The Holiday Season Begins

The CVS on the north side of Queens Blvd. wasted no time in clearing out all the unsold Halloween candy (50% off now, while supplies last) and the aisles have already been transformed into Christmas and Chanukah-land.

Drug Store Wars

I hadn't been in the Rite Aid at the corner of 71st/Continental and Austin in a really long time and was really impressed when I stepped inside today. I had heard there was a renovation going on but had forgotten. I guess they're stepping up their game before the new CVS opens across Queens Blvd. (When? That is taking forever to open.) Update: A reader tells me it is supposed to open August 6th.

And a reader sent me a photo of the outside of the new CVS, pointing out that new trees will be going in in front of it. He also says that Jay's Newstand is scheduled to be moved back to its original site sometime during the next two weeks.

The Path is Clear for Northern Forest Hillers

This couldn't have come on a better day, especially with the grueling subway ride home today with its horrible delays. Northern FoHi'ers were greeted by the sidewalk in front of the new Aston condo finally being opened up for them after, what was it, years? No more having to be corralled like sheep into that narrow corridor. Oh, and I guess this means the CVS, which looks mighty impressive by the way, is about to open. What an improvement over that sad, depressing row of stores that used to be there!

New Coming Soons

On Queens Blvd. in the new Aston Condo

On Metropolitan Ave.

New CVS, and Austin St. Bar

I just noticed the latest rendering of the condo going up next to Key Food does include a CVS on the ground floor. The rendering has been put up on the wall at the construction site. I'll try to snap a photo of it. Just more evidence it will be a CVS going in there. I know people have been hearing different things.

Also, readers told me this morning that a new Irish gastropub will be going in where the Johnny Rockets on Austin was. Construction begins Tuesday with the opening planned for March or April. Some confusion on the exact name. One person said Spotted Pig, the other person Flying Pig. 

Construction Moving Forward

Construction of the CVS and the new condo that some are calling the "Windsor 2" is moving forward on the north side of Queens Blvd., next to the Key Food.
Here's what the construction site looked like this afternoon:

Behind the Scenes

While we all walk by it going about our everyday business, they have been dismantling from the inside that block of empty stores next to the Key Food on the north side of Queens Blvd.

My adventurous and enterprising roving reporter shot these pics (somehow), risking life and limb for the blog (just kidding, I think he shot them through some space in the covered-up windows).

The roof is slowly being dismantled.

The floor - or lack thereof.

Another shot of the ceiling being dismantled.

More on the Proposed CVS For Queens Blvd.

Here's a new article about the proposal for the north side of Queens Blvd. next to the Key Food. CVS coming to Forest Hills

Around Town: CVS' New Chelsea Store

I passed by this just yesterday and just had to mention it here. It really is the coolest setting for a drugstore I have ever seen. CVS has taken over the old Balducci's location, at the corner of Eighth Ave. and 14th Street in Manhattan, which used to be a bank many years ago:

CVS Gives Chelsea The Most Opulent Drugstore

More on Windsor 2 Project

The Daily News has an article today with lots of juicy details about Cord Meyer's plans to build the CVS, an underground parking garage, and eventually a high-rise building (the on-again, off-again "Windsor 2"), all on the north side of Queens Blvd. next to the Key Food.

Good news for the one Key Food lover who lives here in Forest Hills: It will remain open through the entire construction of the building, which is scheduled to be finished by the Fall of 2012. Oh, and all the stores were supposed to be out of there by last Thursday.

Sad price of progress as businesses cast aside by Forest Hills developer

Movin' on Up!

Finally, confirmation that the closing of the sad-looking strip of 7 stores next to the Key Food is being done to make way for a "national retailer." The entire building will be demolished and a new one built in its place.

Here's the link to the article on Yournabe.com (Forest Hills Ledger) :

Cord Meyer to evict seven stores Developer says it told tenants in 2006 of plans to revamp Continental Ave. site

The way I look at it, anything is better than what we have there now. Though I do like the unique character that comes from small, independent shops (see Park Slope, Brooklyn), this is one strip that needs a facelift.

Oh, and thanks to reader "Susan" for calling our attention to this breaking news. (She posted it on the Open Forum page of the old site which reminds me I need to create a space for people to do such things here on the new one!) UPDATE - I just changed the "News Tips" page above so readers can now post news tips directly to the page.

New CVS for North Side of Queens Blvd.?

... that's what I hear... but this is unconfirmed at this point. Today brought the news that What A Deal!!! will be closing in 6 days, and the jeweler on that block is also closing its doors. So, there is a whole row of stores on that block next to the Key Food either vacant or soon-to-be.