Ethereal, 47-38 Vernon Blvd

Ok. It’s really happening. The transformation of Vernon Blvd continues, with the arrival of Ethereal, a women’s clothing boutique located right next to Nook and Crannie at 47-38 Vernon Blvd. I walked by this morning and it was closed, but the store has a grand opening sign - it’s about to crack any second.

A peek in the window produced a lot of reflection from the street, as witnessed in the photographs. But you can get a sense of the flavor. Looks trendy.

Yuppification or general improvement/evolution of the neighborhood? Or both?

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.

Lots of good conversation going on these days. The Vernon rumors delivered yesterday, and an older post about the CUNY dorm building, has inadvertently created an informal LIC wish list. So we’ve decided to tally the requests, and present them to the vast sea of enterprising entrepreneurs out there; some of whom might understand what it is to live and start a business now in LIC.

There seems to be a general preference amongst the actual residents for the independent, local chain, and mom/pop type retail amenity, over national brands. Save for probably a decent pharmacy (which is delivering in Queenswest in the form of a Duane Reade). Brokers and developers are more interested in the national brands of course, as they can pay high premiums on the new GF retail emerging with the residential development.

The list so far, in no particular order »

Robert Prichard & Michael Waldman of Queensbridge Theatre, LIC

Well folks, say hello to the Queensbridge Theater. LIC’s getting its first rock club this summer. It’s a bit of a hike from the south side of LIC, and not really accessible by subway, but still - it’s more art in the hood. And they have some really cool ideas which actually take into consideration the needs of the surrounding community…which can’t always be said about the new arrivals.

“Adopting the slogan “Downtown Has Moved to Queens,” [Robert Prichard,] the former Lower East Side stalwart is partnering with developer Michael Waldman to open what he called a “rock ‘n’ roll supper club, similar to a Bowery Ballroom or a Mercury Lounge with a restaurant—a first for Long Island City, a first for Queens.

Scheduled to open this summer, the 5,000-square-foot Queensbridge Theater, located at 37-31 10th Street, may be somewhat unique in concept. (After the nighttime entertainment ends at 4 a.m., the proprietors intend to open back up just three hours later for breakfast, with homemade bread baked fresh on the premises.)

“We want to bring in artists and performers on all levels,” added Mr. Prichard, who plans to book the space not only for concerts, but also for Off Broadway plays, art exhibits—even after-school programs: “We want to offer the community the facilities we have during the day,” he said. “Bring in musicians and teach the kids how to play music and then put ‘em up onstage.”“

*Long Island Rock City [Observer]