A hug in a mug: Meet the family behind NAKO’s new Carroll Gardens coffee shop
After finding success with their first location in Brooklyn Heights, NAKO is bringing its community-centered coffee shop to Carroll Gardens, officially opening its doors at the corner of Smith and 3rd Streets on November 9.
For owners Okan and Ekaterina Harman, the new location is especially close to home. Okan's sister and fellow NAKO partner, Ayten, lives in Carroll Gardens with her husband and young daughter. With two young families behind the business, opening a cafe in their own neighborhood feels like a natural next chapter.
After welcoming larger crowds than anticipated at their Brooklyn Heights location, the team saw an opportunity to spread their creative wings with a second, more spacious spot. The Carroll Gardens space brings together natural materials and layered textures, from wood and marble to concrete and stone, alongside playful lighting and an outdoor area.
The result is a warm, calming space designed to help neighbors slow down from the bustle of city life and enjoy what the team calls a “hug in a mug.”
“We’re two young growing families excited to make a place for the families and neighbors here.” — Okan Harman, Co-Owner of NAKO
Coffee remains at the heart of NAKO, with a selection of European roasters offering a variety of flavors. And one particularly exciting piece they’re bringing from their original location is a rotating local art program featuring new artists every two months. From painting and photography to poetry, the initiative aims to give local creatives a platform to share their work while bringing fresh energy into the space. The team also hopes to eventually host pop-ups in the garage space next door, creating even more opportunities to spotlight local artists and small businesses.
At its core, NAKO is about good coffee, creativity, and community. With its newest location, the family hopes to create more than just a café: a welcoming space where neighbors can slow down, connect, discover local art, and feel right at home.
NAKO officially opens November 9 at 385 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens.
Here’s what’s happening this week:
✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨
Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party: Spike Lee and Clara Wu Tsai are bringing a two-day film festival to BAM on November 6–7, featuring a special screening of Crooklyn with a cast reunion, plus appearances from Questlove, John Turturro, and more. Don’t miss the free community block party outside BAM on Saturday, November 7! Learn more.
Popular bakery & cafe Winner is opening its 6th Brooklyn outpost this week at 378 Schermerhorn Street between 3rd Avenue and Flatbush. Coffee, pastries, breads, sandwiches, and takeout rotisserie chicken dinners will be available, with a full dining room coming soon!
Ice skating season is almost here! Roebling Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park officially opens Saturday, November 14, with free admission for the first two skating sessions! Celebrate with holiday movie screenings, family-friendly crafts, festive performances, and more. Free skating tickets are limited, so be sure to reserve yours in advance!
Goodbye, sidewalk trash bags! NYC is installing over 700 new trash containers across Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, DUMBO, and surrounding neighborhoods to help keep streets cleaner and rats away. The trade-off? Around 768 parking spaces will be replaced by bins. The rollout is expected to finish by the end of fall.
Octavia Coffee is temporarily closed following a reported incident in which a customer fell through a sidewalk vault outside the coffee shop last week.
I feel like I can’t walk down Court Street lately without spotting something new! It’s always exciting to see what’s coming to the neighborhood.
This weekend, I’m looking forward to checking out Spike Lee’s event at BAM and connecting with more local business owners. Lots of exciting stories in the works that I can’t wait to share with you soon!
See you around the neighborhood!
Shannon
Neighborhood Job Board 📌
This week’s featured openings include several new roles at BRIC in Downtown Brooklyn, a Part-Time Retail Sales Associate at Collier West in Boerum Hill, and a Content & Marketing Manager at RecCreate Collective in Clinton Hill, plus dozens of other opportunities across Brooklyn and beyond.
Browse this week’s Neighborhood Jobs
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Our Top Picks
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!
Join us this weekend!
Cobble Hill Fit Club Is Back! Join us on Sunday, November 8 at 1:00pm at Studio Pilates Cobble Hill for an afternoon of movement, coffee, and community! We’ll kick things off with a 40-minute reformer Pilates class, followed by coffee, light bites, and time to mingle with fellow neighbors. All levels are welcome, and complimentary grip socks will be provided! Tickets are $20, with limited spots left. Grab your spot here!
Today, November 5:
Art Print Swap Pizza Party @ Ziggy’s Roman Cafe (6:30pm-9:00pm): Join artist Bianca Bosso for an evening of pizza, drinks, and creativity! Mingle with fellow art lovers through a fun icebreaker where you’ll guess the food ingredients depicted on each other’s illustrated mini prints, then trade them to build your own collection. Finish by coloring and personalizing your prints with tips from Bianca. No drawing experience needed!
House Party @ BKCM (7:00pm-11:00pm): Brooklyn Conservatory’s annual House Party returns, bringing 30+ artists, local food vendors, karaoke, and live music across the organization’s space. General Admission and VIP tickets now on sale with a special discount for first-timers!
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Two New Spots Coming to Court Street: We spotted signs for two new food concepts headed to the neighborhood, including a gluten-free kitchen and a popular pop-up putting down permanent roots!
Private Equity Under the Microscope: New legislation could shed light on private equity’s impact on NYC small businesses, including two familiar neighborhood names.
More Weekend Fun: From a three-day folk festival to a local makers market in DUMBO, we’ve rounded up more ways to spend your weekend!
