Monday, February 27, 2012
Chain Stores in Forest Hills
In case you haven't heard or noticed, the Body Shop (71-03 Austin
St between 71st Ave and 71st Rd.) has closed. That, and a lunch at Chipotle in Manhattan over
the weekend, had me wondering what other chains readers of the blog would like to see open in Forest Hills? Chipotle is my pick right off the bat. I'm sure I can come up with others. Maybe Bed, Bath and Beyond (I know it's close in Rego Park, but it would be great to have either that or something like it right here on Austin.) What would you like to see open here? The floor is open...
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J Crew, Crate and Barrel, and definitely Chipotle!
ReplyDeleteChipotle and Whole Foods! And while we're at it, I do miss having a Wendy's around...
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a Wendy's on 71st, but they closed and Subway popped up in its place instead.
DeleteI know :(. Subway is healthier but when I want junk food, I think Wendy's is way better than McDonald's.
Deleteme too! I was sad to see Wendy's disappear. It's so much better than McD's or BK. I remember when Roy Rogers used to be there before Wendy's. That was the best!
DeleteWhole Foods and an Apple store! You can request a store on the Whole Foods website btw...
ReplyDeleteWhole Paycheck and Apple wont be coming to FH anytime soon unless their is a drastic demographic change in the hood.
ReplyDeleteI am curious...what kind of change? The area certainly has people who have plenty of disposable income.
DeleteEh, I agree with the reply. I'd say in a neighborhood with a slew of million plus homes on the north side and multi-million plus homes on the south side, surrounded by million dollar homes up to a half mile away from queens blvd, then surrounded by minimum half million dollar homes up to a mile away, with million dollar apartments as well would probably have enough disposable income to sustain a whole foods. Plus the baby clothing store on Austin that sells hundred dollar euro trash baby clothes is still open so a bunch of people must love wasting money in this neighborhood (baby clothes tend be be worn only a couple of times until they get to toddler sizes). Don't believe me? Try buying a house in this neighborhood. Sigh. Or at least try counting the number of Acuras, Lexus, BMWs, Infinities, Audis, Cadillacs and Mercedes in the neighborhood. I'd call that disposable income.
Delete"Their" should've been "there", autocorrect always screws up.
ReplyDeleteChipotle! Yes!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Express in the area.
ReplyDeleteThey should put a Casino in Forest Hills. Especially with Cuomo wanting to legalize gambling.
ReplyDeleteAustin Street is way too crowded for subpar shopping and little stores. There is always constant turnover.
Still loads of empty spaces and some small scale construction projects in the works.
I think there may be a Whole Foods popping up where the old St. John's Hospital was (across from Queens Center Mall). A two-floor supermarket is supposed to be going there. I don't know of any two-floored supermarkets besides Whole Foods. My speculation only though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other reply to this. I think most of Forest Hills residents will love and can certainly afford a Whole Foods and items at an Apple store....
ReplyDeletewhat's the difference between Whole Foods and Natural food store, as far as quality or price goes?
ReplyDeleteBoth stores are waay overpriced on their produce. Can you even tell the difference between organic and non organic?
No to Whole Foods and Apple.
Yes to Chipotle and something else that's not burgers.
Whole Foods would offer many more choices than Natural. They would also have a fish dept. They would sample their items from time to time. And while it is a personal choice, yes I do see and taste a difference on certain organic foods. They definitely have the money to expand-their stock is doing very well.
DeleteI can't tell the difference between organic and non organic food. But I do know that i don't want synthetic hormones added to the milk and meat I feed my baby, nor do I want her to ingest pesticides at such a young age. There had been some studies on the effect of growth hormones added to cows that make milk and early puberty in girls. It's not so much about quality as it is being able to choose what you don't want to put into your family's bodies. All of the other mothers I know in the neighborhood make the same choices. And for the record, the produce at Keyfood is horrible! I've had to search for a long time to find something without mold. I pay a premium at Natural just to buy produce that isn't rotting. Most of the time I just get fresh direct since I can't be bothered with hunting down fresh produce. I highly doubt a whole foods would keep their stock as subpar as Keyfood
DeleteI would be absolutely thrilled if Trader Joe's would add another branch closer to Queens Blvd, but they don't usually place multiple branches in the same town. So, I'd also be happy if we could have a branch of Fairway, Zabar's or Whole Foods open near Queens Blvd. In fact, I'd settle for any new supermarket that is NOT part of the Key Food monopoly! It would just be incredibly helpful to have any type of Green Market or Farmer's Market nearby, it could even be a weekend event, as opposed to an actual retail store. We could also desperately use some type of live music cafe or venue. We have loads of pubs and restaurants near Queens Blvd, but almost none have any live music offered.
ReplyDeleteChipotle would be a great idea. Would also be happy if Banana Republic had a bigger space. Their men's section is really sad. The current Gap location would be great for BR in terms of space. Speaking of which, I don't know how the Gap on Austin survives. It's almost always empty and their selection is rather bizarre. Sometimes they only have three items of a new product. Really odd. And while we're at it, I am surprised Edie Bauer is still on Austin. That store seems like a mid-90s relic.
ReplyDeleteI know who shops there???? BR has to rethink the clothing selections. So boring and lame compared to other BR stores. Even the one at Queens Mall has a more stylishly curated selection. FOHI is not the midwest. Thank you.
DeleteI'd like the Blockbuster back. Also, an Olive Garden or Trader Joes would be great too.
ReplyDeleteTrader Joe's doesn't need to.
ReplyDeleteThey just need to reactivate the existing train line or just take the bus.
I am glad Blockbuster is gone. Don't want it back. I like having a Schwab branch in town.
ReplyDeleteStill plenty of vacant retail spots in town including the former S+B Mens Warehouse, Mandees and Annie Sez space though its rumored someone filled the space but Im not sure.
Seriously, it would just be nice to have the vacant spots filled....
ReplyDeleteBilinguals Inc is moving to the former Mandee's/Annie Sez 2nd floor space.
ReplyDeleteChipotles to replace that Mexican place near the LIRR next to McDonald's. JCrew. Whole Foods. Apple store.
ReplyDeleteNatural and Whole Foods and those stores may be overpriced, but at least their produce is edible. Look at the stuff that Key Food tries to peddle. Half the time, it's already starting to rot and at times, they've sold expired goods.
Express, Crate and Barrel, and Chipotle would be great.
ReplyDeleteFor dining, Chipotle, Hale & Hearty, Au Bon Pain, or Cosi.
ReplyDeleteFor clothing, a footwear store.
For other stuff, how about a wedding studio.
For dining, La Pain Quitodien.
ReplyDeleteFor clothing, Ralph Lauren store.
A Nordstrom Rack would be great in the Mandee's spot. I bet they would do really well in Forest Hills. Crate and Barrel or CB2 would be nice.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea! A Sur La Table would be nice too-but now I am dreaming. Might as well ask for an Eataly while I am at it...
DeleteOMG, Eataly! That would be heaven. Never going to happen, but it would make me a very happy camper!!!
DeleteA Beer Garden at the very least would be cool.
DeleteApple in the Annie Sez/Mandee's spot, Wendy's by empty space next to Key Food on Yellowstone, a Toys R Us (express) maybe?
DeleteHow about a Gloria Pizza place open by where Gloria Pizza is????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jamba Juice, Hale & Hearty and Atomic Wings. These three chains would be very beneficial to the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteEverything from B&N west on the South side of Austin should be blighted. Put in an upscale hotel with one or two good restaurants and a club. No chain stores, they push up the rents which hurts the local small retailers. Get rid of half the banks on Continental and half of the salons on Austin. Don't worry about filing the empty stores, as long as there are many of them, rents will come down and creative businessmen/women will come around eventually.
ReplyDeleteK
I think the entire shopping area along Austin Street and 71st Ave is a disgrace. The area is littered with debris, the storefronts are ugly and unappealing, the streetscape and landscape are unattractive, and gangs of kids make it their local hang-out. We first need to clean up this area and force shopkeepers to pay into the BID. We need to get the Chamber of Commerce to beautify our landscape and we need to get the local police to disperse the gangs.
ReplyDeleteWhy would you want a Chipotle over Marianella's?
ReplyDelete1. Williams-Sonoma
ReplyDelete2. J. Crew
3. Chipotle
4. Red Bamboo (Vegan restaurant in the village)
5. Nicholas Tee (madeinforesthills.com) <- check it! ;)
One word: ANTHROPOLOGIE. I would be spending money there in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteJcrew, Chipotle, any Frozen Yogurt Store!!!
ReplyDeleteNot for anything, I am tired of Chain Stores!!!! There are very few unique places anymore. Are you not tired of GAP, McDONALDS, BLAH, BLAH and BLAH. Give me something NEW and Unique. The French Bakery is great.
ReplyDeleteForest Hills Needs more mom and pops. Those who like chain stores must love the Variety Store that opened up.
How about new and upcoming designers like it Soho. Just something that it is not corporate.
We don't need a Jamba Juice, we have Ripe.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need a Chipotle, we have Marianella's.
We don't need a Bed Bath and Beyond, we have Laytner's.
We don't need a Whole Foods, we have Natural.
We don't need an Au Bon Pain, we have La Boulangerie.
Do we really want to see these independent shops go out of business for a chain? I for one would not like to see any more chains.
Finally someone with some sense and pride in their neighborhood. Thank you.
DeleteI see where you are coming from but must argue that Marianella's is not good. Chipotle is much better. Laytner's and Natural could really use some competition. Maybe they would step up their game-chain or non-chain competition. I think the point is that some of these stores are really complacent and lacking in any motivation to keep growing, and changing to keep customers delighted. And talk about pricing!!! I think any new good quality businesses would be a great stimulus to our 'hood. I totally agree that a small business would be desirable over a chain, but at the same time to we really want to foster crappy mom and pop's that have little value to our community. You know the one's I am talking about...
ReplyDelete