Austin Update

Just some things I've noticed:

1. Despite what someone commented about on this blog, Bonfire Grill is not closed for construction and is not expanding into the ice cream place next door to it. Just a little reporting tip to the commenter who said so a week or so ago: Before assuming a place is closed, try opening the door. Bonfire Grill is quite open for business, was pretty busy this weekend and has really good food. Oh, and I'll say it again: That ice cream shop always closes down for the winter and reopens in the warmer months. Always had, always will. 
2. The saga of the former Austin Jeans location continues. Austin Jeans closed its doors a month or two ago after being in business for a very long time. Then, a yoga clothes shop started moving into the space and then overnight, no more yoga clothes. The place has a "For Rent" sign on the window again. A prime location for a small retailer or cafe if I've ever seen one here in FoHi.

All for now - Keep Warm and Carry On!

More Space on Austin Opening Up

Austin Jeans is closing after more than 20 years in its prime Austin St. location, just several doors down from the intersection of 71st/Continental. Hard to find a better spot in Forest Hills for a new store or a small eatery like a coffee bar.

And then there's the old Garcia's restaurant, a huge space on the top floor of the Austin St. "mall," which would be great for a really good restaurant, since it has outdoor seating overlooking Austin St. A quality restaurant opening up there, in that enormous space, could do really well.

Oh, and while on the subject, I'm sure many of you have heard the news that some kind of medical clinic is opening in the building on the other side of Austin, down towards Ascan. I also am quite disappointed that this is the best they can do with a newly-renovated building. But I'm resigned to it - if that's what the neighborhood can support, so be it. If not, something better will open there eventually. I'm pretty optimistic that as the nabe continues to improve, prime spaces like this will in the future not be turned into medical drop-in clinics! Also, I think I heard something like 75 percent will be used for the clinic so there is also space for something more interesting.

On a related note, I have been contacted by some who say it is questionable how the developers of that new building were able to alter the historic facade of the structure: As one person wrote to me:

"Two-story Old English shops were demolished to accommodate a 3-story out-of-context glass building in the heart of Austin Street's historic retail and residential area."