The Awesome Brooklyn Story
The beginnings
Awesome Brooklyn began in 2017 with a simple idea: create a neighborhood shop filled with things that make you think, “this place is AWESOME!” Founder Vanessa Raptopoulos opened the store after becoming a mom to her daughter Athena, hoping to build a business that allowed her to spend more time with family while creating something meaningful for the community she loved.
Growing Awesome
What started as a small gift shop on Flatbush Avenue quickly became a neighborhood staple, a colorful and welcoming space filled with gifts, cards, balloons, toys, home goods, and so much more.
As Awesome Brooklyn grew, so did the vision behind it. In 2022, we opened Awesome Home, expanding into furniture, décor, and larger home goods. Then in 2024, our original shop found a new home inside the larger Awesome Home space, bringing the entire Awesome Brooklyn experience back together under one roof at 653 Flatbush Avenue.
Where we are now
Today, Awesome Brooklyn is more than a store. We love hosting all kinds of events in our backyard and basement, creating spaces for neighbors, families, artists, and friends to gather together. Awesome has always valued connection and community more than the swipe of a card. We want to be the kind of place where you come in for one thing and leave with something unexpected, like a new favorite candle, a last-minute gift, plans for an upcoming event, or a meaningful conversation with a neighbor. That feeling of discovery, connection, and leaving a little happier than when you walked in is what Awesome Brooklyn has always been about.
YOU are Awesome
We are endlessly grateful to the community that has supported us from the very beginning. Many of you have become familiar faces and friends over the years, and that is what makes this place truly Awesome to us. We hope to keep bringing you lots of Awesome things – events, products, conversations, and fun, for many years to come.
xx,
Vanessa & the Awesome Team