Red Hook has a large IKEA store (346,000 square feet (32,100 m²)) that opened on June 18, 2008, near the Gowanus Expressway.
The building of IKEA was controversial.
Opponents cited concerns including traffic congestion, a decrease in property values and destruction of this transit-oriented neighborhood and historically significant buildings in the area.
Brooklyn artist Greg Lindquist exhibited a group of paintings in February 2008 in New York City that depicted the IKEA site in process, juxtaposing the maritime decay with the new construction.

As part of the IKEA development, a number of Civil War era buildings were demolished and the Red Hook graving dock, a 19th-century dry dock at 40°40′19.2″N 74°0′47.5″W still in use, was filled in and leveled for use as a parking lot.
 A Maritime Support Services Location Study by the New York City Economic Development Corporation found that New York City needed eight more dry docks.
According to the report, it would cost $1 billion to replace the one sold to IKEA, although no schedule for replacement was announced.
In addition, IKEA's contractor was found to be in "violation for not having filed asbestos work, failing to monitor the air, not posting warnings, failure to construct decontamination protections before disturbing the asbestos-containing materials, and doing nothing to protect and decontaminate the material, as well as the workers and building waste."

A once-free ferry service for shoppers from Manhattan proved more popular than expected.
Though weekday ferry tickets start from $5, passengers who make purchases of over $10 can get a $5 ferry credit toward the cost of the shuttle ticket.
The ferry, operated by New York Water Taxi, is still free on weekends.
Red Hook has a large IKEA store (346,000 square feet (32,100 m²)) that opened on June 18, 2008, near the Gowanus Expressway. The building of IKEA was controversial. Opponents cited concerns including traffic congestion, a decrease in property values and destruction of this transit-oriented neighborhood and historically significant buildings in the area. Brooklyn artist Greg Lindquist exhibited a group of paintings in February 2008 in New York City that depicted the IKEA site in process, juxtaposing the maritime decay with the new construction.
As part of the IKEA development, a number of Civil War era buildings were demolished and the Red Hook graving dock, a 19th-century dry dock at 40°40′19.2″N 74°0′47.5″W still in use, was filled in and leveled for use as a parking lot.  A Maritime Support Services Location Study by the New York City Economic Development Corporation found that New York City needed eight more dry docks. According to the report, it would cost $1 billion to replace the one sold to IKEA, although no schedule for replacement was announced. In addition, IKEA's contractor was found to be in "violation for not having filed asbestos work, failing to monitor the air, not posting warnings, failure to construct decontamination protections before disturbing the asbestos-containing materials, and doing nothing to protect and decontaminate the material, as well as the workers and building waste."
A once-free ferry service for shoppers from Manhattan proved more popular than expected. Though weekday ferry tickets start from $5, passengers who make purchases of over $10 can get a $5 ferry credit toward the cost of the shuttle ticket. The ferry, operated by New York Water Taxi, is still free on weekends.
Red Hook, Brooklyn