5. Sheepshead Bay has one of the largest Eastern European populations in NYC
Many New Yorkers would point to Brighton Beach as the epicenter of Eastern European life and culture, though nearby Sheepshead Bay also has a significant Eastern European population, made up of many people who arrived after the Holocaust and during the last two decades of the Soviet Union. Significant immigration from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan began in the 1970s. At the time, rents were reasonable for Brooklyn, and many cultural centers were already in place in Brighton Beach. Another wave of immigrants settled in the area after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Today, much of this history is still retained in the people, shops, and cultural centers of Sheepshead Bay. Baku Palace is a restaurant and banquet hall serving Azerbaijan cuisine on Emmons Avenue, just down the road from NetCost Market, which has a large selection of Eastern European items. Nargis Cafe, a staple of Brighton Beach, recently moved to Sheepshead Bay along the main stretch of Sheepshead Bay Road, offering a wide selection of Uzbek specialties. Vanka Cafe is a popular restaurant specializing in Russian fare on Nostrand Avenue. There are also a handful of Georgian places in Sheepshead Bay, including Pirosmani, Apani, and Tasty Spot.