It wasnt a tourist place as now and happen to be you misinformed, 70 years ago or even 50 years ago crown heights wasn't a tourist place maybe 30 years ago its started, chabad weren't accepted by most of the world ,thats started to change in the late 80's , besides in the 70's crown heights was like boro park these days ,Chabad was a small percent of crown heights it was a mix of all kind of people till people that wasn't chabad was kicked out or left , my grandfather not chabad lived there till mid 90's not chabad, i remember the place well back then
Besides chabad people are more into fres and spend on it then litvish in lakewood or any other place , they definitely have a strong base clientele from crown heights , no restaurant any where can ussualy liveout of tourists