A Peek Inside Trek

Thanks to Shelley for sending in these photos tonight of the inside of the new bike shop opening soon on 70th Road.

New Bike Shop Coming to Forest Hills

I noticed this sleek-looking new bike shop, Trek, is opening on Restaurant Row (70th Road) in Forest Hills, right next to the medical marijuana shop. Imagine that! Something other than a new bank, barbershop or teeny little and curiously-unnecessary mom and pop drugstore is opening here! It is a cause for celebration indeed.

Activity at Austin Street Corner

I'm just hearing the normal rumors and seeing the usual activity that makes me surmise there could be some big changes coming to the corner of 71st Road and Austin Street. Big sales, adjacent stores closing, rumors flying. Send your tips to edgeofthecity@gmail.com

New Store Opening On Austin Street

A Pandora jewelry is coming to the spot formerly occupied by the Diva NY clothing store on Austin Street, next to GNC.

Last Chance for New York & Company?

... apparently. I had seen somewhere online speculation that the Austin Street store was closing. A friend of mine sent in these photos and it sure looks like it. If so, that would open up quite a big prime space along Austin Street...

What's Happening on Austin Street: Jacklyn's—A Local Favorite for Nearly 40 Years

"What's Happening on Austin Street" is an ongoing series looking at the many different businesses along Forest Hills' major shopping strip. Have a business you'd like us to profile? Email edgeofthecity@gmail.com

A Jacklyn’s of All Trades

By Rebecca Banchik

There's something missing from the shopping experience at a big box retailer. Don't get me wrong, it's convenient to run into Bloomingdales or Macy's and choose from all the brands and styles. But by shopping at these stores you’re not supporting a local business and you're certainly not going to get the experience of being in a small shop. 

When I first moved to Forest Hills I was happy {almost relieved} that some of the chain stores were around for me to shop in and were easily accessible. But without going into Manhattan or out to Long Island, there's really only one store in Forest Hills to get the brand name designers you find in bigger stores. It's particularly exciting for me, a sucker for expensive denim {with stretch - definitely need stretch}, to have Jacklyn's Boutique in our neighborhood. They carry my favorite brands like Seven For All Mankind, J Brand, Joie, and Eileen Fisher, just to name a few. 

I spoke with the owner of the store’s daughter, Nicole Soleimani, who explained to me that the store originally opened almost 40 years ago by Jack who was inspired to open the store by his sister Jacklyn {ring a bell?} who had a love for designing clothes. Jack eventually turned the store over to Robbin who now fully runs the boutique. 

Nicole described her experience growing up around Austin Street in Forest Hills as an upscale neighborhood that has changed drastically over the years. She mentioned that when the big boys came into town many small businesses suffered. Lucky for her as a shop owner, and for us as residents, Austin Street is thriving now and Jacklyn’s is perfectly located near the Shake Shack and Bare Burger. My advice to you though? Try on the clothes before you eat the burgers!

It was a pleasure recently stopping by the store and getting to know Robbin. The store was welcoming, door wide open, beckoning the Austin Street walkers-by to stop in for a look. 

Robbin is extremely knowledgeable and is ready to help you pick out a new outfit or accessorize you for your next event. She attributed much of her long lasting success to her faithful and steady clientele, some of whom have been shopping at Jacklyn's for 30 years. She even has some loyal customers that come from Manhattan to get dressed and buy head to toe outfits at our Forest Hills gem. 

Robbin explained that she is not running the store hoping to churn business in a revolving-door fashion and have fleeting customers only looking out for the next big sale. She's providing high quality, designer pieces to the women of Forest Hills with the assurance that the products she sells are good, tried, and true. She stands by the quality of the designers she carries. 

The store combines a small town hospitality vibe with the sought after city trendiness New Yorkers crave. While times have certainly changed, and Robbin no longer knows every person that walks through the door {she described a time when that was the case}, there's no doubt that Jacklyn's remains a neighborhood standard. 

Stop by the boutique and say hello to the friendly staff, try on a new blouse, peruse the racks, check out the shoe collection, and maybe pick up a little something for a gift {or treat yourself}. I certainly have my eyes on a pair of earrings and some jeans. Robbin will be seeing me soon for some retail therapy. Maybe I’ll see you there too, ready to look fabulous in Forest Hills.

Location:
Jacklyn’s Boutique
71-50 Austin St, Forest Hills

New Gift Shop Opening on Austin?

Thanks to Greg for the photo. He emailed that a worker says this will be some kind of gift shop. I couldn't find any information about it online...

Radio Shack Signals

Breaking News: Austin St. Construction Update!

Well, it seems my post from last week (I can't believe a week has gone by already!) was rather timely. A few readers contacted me this week about these new plans for that exceedingly unpleasant hole-in-the-ground next to Bareburger on Austin St.!

Seven-Story, 21-Unit Mixed-Use Building Filed At 71-53 Austin Street, Forest Hills

Brooklyn-based Austin Prop LLC has filed applications for a seven-story, 21-unit mixed-use building at 71-53 Austin Street, in Forest Hills. The project would encompass 27,878 square feet and rise 70 feet in height.

Read more: New York YIMBY

Below is an old photo of the site, when plans still included another walk-in medical clinic (which had raised the ire, and scorn, of many of the Blog's readers!)

72nd Road Construction Site

It was interesting to see the gaping hole where those old row houses used to be on 72nd Road, next to La Boulangerie, as they move ahead with construction of the new apartment building....

What's Up With Strawberry?

Just what is going into the two-story former Strawberry location on Austin Street in Forest Hills? There have been some very odd murmerings about this location over the past couple of weeks, hinting that something big is coming in. And now, this morning, one reader says she heard from someone that it will become a Shake Shack. In any case, excitement is building and rumors are flying. Should be interesting to see who the "major retailer" said to be coming into this space will actually be.