Three Chain Restaurants Coming to Vacant Lot Across from Queens Center Mall
Back in 2001, the Whitestone-based Mattone Group struck a deal with the Economic Development Corp. to build a large movie theater on a 100,000-square-foot parcel of land next door to the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst. The developer was unable to find an operator and the project never got built, resulting in a legal dispute…
Back in 2001, the Whitestone-based Mattone Group struck a deal with the Economic Development Corp. to build a large movie theater on a 100,000-square-foot parcel of land next door to the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst. The developer was unable to find an operator and the project never got built, resulting in a legal dispute with the city that ended with Mattone writing a $3 million check to the city and an agreement to develop the land for other purposes. (The property is on the south side of 59th Avenue between 92nd and 94th streets.) Those other purposes were revealed at a Community Board 4 meeting last week. As reported by the Daily News, the new project will include locations for three chain restaurants–Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden and Joe’s Crab Shack. Community leaders expressed some concern about traffic but were glad that something was finally happening with the site. GMAP
I like that this is happening. People in Queens like this kind of stuff. There’s already the Outback Steakhouse and Red Lobster at the circle mall and the Applebees at Queens Center. They all do great. I think this is great news. Also, I remember when the Rock Church was a movie theatre but that obviously didn’t work out in its later years. Maybe that has a little something to do with why there were no movie theatre tenants to be found in order to fulfill the original plans?
There are still great neighborhood restaurants but stuff like Olive Garden is fun too. And also more accessible to people who might think the “real deal” is a little bit intimidating or pricey.
I wonder if Atlas Park Mall would do better if it got tenants like these. I’m waiting for the first Cheesecake Factory to open in Queens. Hope it happens soon 🙂
I remember when they proposed the movie theater there I thought it would just be too much traffic for the area, however right now I am sort of wishing it was a movie theater and not another suburban build out in Queens.
Across from mall, rents and customer base favors chains. Neighborhoods like sunnyside can sustain quality, local restaurants if they can become destinations — like salt and fat