Pete's Candy Store

Pete's Candy Store is a narrow Williamsburg storefront bar that has been a fixture of Brooklyn's independent music scene for well over a decade. Up front it is a cozy neighborhood bar; toward the back, past a long hallway, it opens into a small room with a low stage, string lights and church-pew seating that has hosted countless touring and local acts.

Atmosphere and Setting

The back room at Pete's is famously tiny, which is exactly its appeal — there is no bad seat, and performers play just a few feet from the crowd. It is a listening room in miniature, favoring original songwriting over background noise, and the space has become genuinely beloved among New York City's singer-songwriter community.

Sunday Open Mic

Every Sunday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (sign-up from 4:00 PM), host Bruce Martin runs Pete's long-running open mic. The night is built specifically around original material rather than cover songs, giving performers a place to test new songs in front of a genuinely attentive room. A keyboard stand and an aux cable for backing tracks are available, but there is no house band or drum kit, so performers should plan to bring their own instrument. Over the years the open mic has served as an early stage for a number of acts who went on to build touring careers, and it remains one of the more respected songwriter nights in the borough.

Other Programming

Outside of the Sunday open mic, Pete's books a steady calendar of indie, folk and singer-songwriter shows through the week, along with occasional comedy and spoken-word nights, keeping the small back room busy most nights of the week.

Good to Know

Pete's Candy Store is located at 709 Lorimer Street in Williamsburg, within walking distance of both the Lorimer Street (L) and Metropolitan Avenue (G) subway stations. The venue is 21 and over, and the open mic draws a loyal crowd of regulars, so arriving close to the 4:00 PM sign-up time is a good idea for a guaranteed slot.