The Bean opened its Williamsburg store today in the swank 101 Bedford complex at the corner of Bedford and North 11th. Full disclosure: we’re tapped into its free WiFi right now. It’s the chain’s first store outside of the East Village, but you’ll find some EV touches as soon as you (and your dog) step inside, in the form of a tiled entryway by Mosaic Man“Mosaic Man” Jim Power and, in the far corner, a wall painting by Nicolina and Walker Fee.
According to the Mosaic Man, his latest work — featuring New York Harbor, the Williamsburg Bridge, and a hot air balloon — is titled “Bean Tree Comes to Brooklyn.” He tells us via Facebook: “TRY THIS WORHOLE, PICASO, AND ALL THE OTHERS………INDEPENDANT IE……………..RAW VISION …ENGLAND………VICE MAD…..CLAYTON PATTERSON…….MOSAIC MAN……” Oh, and: “NO STENCILED SIGNS HERE..LIKE STAR DUCKS.”
The menu (which includes plenty of vegan and gluten-free options) is pretty much identical to the East Village one, with organic juices, smoothies, pastries and bagels, wraps, coffee drinks made with beans roasted by Brooklyn longtimer Gillies Coffee Co., and signature drinks like the Dirty Chai (a chai latte with espresso) and the NutElla Fitzgerald, “a fine romance of espresso, Nutella and milk” that’s illustrated with a drawing of Ella on the chalkboard menu.
With seating for about 60, this fourth location may well be the airiest of them all, with spinning fans and big windows that get a lot of sun (the sidewalk benches are on their way). Oh, and lots of Edison bulbs. This is Williamsburg, after all.
We overheard a building resident inquiring about hours (“I teach at SoulCycle and have an early class to get to,” she said). They’re open from 7 a.m. to midnight daily.