Breadbox’s rolling pins in the Spring; Cuban grill Madera about to pop

Interior of Breadbox Café on 11th St, Hunters Point, Long Island City

New LIC Biz Updates

• Breadbox Café has been open on 11th St between 47th Rd & 47th Ave for several weeks now, looking more homey, furnished, and stocked up with bagels, sandwiches, salads, soups, treats, and more. And yes, the rolling pins on the facade (which have caught quite a bit of media attention) are coming! But they’re waiting to do it right (and with flair) when the weather improves – look out for details. 47-11 11th St, LIC, 718.389.9700

• A new cell phone store is going into the ground floor retail space of LIC’s 48th Ave green condo, Solarium. 5-43 48th Ave, LIC

• The owners/operators of the Tennisport Restaurant are still working on Madera, the Cuban Grill & Steakhouse they’re bringing to Vernon Blvd near the corner of 47th Road. A new website is up, signature lanterns and logos have appeared on the exterior, and the spacious interior continues to be built out and polished. They’ve also filed for CB2 liquor license approval and are aiming to open soon. 4729 Vernon Blvd, LIC

Exterior of Madera Grill & Steakhouse, Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Other New LIC Biz Notables

• A burger joint called The Burger Garage has settled into the corner of Jackson Ave & 44th Drive – work on the old school-style interior and exterior is still progressing. Brothers Jim and Adam Pileski (whose family opened NYC’s now famous Palm Restaurant) will be serving burgers, fries, shakes, homemade pie, and more. Their game-plan: “you will always be served made-to-order food using the freshest ingredients in a welcoming and friendly environment reminiscent of the ‘golden days of service’ – a time when people not only had a love affair with burgers [...] but with their automobiles, too.” 25-36 Jackson Ave, LIC

• Towards the corner of 21st St and 44th Dr, a check cashing place called SuperCash has settled into the former Pickwick Discount Store space. According to info on the windows, they’ll be offering check cashing, money orders, bill payments, prepaid products, debit cards, ATM, and more. 44-04 21st St, LIC, 718.472.9190

• A Mexican Taqueria is rumored to be coming to Queens West at 4705 Center Blvd, across from SHI. The Real Deal says its scheduled for fourth quarter 2010.

• A new café called the LIC Market is opening soon on 44th Drive, just west of 23rd Street. They have an awning up and are offering breakfast, lunch, brunch, and a wine bar and market in a welcoming, homey space with lots of repurposed details. 21-52 44th Dr, LIC

• Natural Frontier Market is opening a new location in LIC to add to its stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Signs are up and the health food market is confirmed for the 4000SF ground floor of the luxury rental building 12-01 Jackson Ave, @ 11th St, but it’s not looking quite like a market just yet.

Not Sure What’s Going On There

• A new restaurant is headed for the new 10-17 Jackson Avenue development next door to Café Henri, and has also filed for a liquor license.

• Guitart & Jones restaurant serving American tapas will be opening at 5-09 50th Ave, between Vernon Blvd & Jackson Ave. As of 02/10 there still seems to be no activity at the space.

• Cassidy’s, a new pub, is brewing in the old McReilly’s space. Burgers, fries, beer… now double the capacity. Slated to open late fall. 46-42 Vernon Blvd, LIC This is mostly confirmed not to be happening.