Purple Pumpkin closes doors on Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Well, well, well. How things can change so dramatically from one season to the next. 2008 saw more business openings in Long Island City than we could keep up with, and now in 2009 we’re seeing more retail vacancies than ever in Vernon/Jackson, including multiple businesses which seem to have gone under.

Next Level Floral didn’t even bother with the signs. They just quietly disappeared from their Vernon Blvd storefront (at 44th Drive) without a peep. The Purple Pumpkin has also closed their doors on Vernon, but are keeping up business activity on the website. It’s rumored that another Vernon business might move into the space, but it’s speculation at the moment so we’ll just leave it at that. Spa DiSilva didn’t even get officially started, but now they’re officially finished, and the retail space is for rent.

Generally, things are looking pretty bleak for retail on Vernon right now. Vacancies include »

Hello liQcity readers. If you’ve noticed since the holidays posting has been sparse, it has. It will continue to be so until the end of Jan, picking up steam as some new contributors and partners come on board in Feb. We’ll throw some linkage and vitals out to you as we can, and please stay tuned for a greatly improved liQcity thanks mostly to all of your feedback. LIC is a great community and we are proud and honored to be a part of it.

Speaking of LIC community, a group of LIC business owners and residents are actively campaigning to get the City to help LIC business and general activity continue on the weekends while the 7 train is shut down for the next two months. (Seems they have wisely given up on our very disappointing transportation authority.)

An LIC business owner and resident writes »

Butcher Juice Bar and Hookah Cafe, 49-16 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

We got wind of a hookah bar opening above the Butcher Deli at 49-16 Vernon Blvd (corner of 50th St next to the parking lot) a while back, and didn’t hear anything again until recently, when signs have emerged announcing the Butcher Juice Bar & Hookah Cafe.

Located upstairs from the deli »

Sage General Store, 24-20 Jackson Ave, Court Square, LIC (718) 361-0707

This fall really boosted Long Island City’s supply of food. Just a quick recap of what’s opened since August: foodcellar, SHI, Duane Reade, Manducatis Rustica, and Sage General Store. Not to mention what’s in the works: MetFoods, Sushi Siam. Though it’s not very new, let’s throw Ion’s Corner Romanian Cafe into the mix as well, since it’s new to us. And Ihawan‘s with us in spirit.

Over in Court Square »

Sushi Siam, Vernon Blvd @ 48th Ave, LIC

The new Japanese/Thai fusion restaurant that’s been brewing at the corner of 48th Ave & Vernon (the old 5SL sales office) has some signage action. Sushi Siam will soft open sometime in the middle of November. According to the new owners, the restaurant will feature a full Thai menu, along with Sushi and traditional Japanese offerings.

The storefront right next door is also undergoing a transformation into a dentist’s office. Actually, that whole block on Vernon »

LIC Corner Deli is no more. Vernon Blvd, Hunters Point, LIC

In case you were wondering what happened to the LIC Corner Deli »

Sprint/Nextel opening on Jackson Ave between Vernon Blvd & 50th Ave, LIC

Fall marks the arrival of many things. In Long Island City, it seems to be wireless stores like Verizon which opened at the Echelon on Jackson Ave, and now Sprint/Nextel, which is opening up between Vernon Blvd & 50th St at the bottom of a brand spanking new Fedders building. woohoo.

In contrast »

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 »

Mainco building on 51st Ave to host MetFoods, Vernon/Jackson, LIC

Yes, the rumors about MetFoods coming to the old Mainco elevator building on 51st Ave between Vernon & 5th St are true »

Duane Reade manifesting on 47th Rd @ 5th St, Long Island City

Queens West continues with its late summer bloom, as Duane Reade catches up with its neighbor, foodcellar, which has been open since Wednesday and already starting to pick up a decent bustle. The store is still being stocked, and there is a lot of grumble »

Strata Tower – Abhu Dhabi, UAE

from the liQcity inbox:

“”I am happy to announce the arrival of Asymptote Architecture, to the corner of 46rd and Asymptote Architecture is representing the United States at the Venice Biennale in Italy this year and will have over 50 architects working at this new location. They are presently renovating the building to become a state of the art architecture office, The principals, Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture are professors at Harvard School of Architecture and Columbia School of Architecture. This will represent new blood for the neighborhood and enliven culture in LIC.”*

Wouldn’t it be great »

foodcellar market, 47th Rd between 5th St & Center Blvd, Queens West, LIC

Happy Daze. The long awaited foodcellar (formerly known as and still owned by Amish Market) is opening TOMORROW at 7am. It’s a soft opening, but as you know soft ice cream is still ice cream, and if there is food on the shelves that we can buy, it’s a grocery store »

The Creek sans the cave, Jackson Ave @ the Pulaski Bridge, Long Island City

Business deals live and die like everything else in LIC (and the world) so it shouldn’t have come as any surprise (it didn’t) to liQcity to discover the following »

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 »

McReilly’s Bar closing down, 4642 Vernon Blvd @ 47th St, LIC

From the liQ inbox comes the news »

Dear liQcity readers,

If you’re noticing that comments are occasionally randomly being deleted, it’s because we’re manually deleting spam, and occasionally a real comment gets accidentally erased.

Spam sucks. It’s insidious. Terrible. Truly a virus. And it’s actually All Your Fault, liQcity readers, that we’re being bombarded with it now. When the blog launched six months ago, we truly thought we’d be talking to virtually no one for at least that long. But of course, we underestimated the fervor of LIC residents, and the diabolical power of Curbed.

So, »

New cafe opening on Vernon Blvd

The owners of the Manducati restaurant on Jackson Ave have been working on a cafe and small gourmet market on Vernon near 46th Ave. Peeking into the doorway, the cafe looks ready to pop any day now. Word on the street (literally) is that the gelato is to die for. Good timing.

Peeking into more windows »

After two failed attempts, Starbucks is finally coming to Long Island City, and it’s going exactly where it belongs: the lobby of the Citibank tower. woohoo.

However, if your coffee sensibilities desire a more local and community brew »

Site of Sweet Leaf on Jackson Ave, LIC

The storefront right in front of the B61 bus stop on 11th St at Jackson is producing a small cafe called Sweet Leaf. Beautiful little spot that should be opening towards the end of May. It’s very small – just pop in and get your morning latte and a croissant type of place. The owners have kept a lot of the old school finishings…tin ceiling, quaint fixtures etc. It’ll be nice for those waiting for the bus, and the newcomers to the multiple buildings in progress right around that intersection.

The Market at Long Island City, 5th St & 47th Rd, Queenswest, LIC

The Queenswest grocery store that’s been teasing us for over a year now is finally blossoming. Only it’s called The Market at Long Island City instead of the Amish Market – though operated by the same owners. I dunno, something about the Amish Market rolls off the tongue nicely… I feel like we’ll all still be calling it that anyway. Old habits die hard and you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. Right?

Also manifesting right next door is the Duane Reade. Need some proof?

Here you go »

Rumored site of a new high-end beauty salon on Vernon Blvd, LIC

1) Right next to the new spot Ethereal, is supposedly manifesting a small, French sandwich-style bistro named Figaro.

2) Across the street, and at the site in the picture is rumored to become a high-end beauty salon. The interior is currently being gutted.

3) This new building complex on Vernon, owned by the Manducati family, is rumored to be delivering a fancy, gourmet food store to the ground level. Think Zabar’s, not Gristedes.

4) Right next door to New Level Floral’s new location at 44th Drive, is going to play host to a new cigar lounge called Halo.

For those music lovers out there, here’s a Press Release from a local Long Island City business, Amie Street, which provides a great website promoting independent music. Check them out.

Hello:

Today, 2/26/08, Amie Street is releasing the entire catalogs of Beggars Group (XL, Rough Trade, 4AD), Matador Records and Polyvinyl Recording Co. — more than 15,000 songs.

Thom Yorke, Cat Power, Interpol, of Montreal, Devendra Banhart, The New Pornographers, Sigur Rós, Yo La Tengo, Pavement, Belle and Sebastian, and Architecture In Helsinki are just a few of the artists now available on AmieStreet.com.

This is an exciting new development in the digital music world, as more and more artists embrace fan-based pricing as a viable music sales model.

These artists, like all songs on Amie Street, are initially free to download and rise in price based on popularity, up to $0.98.

Check out the [press release] for more information, go to AmieStreet.com for the music, and feel free to call or email me with any questions.

Thanks, Zane

• Amie Street [Official Website]

Full Press Release »

Hunters Point Wines and Spirits, 47-07 Vernon Blvd, 718.472.WINE

Vern-Jax’ers may not have a grocery store, but we certainly have an abundance of places to pick up booze. But booze is hardly what Hunters Point Wines & Spirits is selling in their remarkably beautiful storefront on Vernon Blvd between the 47th’s. Owner Paul Huston has been in the wine business for 30 years and not only does he know wine, but he’s also an LIC lifer. I think I’ve seen a lot of change in 4 years… imagine what LIC must have been like 30 years ago. It certainly wouldn’t have hosted a store like this.

HP Wines specializes in hard-to-find handcrafted bottles, as opposed to what Huston refers to as ‘mass-produced commercial horseshit’. And from the looks of things, he’s telling the truth. I spent this morning chatting with Mr. Huston, who like all good wine connoisseurs, is passionate about his product and showed me an artisan crafted sake produced and hand delivered to the emperor of Japan. It’s probably not hand delivered to Vernon, but it’s definitely a great example of the rare treats stocked on those gorgeous shelves. Which includes a great selection of spirits, as well as organic and biodynamic wines.

Like all good wine shops »