Duane Reade, Manducatis Rustico, Sage General Store all on the verge
Duane Reade opens Friday, corner of 5th St & 47th Rd, LIC
Queens West sprouts another soft opening this Friday, courtesy of Duane Reade, at the corner of 47th Rd & 5th St. (You can’t miss it. It’s shiny.) And this is no ordinary Duane Reade, mind you. It’s the LX model. Cosmetics counter, fancier appearance, etc. According to the store’s rep, more “high-end”.
And up on Vernon Blvd between 46th Rd & 47th Ave, is Manducatis Rustico, a rustic Italian cafe which will be officially open in early September, when vacation season is over.
As will Sage General Store, which can loosely be described as a gourmet modern American cafe/store, should also be open sometime early September, just finishing up the construction on their new location next to Court Square Wines on Jackson Ave.
Spa DiSilva on Vernon Blvd seems to be experiencing some, er…trouble.
In general, this has been an extremely productive summer in terms of businesses opening in the neighborhood. LIC is clearly full of some very busy bees. (Just watch out for flying pigs.)
Jeezis, even the Duane Reades moving in here are “upscale.” Gag me.
well brandon, where else do you expect me to get my upscale halloween decorations?
what happened to that french sandwich shop on vernon that was supposed to open?
According to the Duane Reade guy passing out fliers at the Vernon/Jackson stop on Monday, the DR opens today! Are you sure about Friday?
And liqcity, tell us about the rumored MetFood store opening on 51st Avenue. I picked this up from a seemingly reputable source. This person said that they are taking over the Mainco Building across the street from Lucky Mojo. Is this a bunch of baloney?
Oops, I just noticed you have this covered below the fold!
It’s going to take more than a makeup counter and brushed chrome for anyone to perceive Duane Reade as upscale. How sad. Just hand me my AA batteries and cigarettes and spare me all of this crap.
And beer!
The person managing the store set-up said Friday but hey, if it turns out to be open today just post it in the comments. Thanks.
There are other Duane Reades with cosmetic counters – maybe this is the first one for a Queens location.
Duane Reade with glitzy cosmetic counters reminds me of those McDonald’s restaurants with doormen.
When I posted that DR has cosmetic counters in other locations, I should have given an example. The DR in the Empire State Bldng.has had a cosmetic counter for at least 20 years….there is nothing new or “glitzy” about it. Don’t expect to find full lines from Estee Lauder, Chanel or other really high end cosmetic companies.
The name of the family who owns Manducatis is not Manducati. Like I said over a month ago in your last post about it:
Manducatis (with an s, no apostrophe) is not the last name of the owners. I have been told it’s from a psalm in the Vulgate bible.
Their last name is Cerbone.
Manducatis is Latin for \you eat\.
This is really great news. I was worried after the Blend thing that Vernon was going to go to the dogs. Nice to see that small business still has a chance in LIC.
#15 I don’t think Manducatis needs a liquor license so there is nothing CB and the Vernon neighbors could approve or disapprove. Lets see what happens when the next resturant/ bar looks to get a license.
15, are you kidding me? Spare me. There have been scores of new businesses opening in LIC these past years. What in the world are you talking about?
Off topic, I know, but are their any neighborhood Obama watch parties tonight?
there
I doubt it. LIC is McCain territory.
#18 I was thinking the same and LIC is Obama all the way.
Liqcity any word on the street?
#20 you must be confussing Long Island City with Suffolk, Long Island.
Haha, you guys are funny. You assume people in this neighborhood are registered vote. When we had the primary, there were very few people there. I hope they’re registered to vote *somewhere* but they don’t seem registered to vote in LIC.
#23, you’re right, there weren’t many people at my polling place (the courthouse) when I voted in the Primary… what’s the deal?
I’m sure you can talk one of the bars with TVs into turning on the convention…
There’s a huge bar in Greenpoint (over the bridge) that’s showing the convention all week. It’s on the corner of Franklin St and Green St.
Duane Reade opened yesterday (Wednesday), not this coming Friday.
Jesus Christ #26, are you that much of an asshole. Say thank you and stop trying to one-up people. It’s JUST A DRUGSTORE!
Uh? liqcity said to post if they opened earlier than friday. they did, so I did. who’s the asshole now #27?
I believe I’ve read some other similarly hotheaded comments from No. 27 on other threads. He’s a complete loser.
i live in the building and DR DID NOT open on Wed. sorry #26..i can confirm that i did see it open for the first time this morning…
i know this is the most irrelevant discussion, just my 2 cents
I wonder what Obama thinks about this Duane Reade issue.
They opened today. It says GRAND OPENING.
Went this afternoon. The place looks very spiffy. I don’t know if it is upscale or not, but its the best looking DR that I’ve ever been to. Good layout, nice selection friendly staff (although they were all still being trained). Afterward I went to FoodCellar and got something to eat. It was all very civilized. Lived here for 10 years and I finally feel like a human being having the ability to run out and pick something up. Life’s simple pleasures. With these two store LIC is now infinately more livable.
So # 33, for the 10 years prior to these openings, you didn’t feel human or civilized? I hope the feeling was at least primate like, and bipedal, so you could run and pick stuff up.
Hey, just kidding. I couldn’t help myself. They way the post was worded, left it wide open for a good humorous zinging. I hope you are not offended.
I’m glad you enjoy the convenience.
Charlie.
Really, what is so great about Duane Reade? You must have one right next to your apartment to feel human, 33? I really don’t get it. It’s a dispiriting, soulless store. I’m happy getting my drug store purchases from the local guy or in Manhattan, where you’ll inevitably find a DR within spitting distance. Big friggin’ deal.
35, Duane Reade in and of itself is not great, but what is great is that on Saturday morning when I discover I am out of my brand of laundry detergent I don’t have to go into Manhattan to get it before starting my laundry. They don’t carry my brand at E&I, and I don’t have a car so running back and forth between C-Town and Key Food is not really an option. Not sure what crawled up your butt, but if you don’t like it don’t go. Keep going to the “local guy” who is only open for what seems to between 11-3pm on M-F. Or spend an hour going into Manhattan and bringing it back. Some of enjoy having options and the convenience. You sound like the same guy that was angry when Food Cellar opened.
Um this Duane Reade is great. Very well thought out and much more than just a pharmacy. Part grocery store, part houseware store, basic beauty supplies… definitely the fanciest DR I’ve seen. Spanking clean with a security guard… that feels weird in LIC.
Agreed 37. If you read about DR business strategy they don’t typically target the expensive retail space and tend to put their stores in odd nooks where other stores would think twice about. As a result their stores tend to be a bit crowded and poorly laid out. Its really nice what they did with the space. Best DR I’ve ever been in.
LOL re: “my brand of laundry detergent”. Get over yourself.
Duane Reade is closed today? Um, why?
(Besides that whole “Labor Day” thing but that’s how workers make overtime…or that’s what I used to live for before I turned professional).
Most of LIC was shut done today.
Rustico officially opened Saturday Night. Yum!!
Send tips, feedback, and death threats to info [at] liqcity [dot] com
What about the old 5SL place. Is that still going to be a Japanese restaurant?