LIC local biz update: Breadbox getting buttered; X-mas trees hit the street

Interior wall design in The Breadbox, 11th St b/w 47th Rd & 47th Ave, LIC

New Biz In the Works

• The former Getty autobody shop on 11th St between 47th Rd and 47th Ave is nearing its ‘adaptive re-use’ transformation into a bakery now known as The Breadbox.

• A French café with a Korean twist is rumored to have leased the former Brasil Coffee House space on Vernon Blvd. 48-19 Vernon Blvd, LIC

• A burger joint called The Burger Garage will be settling into the old Tomato and Wasabi location on Jackson Ave at 44th Drive, near Court Square. 25-36 Jackson Ave, LIC

• The owners and operators of the Tennisport Restaurant are bringing a Cuban Grill & Steakhouse called Madera to the space where Spa DiSilva was supposed to – but never – manifested. They’ve already begun work and have filed for a liquor license. 4729 Vernon Blvd, LIC

• The “Doggy Day Spa” in the retail space at the bottom of Avalon Riverview North is still in the works but actually called Pooches Sport & Spa. The owners have been operating in the pet care business for 10 years and have been looking to be a part of LIC for some time. Pooches will be offering cageless boarding, dog walking for regular customers, pet transportation, doggie daycare, in-home cat care, grooming and veterinary care with their “affiliated experts,” 24-hour monitoring, as well as pick-up and return service at no extra charge. 4-75 48th Ave, LIC, 917.642.4217

• The former 4705 Center Blvd/East Coast 6 leasing office is now empty; a hair salon is said to be coming soon to the space.

• A preschool is opening in the ground floor of an old engineering building on 47th Ave, just east of 5th St. Lolly’s Early Learning Center will be having their grand opening in January 2010. Email them at lollyslearningcenter@yahoo.com to schedule a private tour or receive updates regarding their December open house events. 5-44 47th Ave, LIC, 646.351.6077

• Guitart & Jones’ Open Door Restaurant serving American tapas will be opening this winter at 5-09 50th Ave, between Vernon Blvd & Jackson Ave.

• A new, fancy Italian furniture store is still under construction in the ground floor retail space at 10-50 Jackson Ave.

• Natural Frontier Market is opening a new location in LIC to add to its stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The health food market is confirmed for the 4000SF ground floor of 12-01 Jackson Ave, @ 11th Street.

• An antique shop seems to be coming to a ground floor space in the new silver development on 51st Ave between Vernon Blvd and 5th St – there is a collection of large statues but currently nothing else.

• CBRE‘s new retail space at the bottom of East Coast 6 (aka 4705 Center Blvd) is now open, but they are not brokering residential sales.

CBRE’s space in the ground floor of East Coast 6 on Center Blvd, LIC

Now Open

• El Ay Si, the American bistro serving ‘comfort food’ at 47-38 Vernon Blvd, is opening this Thursday, December 3rd at 6pm. 718.389.8781

• A new children’s boutique & consignment store called Little Closets is now open in the former Art-O-Mat space at 46-46 Vernon Blvd. The store offers “a sustainable, ‘recession friendly’, community-oriented retail option for the rapidly growing population of small children in the area,” including “child-friendly décor” with a story corner & puppet theater. They are currently accepting donations; email littleclosets@yahoo.com for more info. You can also check their blog, which is often updated with new products and events.

• The high-flying academy of New York Circus Arts, one of the leading American Contemporary Circus organizations, has moved its space from Manhattan to 5321 Vernon Blvd in LIC. 646.291.6364

• A seemingly temporary boutique outlet with a current coat sale has opened in the Window Gallery space on Jackson Ave, apparently part of an “ArtStands for Business” effort. 13-03a Jackson Ave, LIC

• TF Cornerstone now has an office at 4720 Center Blvd. 718.606.9440

• A seasonal business has set up shop in Queenwest outside Duane Reade – Christmas trees for sale. 47th Rd @ 5th St, LIC

Starting up the holiday season – Christmas trees outside Duane Reade, LIC

Unsubstantiated Biz News

• A new café is coming to the space next to Da Gianni’s Ristorante on 44th Drive just west of 23rd Street.

• Duane Reade is possibly setting up another shop in 2 Court Square, the new Citibank building.

• 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.

Re-inventing Biz

• The folks at City Dog Lounge on Vernon Blvd @ 49th Ave are transforming themselves into a new pet retail shop called Kitty & Dog Lounge. Grand reopening on December 12th.