Monday, January 6, 2014

Boutique for Children on Austin Closing

This kids' clothing store, Boutique for Children, says it is closing.
This opens up another prime spot on Austin St.


44 comments:

  1. Lots of closings lately - Second Time Around is closing as well.

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    1. Not surprised about that, some of the girls working in that shop were obnoxious! I had high hopes for that store but after a few negative experiences seen happening to other clients and one to me I never set foot in there again.

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  2. Maybe that's why they haven't taken the time to take care of the INSANELY huge icicles hanging from their store. You can actually see one of them in the second photo in this blog post. Walkers, BEWARE! I walked past it last night and it's not a safe area to walk under.

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    1. I never saw a soul in that store. Even on weekends.

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  3. Yay! Room for yet another hamburger restaurant!/sarcasm

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  4. And again, somehow the tie store on Austin is still in business!

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    1. Yeah, but the tie store isn't selling $500 outfits for toddlers.

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    2. So has anyone heard anything about what's going on with the business that took the place of Homefront? There's been a notice from a company wanting to check the water meter taped to the front door since November.

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  5. And Sammie's sandwich shop now has an oversized table crammed in the front of their counter.
    Never see anyone in there. A lot of suspicious oddities on that block.

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  6. Sammie's left in the counter at the front window, but took out the counter along the wall and put in two tables for 4, not one table. I pass by there pretty much every day and although I can't say they're packed, there always seems to be activity, whether a phone order or customers waiting there. Not cheap by any means, but $8 gets you a good-sized sandwich or wrap and choice of 1/4 pound of cole slaw, potato salad or macaroni salad. Panini/side salad combo is $6, I think.

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    1. I agree. I went in recently for the first time and was so pleasantly surprised by the size and quality of the sandwich that I returned for the same thing every week for a month. I didn't even bother with the side salad because I don't like any of those, but I still think it's the best sandwich option in a neighborhood with remarkably limited options for basic deli-style sandwiches.

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    2. Is it still just processed Boar's Head meats or did it change?

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    3. I had the grilled chicken rather than deli meat, but it was quite tasty. It was one of the Italian-style ones listed as a panini, with pesto and mozzarella, but I prefer to order it as a hero.

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  7. Dosent seem like any store can stay in business around here. When will owners realize the rents don't match the business and get real and start charging rents that will allow store owners to make a profit? One store opens 5 close behind it. The churn is unbelievable around here..

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    1. Quality places are doing fine, if not expanding.

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    2. I was in Boulangerie over the weekend for like 45 minutes, people didn't stop coming in the entire time I was there. That place could move to where Santa Fe used to be and it still might not be big enough it is doing so well.

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    3. Amen, brother. The skyrocketing rents are going to ruin this neighborhood, not improve it!

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    4. Why should a landlord care about anything but his bottom line? The small mom and pops will leave if they're unsuccessful at drawing in clients. Those businesses that have been surviving on slim margins will close and be replaced by businesses with better business models and larger wallets.

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  8. The neighborhood has a very small French population so don't see any expansion there for now.

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    1. The French population has nothing to do with the popularity of the bakery.

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    2. I don't understand this comment at all. What, Irish idiots like me can't enjoy a lovely croissant? Only people of French descent can? Hmm...

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    3. LOL, don't get riled up over this type of comment. That's exactly what they're hoping for.

      I'm not certain it would necessarily make sense at this point for La Boulangerie to move into a bigger space. It's better for them to have a line out the door than a larger space (higher rent) and empty tables. Additionally, for their type of establishment it's all about production out-put. A larger space potentially means the need for more ovens, bakers, et al which would increase over-head even further.

      What I'd love to see come into the neighborhood is a Le Pain Quotidien. Some may argue that it's too similar to a La Boulangerie. I'll admit that there are indeed similarities, but Le Pain Quotidien has a much deeper menu. I feel our neighborhood could support both establishments.

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    4. Failing that, a Panera Bread wouldn't be bad either!

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    5. Le Pain Quotidien would be so much better than a Panera Bread...

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    6. I LOVE PANERA. I really hoped that something like that would have gone in to the space that ultimately turned into Buffalo Wild Wings, but alas it was not meant to be. We may be too close to the Panera in Rego Park (and the one in I think Glendale) for it to be worth their effort to add one in our neighborhood.

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    7. I disagree. Panera would be a lot more affordable for the majority of FH residents. While they're not as "gourmet" as LPQ, Panera does offer free wifi and free unlimited coffee refills, which would make them an ideal hangout for many of us.

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    8. My grandfather loves Panera Bread, but the one in Glendale is too hard for him to get to now that he can't drive anymore. I'd like one to open up in FH for just that reason!

      I agree w/ the commenter who thinks one would do well in the Buffalo Wild Wings spot, but I also think that ridiculous frozen yogurt store that used to be Europan Bakery would be a great space for one!

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    9. Panera would do great here, but not sure they would open one with two locations so close by (the other one is right near the Trader Joe's on Metropolitan near the Five Guys and Sports Authority).

      In response to the comment about Vanilla Sky, it's my preferred frozen yogurt place in the area. Red Mango has a minimal flavor selection and rarely change it and I was extremely disappointed with Yogo Monster. Vanilla Sky has more flavors and toppings and the yogurt is a little better too. Also makes me feel better to support a local place than a chain. I was not living here when Europan was here so I can't vouch for how they used the space, but I feel like Panera would need more space than that location offers.

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    10. How depressing it is to see people actually prefer cookie cutter chain stores to that of unique mom and pops. While we're at it, why not a Dallas BBQ, KFC or Popeye's for Austin St?

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    11. It is depressing and those chains are for the most part really mediocre.

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    12. I think a few chains are fine, just as long as it's not the entire neighborhood. Remember, a lot of those companies started as smaller organizations once and were successful enough to expand.

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    13. It's SO depressing. Thank you! It's nice to hear I'm not the only one who feels that way. When I moved to FH, my intention was not to live in the middle of a strip mall.

      And to the commenter who thinks FH needs a Denny's? Maybe you should move to Long Island, pal. Or Peoria. Gross.

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    14. Gross? LOL! Nothing comes close to being as gross as the T-Bone Diner. If it became a Denny's, most in FH would be tickled pink and the place would always be busy. Also in the gross category would be the other two diners on Austin St., Denny's or IHOP would be a vast improvement.

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    15. Peoria-hah! : )

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    16. I don't know whether or not you've ever been inside a Cheesecake Factory, but they're HUGE. There's a reason most of them are located in the middle of nowhere! There's no space in FH that could possibly accommodate one!

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    17. Do you really think you can squeeze a Denny's into tiny T-bone diner? You need to brush up on your measurements. Carry a ruler with you if necessary.

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    18. I'm no fan of Denny's, but yes, it would be a huge step up from the T-bone or the awful diner on Austin Street.

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    19. Absolutely! C'mon Denny's, move on into our hood :)

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  9. And then there's C-Town...

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  10. Panera would barely be able to fit their front counter into Vanillas space. Then they need space for their huge kitchen and seating room for about 100. Panera needs a lot of space...

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    1. Maybe Panera could open in the Santa Fe space? I think that would be too big of a space for them though. And sorry to the above commenter thinking another chain in FH would be depressing, but I totally disagree. Most of the chains on Austin St. Have thrived, while so many indie places have come and gone. While chains are not of gourmet quality, they are affordable, family friendly, and fun. I nominate not only Panera, but Denny's, the Cheesecake Factory, Ruth Chris steakhouse and Shake Shack :)

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  11. The current dramatic change in demographics will not support any of your recommendations. They require steady high volume and a solid economic environment, both of which cannot be guaranteed considering the major changes occurring in Forest Hills and Central Queens in general.

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  12. Went to La Boulangerie earlier to buy a baguette, they raised their price from $2.50 to $3.00. Yes, it's very good bread but it's getting more expensive, just saying.

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