Monday, January 30, 2017

Perfect Space for a Bookshop

This is the spot where the candy store Emily's Sugar Rush used to be, now empty again. Not sure why this corner with such great windows, and in such a central part of Austin Street shopping, should be so hard to get a successful business going. There are so many obvious things Forest Hills needs that would be a huge hit.

What about that bookstore everyone wants? Would be ideal. Anyway, it's listed as "off-market," now, which seems to say it is no longer available? Anyone know what's going on with it?


27 comments:

  1. Empty AGAIN? Wow.

    But yes, I can think of about ten really good uses for that space and a bookshop is definitely one of them!

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  2. The building is prone to leaks. Not a good spot for books. There has to be someplace on QB that a bookstore can go. Perhaps space will become more available as new buildings start opening, especially on the side streets along Austin. Maybe?

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  3. If a bookstore wanted to open, there is NO shortage of spaces for rent.

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  4. I know a bookstore would be a nice addition, but how could it possibly make money? Assuming rent on Austin street is even 3, 4 thousand a month (probably much more, I have no idea), how could a bookstore even stay open, let alone be profitable for the owner?

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    1. that's why nyc is full of cvs, banks and starbucks. :(

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  5. unfortunately there is no amount of books you can sell that would justify the rent. It would have to be some type of Hybrid. Like if red pipe wanted to share a larger space half book shop / half cafe.

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  6. The women behind the Queens Bookshop Initiative have been holding pop-ups and diligently searching for a space. It's a combination of adequate size, good location, and of course, affordable rent for which they are searching. Hopefully, some time this year they will produce a bookstore for Queens. It's not for lack of trying.

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  7. Barely enough room to squeeze in a few bookshelves.

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  8. It's a little small for a bookstore, but sure, why not? We definitely need one!

    And it'd be right across the street from a coffee shop, how perfect!

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  9. So, I'm perplexed by this fascination with a bookstore. Perhaps one of you can explain it do me. Do you actually intend to buy books there? Or is it just a desire to leaf through something before going to buy it on Amazon when you get home? A 1500sf retail space on Austin street going for $40/sfy is going to pay $5000 a month for the lease alone. At $13.95 per hardcover book, that's 386 books a month. Tweleve books a day just for the lease. No salaries, no stock, no utilities, no nothing. Just the lease.

    How many books do you buy a month? And are you going to buy every one through the shop? No, you will not.

    "Open a cafe inside," you may say. Excellent. How many of those 1500sf would you like to dedicate to that? And the cost restaurant license. And the inspection regime. And the insurance increase associated. And then to compete with Martha's or some other spot.

    I am first to be saddened to realize that a bookshop is an unsustainable business model in the 21st century. And would very much like someone to explain to me why I am wrong.

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    1. Misspellings, incorrect math, and generally rambling. I am ashamed. But no less interested in bring proven wrong.

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    2. Probably, like someone else commented, a better fit for a nearby side street at those costs.

      But don't underestimate the passion of a wealthy book lover, or reasonably well-off book lovers, to want to keep the concept of a small, individual bookstore going forever — even at a $ loss. Bookshops have played vital roles in furthering the knowledge of communities - a cause worth losing some money over, if you can afford it.

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    3. I agree completely with the 1:58 poster. While a local bookshop seems like a nice idea I just don't see how they'd make ends meet with the outrageous rents. The landlords are killing Austin and just turning it into a drab stretch. Is anyone excited by that ridiculous Hanover Bank opening on Austin?? Who has even heard of or cares about Hanover Bank? Unfortunately it will be either chains, banks or urgent care places with enough reserves to survive.

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    4. hey but we are getting a hearing aid store next to Violets bake shoppe!

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    5. LOL, yes I noticed that hearing aid place too! That kind of stuff, along with TD Ameritrade, totally kill the vibe that Austin could have.

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    6. "...it will be either chains, banks or urgent care places with enough reserves to survive."

      Really? So only chains, banks or urgent care centers can survive on or near Austin Street? I guess this commenter hasn't noticed the many great independent restaurants and stores that have opened on or near Austin Street in the last few years. These include La Boulangerie, Red Pipe Cafe, Snow Days ice cream shop, Violet's Bake Shop, Station House, Jack and Nellie's and Rove.
      There is also Shake Shack, which is a chain, but it's an upscale chain that was started in NYC by a famous chef with one location in a Manhattan park. So I wouldn't put Shake Shack in the same category as other chains that are national chains and that don't have their origin in NYC.
      I think Forest Hills has done pretty well in the last few years in attracting independent stores and restaurants that have high quality food, products and service.

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  10. Astoria can support businesses like this because it has a much bigger local population and a much bigger pass-through population. Despite being located on two express lines with two stops for those lines in the neighborhood -- not to mention the LIRR -- Forest Hills just isn't a destination. And it has a barely-existing Chamber of Commerce, which, if it acted like the Chambers in other neighborhoods, would be a loud voice for the neighborhood and would dress up tree beds and hang flower baskets. Maspeth and other Chambers do this. Unless and until we have a critical mass of motivated business people and cool activities to draw people into the neighborhood (art galleries, a kids' indoor gym, etc.), which is highly unlikely, the neighborhood will continue to muddle along.

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    1. Completely agree that the Chamber of Commerce is failing us!

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    2. I think that having 10-12 concerts during the summer at Forest Hills stadium, with a great variety of performers and music, definitely qualifies as a "cool activity" that "draws people into the neighborhood". There also was a professional tennis event at Forest Hills stadium last summer, another event that made Forest Hills a destination and that drew people into the neighborhood.

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    3. As an ex-Astoria resident I have to agree. Astoria is for the young, hip and transient, while Forest Hills is for the over 35 crowd, married with kids and senior citizens. Elderly on fixed incomes and cash-strapped parents would rather buy books online. Unless the demographic changes, I don't see a bookstore surviving in this budget-minded environment, despite all this talk of Forest Hills being affluent.

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    4. Generalize, much? The problem with these types of generalizations is that they are always wrong--it is never accurate to say a neighborhood only has one or two types of people who live there. In Forest Hills, I see people of all ages, not just people over 35 and senior citizens. Especially in the last few years, I've seen many more younger people moving into Forest Hills--those in their 20s and early 30s. And I'm sure Astoria has its fair share of people over 35 and senior citizens. Sorry, these generalizations are just not accurate.

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    5. I'm not sure why people on here can't post their observations without FH Guy always feeling the need to be so judgmental and insist that they are wrong. Lighten up!

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    6. I don't think I'm being judgmental at all. I actually think the commenter who made the generalizations about Astoria and Forest Hills was being judgmental--in saying that only two types of people live in FH. And I was simply pointing out that the commenter's judgment is not supported by the facts.

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  11. That space is too small!

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  12. Astoria is a much more transient neighborhood. People rent for 2 years and leave. Forest Hills is a bit more constant in people buying homes and coops for the long term. Many renters in Forest Hills tend to stay longer due to lower rates and a reasonable commute.

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  13. Excellent location for a Whole Foods or an Apple Store. What about West Elm?

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  14. are you insane? Have you seen the size of this space?

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