surprise that more and more Polish people are moving to Ridgewood.

Greenpoint Getting Americanized

“Ridgewood’s real estate market is much better and that’s why Polish immigrants prefer to buy real estate here. For less money than in Greenpoint you can rent a nice or decent size apartment, [and] quite large,” says Dominik Piechowicz, the owner of a newly opened restaurant, Taste of Europe II. He said that only three years ago there weren’t as many Polish businesses here. Increasing numbers of young and independent people with young children are moving to Ridgewood. “Greenpoint is not the same as it was years ago. It has Americanized and is becoming increasingly expensive,” stresses Pichowicz, who has been living on Forest Avenue for the past six years.

Cleaner and Safer

Grzegorz Mejer, a long-time resident in Ridgewood, says he likes it there better than in Greenpoint. “It’s cleaner and safer. Maybe there isn’t enough business yet, but it’s just a matter of time before they open,” he adds.

“Polish people make up the majority of our clients. They are mainly young married couples with children. They are often new immigrants to the United States, or someone who want to move away from Greenpoint, because it’s too expensive for them,” explains Edyta from Werba Realty, adding that the number of Polish residents is growing.