More LIC blues: Verizon Wireless coming to Echelon on Jackson Ave
Verizon Wireless coming to LIC
Well, maybe some will sing a happy tune for Verizon Wireless in LIC, but at liQcity, we’re always hoping for more independent commerce to serve the needs of the exploding community. A liQcity tipster sent a photo of the Verizon Wireless sign in the right ground floor retail spot of the Echelon condos. (No word on what’s happening to the left retail spot.)
Interesting - we passed by that window this morning and the Verizon sign is there but it’s fallen over upon itself, so you can’t see it anymore. Maybe it’s foreshadowing? After all, Starbucks threatened twice to come to LIC and all that manifested was a fake kiosk in the Citibank tower lobby.
And speaking of the Echelon, what’s going on in the building? There have been rumors of malcontent among the residents…something about ‘issues with developer”. File that last bit under BUZZ (aka rumor).
Echelon condos and the Long Island City-scape, Hunters Point
This is like Jane Jacobs 101 re: The need for old buildings. Surely (of necessity for profit given the cost of land and construction) all these new towers are going to be charging rents for their ground-floor retail spaces that will preclude almost anything but wealthy chains that can and will pay for the space.
One of these towers will surely have a Starbucks in them… just give it time.
That’s a good point Brandon about the cost of retail space in LIC. Maybe if they make it more affordable… but why would they? But don’t worry about Starbucks coming here… they are closing many stores in the city and have major internal problems to deal with.
Relax corporation-o-phobes, big bad Verizon Inc. is not moving into town to steal your money and take your property, its a Verizon authorized dealer, a franchise location. It will probably be owned by a guy who owns 1 0r 2 wireless communication stores. In essence, a “small business” owner, that we all seem to favor so much. To be honest, I would probably rather it be an actual Verizon location, as the small wireless communications stores tend to be shady and a bit of a rip-off. In any case, this retailer is a GOOD thing for the neighborhood, it means we are actually going to start getting stores for specialty needs, meaning we will start to get more retailers besides restaurants, bars and coffee shops. When we need something, we might actually be able to get it here, rather than venturing off to another zip code. And at least it beats another asian fusion restaurant.
I was hoping for a wine store.
Agree with #4.
#5 - A wine store?! LIC already has at least 4! How about great artisan cheese shop?
Or a bakery?? or a butcher! (didn’t we already go through the list once?)
I think #5 was joking.
Malcontent? Pish-posh…
What IS happening with Echelon? They were one of the first “new condos” to be occupied but you never hear anything about how it’s going or a peep from anyone living there or anything about that building at all. It’s off the radar.
#4 was being facetious; a little humor thrown into the mix of responses, is good.
Charlie.
I meant # 5.
Charlie.
you don’t use a cell phone provider? i suppose yours is a mom and pop wireless company. come on. who gives a crap if verizon comes to the neighborhood.
Seriously, does anyone live in the Echelon? It’s like the Bermuda Triangle. People moved in and then that was it. We hear a lot about Arris, and yes City Lights of course, but I’m in East Coast renting and I’m looking around at all the condo buildings. How IS the Echelon?
I totally use chic, cage-free, boutique, non-GMO, locally-produced, sustainable wireless service on a biodegradable handset that says “this is not a plastic phone” on the side that was designed by, like, Banksy.
Brandon,
But is it organic?
#4 … the small Wireless merchant is actually where you get the good deals and are not ripoffs. Most of them have questionalble marketing abilities and shady storefronts, but pricewise the hardware IS cheaper than the OEM stores so to speak.
Good buildings should be seen and not heard. I take silence as a good sign.
18 and 19, I have to say, just reading your comments, the two of you sound like the most joyless people I ever heard.
Boo to Verizon! Nice photo of the skyline.