Long Island City finally the cat’s meow, and other local biz news

Cat’s Pajamas Hotel, Hunters Point, Long Island City
New Biz News
The Cat’s Pajamas Hotel – a cage-free boarding hotel for cats and other small exotic animals – has apparently settled into the old Wine Bar Antiques space between 11th St & Jackson Ave without so much as a peep – err, meow. Call 646.249.9063 or email them at thecatspajamashotel@msn.com for more info – no drop-ins, appointments only.
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 coming to the space next to Da Gianni’s Ristorante on 44th Drive just west of 23rd Street. They have an awning up and are supposedly opening any time now – website mentions breakfast, lunch, brunch, wine bar, and market. 21-52 44th Dr, LIC

The Burger Garage gets a new paint job, Jackson Ave, Long Island City
Old New Biz News
A burger joint called The Burger Garage is settling into the corner of Jackson Ave & 44th Drive. They’re currently applying a new paint job to the old facade, and are aiming for an opening in February or mid-Feb. 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
The owners and operators of the Tennisport Restaurant are bringing a Cuban Grill & Steakhouse called Madera to Vernon Blvd at the corner of 47th Road. Currently, the facade has been transformed but the windows and door are boarded up. Madera has filed for liquor license approval with CB2 and are aiming to open in February. 4729 Vernon Blvd, LIC
The former 4705 Center Blvd/East Coast 6 leasing office is in the process of transforming into a hair salon, brought to us by the owners of nearby Emily Spa. It will also include hair services for men. The Real Deal says it’s slated to open mid-2010.
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.
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.

Natural Frontier Market coming to 12-01 Jackson Ave, Long Island City
Reclaimed & Random
Kitty & Dog Lounge is now open in the former City Dog Lounge space with a total revamp. They’re offering pet supplies, food, clothes, toys, and even a lounge area with chairs, free coffee for humans and snacks for pets, as well as a pet-themed movie on a flat screen TV, in case you’d like to watch. 49-02 Vernon Blvd, LIC, 917.676.0131
The Jackson Ave Steakhouse, which appeared to be on the market, and then almost a Carmine’s, and then closed except for catering – is now under new ownership and complete with Valentine’s Day specials. Mhm.
According to their Facebook page, Vernon Blvd eatery El Ay Si is printin’ their own money. Pesos, actually, which they will soon be leaving around the nabe for people to find – and get $10 towards their meal at the restaurant. ¡Arriba!
New liquor licenses filed in the nabe via CB2 meeting minutes.
I really like the logo of the LIC Market. However…….is the name not the same mistake that Breadbox made? Sounds like a market/ not a restaurant. Nice design work.
Thank god the people state of MA turned back the Democratic machine. All small business in LIC and around the country should sleep a little easier.
Hi everyone. Thanks for your interest. LIC Market is a hybrid café/marketplace. We will have a small section of housemade grocery items for sale, most of which will make appearances on our menu. At heart, LIC Market is a casual yet sophisticated neighborhood restaurant offering our guests great breakfast and lunch fare through the morning and afternoon. In the evening we will serve small plates, wine and beer. Thanks again for your interest. We will be in touch as we grow closer to our opening date.
can’t wait for LIC Market – will be great place to have a place to pop over for an afterwork glass of wine and quick bite for us Queens Plaza folk.
#3, I own a small business and shudder at the thought that this dope will now affect my livelihood. Republicans do nothing for small business. They never have. They never will.
6, in Republican parlance, “small business” is a code word for day traders and rich loafers.
How do democrats help small business? By raising taxes so the unemployed can stay unemployed? By providing free health care to people on our “dime.” I too own a small business and after putting in 14 hours a day 7 days a week I would like to have some one call me a loafer!!
Obamacare would have been a disaster for small business. I also don’t think that most people realize that their modest health care plan would be subject to a Cadillac tax esp. here in NY. 90% of the poulation has decent health care. the system largely works and needs some tweaks, but you don’t throw out a system that works for 90% of the people to please 10%. Besides people don’t have jobs. what good is affordable healthcare if you don’t have a job to pay for it. His priorities are so out of whack and out of touch.
#9 you are right!! Its time for the middle class to become a force again. We are getting squeezed out.
Your all scared and clueless. The insurance companies continue to take us to the cleaners while providing less and less service. Health care must change in this country. As a small business owner insurance rates are ruining me. It has only been 3 months since the republican occupation that monopolized and drove our economy into the shitter that it is in. The Pharmaceutical companies are also holding our country hostage. I pretty amazed that the economy is doing as well as it is. It still will take at least a year to recover from the damage of the occupation.
#11, it been a year already. We now have more troops in Iraq and Afganistan than we did under Bush. Unemployment is up to 10% (higher if you count under-employeed and people who have stopped looking). We bailed out banks auto and insurance to the tune of trillions, and now have little to show for it. The dollar is in the toilet, China owns us, Wall st. Owns the rest, forclosures left and right and the biggest priority is pushing through some ill concieved healthcare plan under the cover of darkness?
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good luck to all the new business!!! as long as you keep you price right and good service i think you should profit