Thursday, May 14, 2015

Whole Foods, Welcome to Forest Hills!

Well, one can hope, can't one? Now that news comes that our Barnes & Noble on Austin Street, an enormous, centrally-located retail space, is closing, according to the Daily News: Barnes & Noble to shutter Forest Hills store: sources
Money quote: “We’re talking to some national retailers,” Kay said.
If not WF, well, then what about an Apple Store? Yes, the Borough is already getting one at the Queens Center Mall, but we could always use another right here.


 As for our Barnes & Noble, I will miss it, though I have to admit I haven't been into it since Christmas-time. I've gone all Kindle by now when it comes to my book shopping. But I've spent many an hour strolling and reading through the aisles of B&N and other bookshops and do indeed miss the experience. But times change...
 

28 comments:

  1. I'd rather it become a Whole Foods then Apple Store.

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  2. Build an Equinox! NYSC has gone to sh*t since changing their membership structure to a 19.99 per month plan. We need a nice gym in Forest Hills!

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    1. I was going to write this when I saw the article; you beat me to it!!!! NYSC is horrible; and Lucielle -- ugghhh. I wish there was an Equinox -- all these punk kids, Rykers losers (who are not from Forest Hills), and creepy cruising old guys workout at NYSC. I pay Equinox and workout there during the week; there are folks with money in FoHi who would love an Equinox!!!

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    2. I would love an Equinox or a Crunch, NYSC has become horrid!

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    3. What is so "horrid " about it? I go there every week and seems the same to me.

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  3. I agree. We need an Equinox

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  4. God dammit we are really gonna miss this place, my 4 year old son is going to be so sad

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  5. Please no Whole Foods. Would be bad for Mr. Vino and Natural.

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  6. This is absolutely awful news. My children, nieces and nephews practically grew up there. Huge loss for Forrest hills, especially for the families with small children. Absolutely devastating.

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  7. This is awful news! I love that B&N and always shop there!

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  8. that's nice...they ran the other smaller book stores in Forest Hills out of business and now they are closing...nice.....wish they never opened.

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    1. What smaller bookstores did they run out? I recall the years when Walden Books and B&N were on opposite sides of Continental, but I don't recall any others.

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  9. that's nice...they ran the other smaller book stores in Forest Hills out of business and now they are closing...nice.....wish they never opened.

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  10. There is absolutely no need for an Apple store in our neighborhood. Very sad Barnes & Noble is closing. They were a great asset in our neighborhood.

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  11. That's a bummer because it's the only nearby place for books and toys. But the spot opens up a lot of potential. A really good food retailer would be great (although I doubt it because the parking situation is terrible). As a parent, it would be nice to have a NY Kids Club or Kidville that offer more in the way of activities for toddler and little kids. Gymboree is not that great in my opinion.

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  12. "National chain" - I'm praying it's not H&M or Nordstrom's Rack. We don't need more clothing stores!!

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    1. H&M and Nordstrom Rack would be awesome! We need more variety in the area other than BR and the Gap (at least for men). Sorry, not really into Eddie Bauer or even worse Men's Warehouse. I'm surprised those stores are even still around. The area needs more youth and rejuvenation.

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    2. Right. Because we don't have enough H&Ms in NYC as it is.

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  13. This really makes me sad. I hope there will be an eleventh hour reversal and some genius innovative thinker (with cash) can revive the concept of the bookstore. Let me fantasize...

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  14. I am also saddened by this news. There are so many families with young children who love to go there to look at the books and make purchases. Kids love the place and the occasional event they have there. It's one less thing for them to do - and the library is not the same.

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  15. One more thought about this... I pray B&N will be miraculously saved, but if it isn't, how about a small boutique hotel? Now that Forest Hills Stadium is having concerts and people will be coming in from outside, they might not feel like getting back in their cars/subway/LIRR at the end of the evening. Maybe someone can make a place for people to stay after the shows. Would the Heskel Group be interested in coming back to their old stomping ground? Or even Ian Schrager, for old times sake?

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  16. Something geared toward attracting the huge population explosion of young children.

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  17. That is the same case with a lot of stores including Vitamin Shoppe, CVS, and all the drug stores. It's cheaper online because there isn't the cost of rent there like there is in brick and mortar stores.

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  18. Whole Foods would be great in the area, but maybe in a spot with more space for the store and a bit of parking. Otherwise it will get pretty crowded around that spot.

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  19. There is a change.org petition going around if anyone is interested in signing it!

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  20. The woefully outdated, overpriced, depressing Key Food on Yellowstone & Queens Blvd is just begging to become a Whole Foods. It is a very large space, with potentially even more unseen space next door and/or parking, and on a somewhat more prominent spot on a wider street. I think a Whole Foods there would be very well received by this area of Queens!

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  21. I like the idea of WF taking over KF space. And delivery trucks would have easy access behind that building. When is Chevy going to close? It's a huge waste of space.

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    1. Sunrise Chevrolet is in the process of completely renovating their showroom, and has been at it for a couple of months already. Apparently, they are not going anywhere!

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