Social Geography

Physical Boundaries: from Ocean Parkway on the west to West End Avenue on the east, from the Belt Parkway on the north to the Atlantic Ocean on the south.

Transportation Infrastructure: The B and Q train lines, and the B1 and B68 bus lines can be taken at Brighton 5th and 7th streets. The B49 can be taken at the edge of Brighton Beach, where the neighborhood meets Manhattan Beach.

Commercial Hub(s): The Brighton Beach/Coney Island Avenue intersection is constantly flooded with cars from below and trains from above, crowded grocery stores, and popular clothing shops. The Riegelmann Boardwalk, a principal focus of Brighton Beach history, invites elderly Russians to converse on the benches, bikers and joggers to get some great exercise, and youths to enjoy fine dining at the Tatiana and Winter Garden restaurants.

Demographics: Past and Present

In many ways Brighton Beach was and still is one of the principal sites of “Old World” immigration, due to the first wave of settlers in the latter stages of the nineteenth and early twentieth century: the Russian Jews. We mention this immigration as “first wave” because Jewish settlement from the 1930’s on took a markedly different form. At the turn of the century, America was faced with the daunting and imposing force of terrible international relations, which manifested itself most violently during WWI. The war’s end was also the end of an era in Brighton. With its hotels losing money and its racetrack destroyed, Brighton morphed into an ideal summer hot spot filled with bungalows for rent that attracted Jews from the inner city.
But the glorious days of the “Roaring Twenties” were short lived, as the Great Depression hit common folk hard all throughout the country. Subsequently, Brighton became overcrowded with Jewish families desperately searching for housing. And when WWII came to a close, the issue of overpopulation was still a serious one for Brighton, but for an entirely different and more gruesome reason. Holocaust survivors, mainly from Poland, were flocking to Brighton in huge numbers and, like their Jewish brethren in the 1930’s, were seeking refuge. This residential change was illustrated quite clearly: Brighton’s train line, which once served 500,000 people, was now a beacon of transportation for millions.
Then, as crime rates increased in places such as Brownsville and East Flatbush, Jews within Brooklyn were looking to Brighton for solace and prosperity. Housing projects were created, and Brighton was rapidly transitioning into the second largest senior citizen community in the U.S. Unfortunately, an old population was unsustainable, and by 1975 Brighton had a 30 percent vacancy rate. Thankfully, a year later, efforts by community groups to attract Soviet Jewish settlers succeeded, as Russian immigrants were able to draw on similarities between Brighton and their native home (these included the boardwalk and the beach).
Today’s Brighton retains this Russian Jewish presence, but the concept of religion is a debatable one and its relevance even more contentious. The WWII generation, on the whole, is proud of its Jewish heritage, and continues to frequent synagogues. The educated youth and working class, on the other hand, have given in to secularization, and seem to be fascinated by Brighton’s nightlife more than its rich Jewish culture. Young Russian Jews are partial to Americanization and assimilation, things which their parents and grandparents found difficult to embrace. The youth, represented by American born Jews and recent migrants from Russia, have a distinct understanding of progress, and see Brighton Beach as a sort of “starting off point” in a greater journey of achieving their dreams. Older Jews, still living in a traditional context, are often unable to come to terms with this notion of change, and therein lays a deep-rooted social divide. But, as we see today, it is not the only gap among peoples.
Russian Jews, whether foreign or native born, are currently jockeying with a growing Asian and Latin American presence in Brighton Beach. Grocery stores have become havens for Hispanic labor, and both the Chinese and Pakistanis have taken to capitalism well, opening up small shops and restaurants. With the WWII generation quickly dying off, and youths distancing themselves from the neighborhood’s history, Brighton Beach might gradually lose its title of “Little Odessa.” Naturally, Russians have apprehensions about such changes, and we have seen fear manifest itself in the form of bitter racism. But regardless of the outcome over the next twenty years, we can agree that the demographical adjustments throughout Brighton Beach’s history are representative of greater trends within a city that is constantly shifting and diversifying.

Historical Information

Initially, Brighton Beach was part of a larger village known as Gravesend that also included Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, and Sea Gate. In the 1860’s, as developers were arriving to this part of the Big Apple, a once dormant community suddenly began to modernize. Brighton was first developed around 1869 by entrepreneur William A. Engeman, who founded it upon the English beach town of the same name. In that year, Engeman helped build Brighton’s first neighborhood pier, and eventually followed this with the Ocean Hotel in 1871 and bathing facilities in 1878. It was in that year, of course, that government officials and developers agreed on the construction of a railroad system, which stretched from Brighton Beach to Flatbush, and ended at Coney Island.	Mira Mar apartments and boardwalk, June 10, 1932
Thus, at the turn of the century, Brighton Beach was moving in lockstep with its sister neighborhoods in terms of industrialization. This was progressive change, and the pattern of constant improvement continued during the Progressive Era, when the New Brighton Theater (1909)—a vaudeville establishment—was erected. It was also during this time that swathes of tourists from other parts of the city migrated to Brighton, yearning for recreation and relaxation. To accommodate these travelers, builders formed 30 six-story apartment buildings, and extended the Brighton Beach boardwalk. Both sites are still present to this day, and serve as vivid memories of a lively and colorful past.	At picturesque Brighton, young people gather on a Brighton breakwater, July 8, 1912.
Commonly recognized as “Little Odessa” for its effervescent Soviet Jewish population, Brighton Beach has become a staple for homogeneity. Prior to the 1970’s, this form of immigration was not extremely significant, but due to a lax détente policy with the USSR and improved trade agreements between the Americans and Soviets, “the doors were opened wide” so to speak. And while Soviet Jews must contend with relatively recent immigrants from China, India, Pakistan, and Central America, they still retain a dominant presence in the community. Quite possibly, the area once home to racetracks and theaters will one day house exotic food markets and upbeat Latin music. But for now, we must let history decide, as it did almost 200 years ago.	Present-day Brighton, underneath the subway line

Points of Interest

The Millenium Theater, previously known as the Oceana Theater, houses Russian film, dancing, and singing productions, and always attracts hundreds of elderly Russian Jews during the late afternoons and evenings. Entertainers from Ray Charles to Jackie Mason have performed here, and new stars continue to emerge each year. For more information including performances and dates, go to http://www.theatremillennium.com/index.php.
For bustling nightlife attractions, there is the National restaurant, which has elaborate performances and decorative banquet arrangements. The Restaurant is an extension of the International Food Deli, the oldest international deli on Brighton Beach. The two establishments are located right across the street from each other. The restaurant takes up two floors, and like many Russian restaurants in the area, also serves as a nightclub. The floorshow is beautiful, and the music is fantastic though often loud. For more pictures and menu information, please go to http://come2national.com
Finally, and probably most essential in terms of social interactions, is the Brighton Neighborhood Association (BNA). Founded in 1977 by Pat Singer, this community service establishment assists the impoverished and feeble, and helps Russian, Hispanic, and other newcomers adjust to life in Brighton Beach. We had the privilege of speaking with Ms. Singer, and were touched by her magnanimous commitment to her neighbors and her community. We strongly feel that her description of Brighton Beach as having “a small town feel” will resonate with you as it has with us over the past eighteen years. For information regarding the summer bazaar organized by the association, or any service programs, go to http://www.brightonbeach.com.	Ms. Singer is on the right

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