There's been a lot going on in our 'hood so I figured I just had to start posting again about them....
So, here's a couple of places I've been to in the past week or two, chosen for their design and their food:
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| Azal Coffee on 71st/Continental Ave. I love the way they make use of the newly renovated alley way that runs along side it! |
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| Gnocchi Bella, nicely designed to be reminiscent of Forest Hills' pro tennis history! |
Behold! The Sweetgreen coming to where the Boston Market used to be at the corner of Austin and 71st/Continental Ave.!
Now just someone build me a cozy little bookshop and all my dreams will have been answered.
Much to my pleasant surprise, the store seems enormous, bigger than I expected. My brain was actually having trouble wrapping around the idea that my carless self can now buy anything in this store and not mastermind some complicated method of getting it home. I can finally just walk! I'm a pretty jaded New Yorker, but I have to say this was a lot more thrilling than I expected. The below photos barely capture all the new store has to offer...
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The wait is finally almost over... The Forest Hills store will be the third in Queens, after Rego Park on Metropolitan, and Long Island City. The store will be 17,000 square feet in size.
On Tuesday, November 7th, Trader Joe’s will open a new Forest Hills, New York store. The new store is located at 69-65 Yellowstone Blvd. Moments before doors open at 8 am, there will be a brief ceremonial ribbon cutting. Store Captain Carlos Salazar and Trader Joe’s Crew Members will be on hand to welcome customers to their new neighborhood store.
This 17,000 sq. ft. store is located between Queens Blvd. and Yellowstone Blvd. a block away from Austin St. Its interior artwork will highlight the rich comic book history of the neighborhood.
As a neighborhood grocery store, Trader Joe’s prides itself on hiring where its stores are located. Hiring efforts are still underway. Anyone interested in applying can visit traderjoes.com/careers for more information.
In addition, through the company’s longstanding Neighborhood Shares Program, the new Forest Hills Trader Joe’s will donate 100% of products that go unsold but remain fit to enjoy to a range of non-profit, community-based organizations, seven days a week.
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| A register at the Long Island City Trader Joe's this past weekend. |
KUKU Korean, which opened recently on 70th Road (Restaurant Row), looks amazing. They have other locations in Williamsburg and Long Island City. I have yet to try it, but really looking forward to it. If you have, share what you think in the comments below...
.... and you won't need a car to get there, finally.
As I always said, the one on Metropolitan Ave. might as well be in Nebraska if you are like most of us carless FoHi residents. So this new store, opening where the former Key Food used to be, on Yellowstone Blvd. in the new building going up between MacDonald Park and Gerard Towers, will be just awesome.
Finally, central Forest Hills is getting a terrific big chain supermarket option.
Although come to think of it, there are still a few more things I'd like to see open here. A bookshop, for one. A place to get a decent sandwich on the fly like a Pret. And maybe a salad place (though Natural does make some good salads these days, and TJ's has plenty in that department, too.)
Anyway, this is really good news for our 'hood. Read more about it here: Trader Joe's Confirms New Forest Hills Store
(By the way, didn't I tell you back when the rumors started about this new Trader Joe's that the company never actually denied the rumor, despite what was reported? They said something like "we have no current plans." Which obviously did not mean they have no future plans :)
.... Austin Street Pizza!
Hands down, I have to say this is our favorite pizza in Forest Hills these days.
Located at the corner of Austin Street and 72nd Ave., it opened a couple of years ago. If you haven't tried it, you're really missing out on something special.
How to describe their slices? Perfect, crispy yet chewy crust, and sauce and cheese that is so fresh and amazing.
My one gripe, I guess, is that it still is one of the only pizza places in the neighborhood, if not THE only, that doesn't deliver. But that's fine. It makes it that much more special to walk on over to grab one of their sublime slices.
I'm also looking forward to the reopening of their outdoor seating come the warmer weather, but inside is also one of the more fun and lively places to hang out in Forest Hills.
There is a bunch of empty retail space in Forest Hills these days as we emerge from the craziness of the past few years, but for my money this one, at the corner of Austin St. and Ascan, is one of the best in the neighborhood. Great corner location on a quieter but still very busy corner of Forest Hills with tons of foot traffic and a gorgeous building to boot.
What can you see coming in here? A cafe or some other kind of eatery? (Dunkin is right across the street.) Long-time readers will know I've been saying for years one of the few places we can use here in Forest Hills is one of those make-your-own salad places.
The other thing we could use here is a bookshop, which are staging a comeback these days as more people embrace taking a nice break from all their screens and getting lost in a relaxing good real (as in physical, print) book. I can only imagine the rent for this prime space so it might be out of the reach of a bookshop at this point in time, but I'm sure someone can figure it out. If not here, then there are plenty other available retail spaces right now for a bookshop to open Forest Hills.
Walked by this place today and it was already pretty busy. The location is 107-15 71st. Road in Forest Hills, a few doors down from Mighty Quinn's BBQ.
Soup dumpling establishment Nan Xiang Express will be going in near where Fey Da Bakery is off of Queens Blvd.
I noticed this cool passageway in what used to be the little mini-mall on 71st/Continental. It's looking quite spiffy in there. I wonder what businesses will be setting up shop?
I assume I know what this one is going to be?
Have you seen the renovated Gotta Getta Bagel yet on 71st/Continental? Nice job guys! They really brought it up to date.
And, they added a build-your-own salad station to boot. I think that's the third one in FoHi now if I'm counting right, but all part of something else. We still don't have one of the Manhattan BYO salad chains.
If you are interested in reporting on what's going on in Forest Hills and the city at large just email edgeofthecity@gmail.com. This is a purely volunteer opportunity - just for people who are into helping to improve our neighborhood.
Anyone who has been a fan of Edge of the City I am sure would agree that the neighborhood has come a very long way in the decade or so since we launched. But we still have a lot of work to do! There's a lot more improvements we can bring to Forest Hills.
Here's just a few:
- I just noticed the cutest little space on one of the side streets off of Ausin that would be perfect for a neighborhood book shop. We really could use one! It would be the icing on the cake for our 'hood.
- Queens Blvd. while improving thanks to its bike path, still is a dreadful eyesore. We've been calling for a while for beautification of this ugly mess. Let's get the city working on it!
- With everyone's local favorite Banter having closed during the pandemic, we could really use some other quality casual independent dining spots with broad menu appeal. Our restaurants have vastly improved in the past 10 years or so, but there's still some big holes in the offerings that are embarrasing, especially considering how many people now spend more time in the 'hood during the work week.
So, what are you waiting for? If you are good with words and love Forest Hills, help contribute to the neighborhood's longest-running -- and I guess, only -- blog. All it takes is sending in a photo or brief article every once in a while. We hope you'll join us soon!
A new store just opened on Austin Street (70-10) selling nuts, cookies, teas, spices, and candy by weight. So far it seems super popular. Reminds me of the 'Bulk In Bins' stores I've been to in Florida. Welcome!
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| Found this picture I took shortly after it was painted |
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| It's still underneath the new look |
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| Finished product |
Sad to report that the long-standing Eddie Bauer on Austin Street will be closing June 4th. I remember the Eddie Bauer on Madison and 59th Street in Manhattan closing many years ago and I assumed ours would not be far behind. Instead, it kept chugging along like the little engine that could. Anyway, farewell, old friend and I hope something cool takes its place.
I heard today than XinTaste, located at 72-38 Austin Street, is planning to close in three months. I don't usually do this, but this place is so excellent and its closing will be such a loss to our neighborhood, that I am requesting everyone to do anything possible to convince them not to close.
I think their closing is of the magnitude of Banter's closing, that is how bad it will be for the neighborhood. I know that there are a lot more important things to be worried about in the world right now, but an awesome bowl of noodles makes life that much better, right?
Anyway, please pay them a visit or give them a call at (718)520-5199 and charm them into staying open :)
Does anyone have any good experiences at the new food places around? I'm way behind in trying them. Here are a few pics to get the ball rolling:
