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By Matthew Perlman
Brooklyn Daily
It is going to be smooth skating for Brooklyn Heights and Gowanus.
The Manhattan-based skin-care retail chain Kiehl’s Since 1851 is opening its first Brooklyn location on Jan. 31 with a skateboarding clinic and a gift to a beloved park.“I love Brooklyn,” said Kiehl’s president Chris Salgardo. “There’s so many cool neighborhoods you could put a store in.”
It took five years of scouting to settle on the corner of Montague and Henry Streets, Salgardo said.
“It reminds me of the Village,” Salgardo said, referring to Brooklyn Heights.
Kiehl’s makes and sells so-called “natural” beauty products such as moisturizing lotion and prides itself on its simple packaging. Its flagship store opened 163 years ago as a pharmacy in Manhattan and the Heights store will be its 59th.
The company hopes to buy some borough goodwill with a $5,000 gift to the Friends of Douglass Greene Park, the Gowanus group that maintains Gowanus’ Double D pool and Thomas Greene Playground. The greens space stewards appreciate the cash.
“It’s wonderful that a company like Kiehl’s is doing this,” said Sue Wolfe, president of the park advocacy group. “Small businesses are the life blood of our community.”
Kiehl’s is also trying to spread the skin-care love in the skateboarding community, which is known for its skin-care needs but not for seeking high-end treatment, with a free wood-pushing clinic at its opening.
Skateboarding happens to be a passion of Salgardo’s and his store will also be handing out passes for thrashing lessons at Cobble Hill’s Homage Skateshop.
“It’s a really fun way for us to bring people out,” Salgardo said. “And it’s symbolic of our love and celebration of adventure.”
He makes the case that having the right healing cream is even more important for danger devotees.
“I skate; I surf; I ride a motorcycle,” Salgardo said. “If you’re going to do these things, you’ve got to have the right products.”
“At least wear some sunscreen,” he added.
The new Brooklyn outpost will feature vintage scientific instruments, a teaching skeleton called “Mr. Bones,” and a digital skin diagnostic tool that recommends Kiehl’s products based on a skin scan.Kiehl’s Since 1851 store opening (124 Montague St. at Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights). Jan. 31, 4–5 pm. Free.