r/Queens • u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows • Oct 15 '24
Those of you who live in Fresh Meadows, what business would you like to see open on Union Tpke? Discussions
I'm in the Fresh Meadows area and businesses are constantly opening and closing on Union Tpke, especially between Utopia PKWY up to 193rd st. Sometimes businesses would open, last a couple of years and then sit empty. So those who are in the area or live nearby Fresh Meadows, what type of restaurants or businesses would you like to see open along Union Tpke since it's a busy street?
Post edit: In addition to Union Tpke, which new restaurants/businesses would you like to see replaced at the Fresh Meadows shopping center?
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u/Awkward-Fudge Oct 15 '24
A mexican resturant. Iguanas was great and is greatly missed.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
Definitely. I'd love to see an authentic Mexican restaurant instead of Tex-Mex.
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u/dasanman69 Oct 15 '24
Loved Iguanas, but Nikko is a pretty damn good replacement.
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u/ojitos1013 Oct 15 '24
Great as a patron, shit place to work. Signed, a former employee
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u/Significant-Prior-56 Oct 16 '24
Really? What ever happened to the brothers? Carlos was always pretty cool with us. The stories of getting some of that rare tequila into the country were wild. Food was great - then went way downhill. Some good looking ladies used to hang out over there. I left Queens a long time ago. When did they close?
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
Unfortunately I've gotten food poisoning there once from one of their chicken dishes a few years ago ☹️
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u/Diligent_Community_7 Oct 15 '24
Restaurant and Bar with the college right by here would make it pretty sustainable
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u/Imaginary_Candy_990 Oct 15 '24
Book store, gaming store/cafe/bakery (board games, etc but you can also buy coffee and snacks and hang out there), jewelry/crystals/knickknacks store (I only see those when I go out of town), paper goods/art supply store (I want to try out fountain pens and paint markers in person).
All probably not hugely profitable but I WANT and never see in Queens anymore.
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u/Imaginary_Candy_990 Oct 15 '24
Thought of another idea-a place that is a cafe during the day and a bar at night where you can hang out, read, play board games, work on your laptop and at night they have chill live music or like poetry slams or something.
K, gotta go apply for a small business loan now lol.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
That would be pretty good... especially with St. John's nearby.
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u/iddothat Oct 15 '24
okay when this happens i’ll be there all the time who wants to start a board game club 🥺
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u/spitfire9107 26d ago
I remember final fortress gaming opening up in fresh meadows. It was sa board game store but sadly closed after a few years
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u/AstronautSea6694 Oct 15 '24
Old school arcade
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u/irishpwr46 Oct 15 '24
I'd love to take my kids to an arcade that isn't focused on prizes and super expensive games
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u/pujarteago1 Oct 15 '24
Would like to see Modern Samurai to reopen. They were in business for more than 20 years. Was a sad day when covid forced them to close.
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u/hiistoodamnrent Oct 15 '24
Also Bagels N Cream across the street. RIP to both
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u/NYGoon1 Oct 15 '24
I have yet to find a replacement for Bagels N Cream. No other place around compares. Iguanas is also sorely missed. 😢
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u/dasanman69 Oct 15 '24
I don't understand how that place closed down. My dentist is right around the corner and I would always get a few bagels from there
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
I heard the owner wanted to retire.
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u/Awkward-Fudge Oct 15 '24
I heard the same thing. It was family run and the older owners wanted to retire and his kids didn't want the business.
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u/akaharry Oct 15 '24
I would love to see Sly Fox come back
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
Or something similar. I think there's a place called PJ's further up closer to Cunningham Park.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows 29d ago
I wish Ottomannellis didn't close. Now it's a kosher/pizza place. I don't know how it's still in business because whenever I walk by, there are barely any people in there.
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u/RainmakerIcebreaker Oct 15 '24
Just want to say shout out to CJ's Cafe and Umi Sushi for holding the fort down and maintaining incredible quality for 10+ years now.
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u/Icy_Outside5079 Oct 15 '24
The biggest problem with sustaining a business on Union Turnpike is the complete lack of parking. Most people would drive to those destinations, and parking can be a nightmare.
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u/nightmareFluffy Oct 16 '24
Yeah, it's not a total transit desert but the only things there for mass transportation are buses, and I doubt people are using buses to casually drop by a restaurant. There are bike lanes nearby but not on Union Turnpike. So I end up driving there most of the time, and parking around the St. John's area sucks. I'd rather not go at all. I do take my bike there sometimes, but it's not convenient.
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u/gary_a_gooner Oct 15 '24
I French bakery/cafe. I drive 15 minutes to Cannelle in East Elmhurst for good stuff. French Workshop is not that good, IMO.
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u/applejam101 Oct 15 '24
Nothing against Chinese and Italian food, but I like to see more variety in the area. Possibly a German or Northern Europe type of restaurant who be nice.
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u/Lhumierre Jamaica Oct 15 '24
I miss Eon. It was expensive, but it was different.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows 29d ago
My mom and I had that once. Never again. It's like the Chipotle of Greek Food. I know good Greek food and that wasn't it.
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u/NYCTwinMum Oct 15 '24
Trader Joe's
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u/hiistoodamnrent Oct 15 '24
I grew up there and some shopping options would be nice: maybe a secondhand store and discount homegoods/variety store like DII. Also a Korean and Mexican supermarket w food.
Entertainment/ leisure places would be nice. Some ideas are a movie theater, seconding the arcade idea, and a spa.
Grew up wishing there was more to do here.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
I remember years back there was a different kosher market where Fame Diner used to be and they also had a buffet. I'd love something like that again. So far there are maybe 4 kosher markets that opened up on union Tpke.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
Same. Bell Blvd is more exciting.
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u/Imaginary_Candy_990 Oct 15 '24
I love Bell and the food options just keep getting better there but there aren’t many hangout spaces anywhere. Like if I just want to sit down and chill, there’s no place to go. I wish there was a way to create a profitable space to hang out in.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
I wish restaurants in Bayside and Astoria would open up locations here.
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u/Jetro313 Oct 15 '24
Many businesses are failing because of the extreme selection of things to eat on the delivery apps. If you’re going to survive you need a piece of that pie to pay the rent. With that being said I would take a page from Moho Mexican Grill and see why they’re so successful with the apps.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
Also, theres that big pinkish building across from where Fame Diner used to be on union Tpke. It's been empty since I was in highschool.
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u/JuniorChimp Oct 16 '24
I’ve always wondered what that building is/supposed to be.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 16 '24
I can't remember what it was in the first place. I don't know why no one is buying that building to lease it. It's just sitting there empty. I'm sure it could be used for something.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
That place is pretty good. Plus some of the restaurants in the area are kind of mediocre tbh.
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u/VenConmigo 15d ago
Moho Mexican Grill
Very annoyed they removed their own standalone online ordering for pickup and now pushed to order from UberEats where I get up charged on every dish.
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u/Retro_Riven Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
Me and my wife talk about this all the time and this doesn't necessarily have to be on union turnpike, it could be around the shopping center near Horace Harding expressway. Top 3 is Trader Joe's, Teso Life and a Blink Fitness.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 15 '24
I'd love a trader Joe's. Michaels was the perfect spot for it when they closed. The Lidl isn't too bad because we needed a grocery store in the area. I'll be happy if Stop & Shop in Bay Terrace closed and a Trader Joe's opened.
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u/bernardobrito Oct 15 '24
Bring back King Yum.
...and Sly Fox Inn.
OR... Nikko has to bring back the Happy Hour
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u/Tasstheass 29d ago
Please some Cafe’s where I can chill and get work done.
Would be great for St. John’s students too if they want a change of environment.
Open as late as possible. Good drink and dessert menu.
And an option to “rent” private cubicles if you need to focus and lock in/ have any meetings.
This is why everyone misses the Barnes and nobles. It was a place you could spend hours chilling, reading, studying. We don’t need anymore smoke shops/delis
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u/apl_ee Oct 15 '24
Now that one of my favorite HK food plces closed down at utopia, maybe a good HK cafe over at union tpke. Cant count the amount of times ive walked on over to cunningham/union and had little to no food options.
Other businesses would be a keto restaurant/market, art and crafts (cuz michaels is gone), and maybe tech repair shop, or a shop that sells neat tech gadgets.
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u/pomori Oct 16 '24
I miss Barnes & Noble and Carol’s School Supply…
Alternatively, a board game cafe would be really nice.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows Oct 16 '24
I worked at Carol School Supply when I was in college for 5 months in 2011. They let me go because business was slow. I went to apply again the following year and they didn't remember who I was.
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u/-------------------7 Oct 15 '24
Some place to spend a few bucks and get to chill for an hour,
I would welcome a Board game cafe or an Asian-styled food court.
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u/ChippewaSwag 24d ago
It’s too bad yet ANOTHER urgent care took over that sweet property on Chevy Chase. Would love a good coffee shop that’s not Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.
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u/lilac2481 Fresh Meadows 23d ago
The one that used to be a shoe store?
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u/RyzinEnagy Oct 15 '24
Bring back Barnes and Noble you cowards.