Friday, February 25, 2011

Goodbye character, hello 99-cent stores

From the Daily News:

Bargains abound at the 99-cent store that opened on 37th Ave. last fall, replacing the Cavalier Restaurant in Jackson Heights.

But locals gripe that the deals are a poor substitute for what the Cavalier had provided - a place where friends met for the familiar faces and unique atmosphere that was a part of the community for half a century.

Some refuse to patronize its discount replacement, still longing for the Cavalier's neon signs and camaraderie.

"I get a sinking feeling in my stomach," said filmmaker Celeste Balducci, 53, who has lived in the area for nearly 25 years. The 99-cent shop doesn't "add anything to the neighborhood - no personality, no charm," she said.

It's a common refrain nowadays in Queens.

When locals lose sites that defined their neighborhoods, experts contend, their sense of place drops.

The transformations aren't all negative. Queens has gained many ethnic eateries, for example, that have become the pride of their communities.

But the last decade alone has seen so many deeply rooted establishments close - including the Cavalier - that some worry Queens is losing its identity.

Worse, those spots are being replaced with unexceptional offices, banks or chains, leaving a homogeneous look.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

we're a nation of 99cent and walmart stores now.

Anonymous said...

We have a 99 cent a year mayor running NYC....

Anonymous said...

We have a 99 cent a year mayor running NYC....

Good point!

Anonymous said...

"I get a sinking feeling in my stomach," said filmmaker Celeste Balducci, 53, who has lived in the area for nearly 25 years. The 99-cent shop doesn't "add anything to the neighborhood - no personality, no charm," she said.

I agree with Celeste 100% but these neighborhood mainstay restaurants leave because their new leases are so enormously higher than what they paid and signed 30 years ago.

At the end of the day these wonderful places we know for years are ending operations because they can no longer be profitable going forward. new business such as 99cent stores for various reasons can pay higher rents and can be very profitable, thus why they are replacing restaurants and other places we love.

Anonymous said...

At least there not being replaced by Asian "massaggee" (whore houses) like here in Flushing.

Ethnic Food = Slum Food said...

Ethnic eateries?

Well yes, but so does Manhattan and Brooklyn and well, just about everywhere have them these days and so what?

1.The difference in Queens is that that dimension almost exclusively defines the community.

2. A good portion of these ethnic eateries show signs in a foreign language, have clumps of glum men sitting in tables, and display foods of mytery meat, sitting in the steam table all day greasy 'Spanish' food, hookah smoke, and dirty windows.

Sorry guys, but get real. A neighborhood with Arab, Dominican, Brazilian, Korean, Phillapino choices - and no nicely appointed restaurants with smart food - is what you find in a 'slum.'

THAT is why - with the exception of a handful of (well publized to keep the myth real) hipster excursions, no one in Manhattan sets foot in Queens.

You name the country - they have the food - in Manhattan - without the formica and teaming family groups.

Anonymous said...

Can you say "front" "Money laundering" How many of these "99's" are operated by greedy chinese owners. How can they afford the rents? Illegal practices!

Anonymous said...

Can you say "front" "Money laundering" How many of these "99's" are operated by greedy chinese owners. How can they afford the rents? Illegal practices!

Yes, but they keep their head low until they move out to the Island, and vote Democratic.

That is all they need to do. Serve the community? Hell if the politicans, city planning and the community board don't why should 99 cent stores?

Rigamortus said...

the ONLY good comment was teh first one -

Anonymous said...

Can you say "front" "Money laundering" How many of these "99's" are operated by greedy chinese owners. How can they afford the rents? Illegal practices!

Yes, but they keep their head low until they move out to the Island, and vote Democratic.

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If the practices were really illegal, the IRS would be on their tail right now. The IRS has the right to go after you indefinitely if you are caught up in tax evasions or the like. Since you seem so sure that these businesses are being shady, THEN BY ALL MEANS call the IRS and report these people. If you feel so sure of yourself, then do it! I DARE YOU! Don't start making accusations if the info you are giving is not fact. SO PLEASE IF IT IS TRUE, THEN REPORT THEM TO THE IRS AND DO IT NOW!! IF NOT, then don't voice your opinion and claim it as a FACT.

Anonymous said...

What, no 88c stores?

Juan Mann said...

Character?

Just give me my damn welfare check, a check casher to cash it, and a 99 cent store to spend it in!

Babs said...

"At the end of the day these wonderful places we know for years are ending operations because they can no longer be profitable going forward. new business such as 99cent stores for various reasons can pay higher rents and can be very profitable, thus why they are replacing restaurants and other places we love."

True - don't shop in them - I don't - I would rather have less of better quality merchandise than a lot of crap. I see people who I KNOW have money going into these dives - they're not supporting America or Americans that's for sure. These big corporations want us to buy sh*t, eat sh*t and get paid sh*t so the CEOs can live like kings -

Queens Crapper said...

It's not always the case that the place is not profitable. Many times it's that the rent is jacked up too high because the landlord knows a bank or 99 cent store will be able to pay it if the current occupant can't.

Anonymous said...

re:Ethnic Food = Slum Food

it is so easy to simply bundle every borough into a nice little category. and because most of Queens is not running rampant with trust fund hipsters, or wealthy "business" people, all of our restaurants are slum food. there are dingy eateries around EVERY borough. it's a matter of where you look.

no one from Manhattan sets foot in Queens? maybe if you're a tourist, a transplant, or if you don't know where to go and look everything up on yelp or something.

sure, maybe to you, Manhattan and Brooklyn are the "IT" places right now. but it was not always like this, and it is all susceptible to change. (where will all the hipsters go, Staten Island?)

Anonymous said...

True - don't shop in them - I don't - I would rather have less of better quality merchandise than a lot of crap. I see people who I KNOW have money going into these dives - they're not supporting America or Americans that's for sure. These big corporations want us to buy sh*t, eat sh*t and get paid sh*t so the CEOs can live like kings -
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You sound like one of the people who would raise hell if a Walmart was opening up in your neighborhood. I do agree with you. Than again, it's capitalism! Who cares about other people and your country. Profits run this world. As long as you are profiting, then it's fine. 99 cents stores have an excellent business model. They have low costs. A cost effective supply chain and a good target market segment. They just step on everybody else and have no empathy.

Anonymous said...

A lot of this is a symptom of the deterioration of the standard of living for many middle and working class workers.

It is no coincidence that all kinds of businesses like 99 cent stores, check cashing places, pawnshops etc. that were never seen are now rife.

Anonymous said...

THIS IS WHAT STEINWAY STREET LOOOKS LIKE AS WELL. 99¢ STORES ALL AROUND.

MY, HOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GONE DOWN THE SHITTER.

Anonymous said...

Raised in Elmhurst/Jackson Heights, during the 60s/70s, it breaks my heart to see what a shithouse this area has been turned into, and getting worse every time I look.

"Political correctness"? It hasn't solved the problem of slums; it has just moved them into every decent neighborhood in New York!

Huddled masses of third-world riff-raff, in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst? SICKENING!!!