Jackson Heights Life

I can say for certain that the jackson heights farmers market has a lot of people who patronize it. So going along with that, I think somewhere that caters to local ingredients with items in the 9-15 dollar price range would do pretty well. however, novo is quite a big space, not sure what the rent is, but they'd have to have a lot of throughput to do well.

i think a better coffee shop might do well - like the queens kickshaw. they create a community aspect with the coffee, but also sell a lot with the alcohol at night. people need somewhere to hang out around here.

I walked by today and there was new signage. A huge 'STORE FOR RENT' billboard over the door and a sign that says Contact NEW REALTY.

Have these been up for a while?

STORE sounds ominous.

jackson heights commercial landlords use JH like a blood bank for vampires. its cruel and inhumane.

jeff, since i've lived on 35th for a while, i wonder about the rents there. the north side of the street has had long-term commercial tenants with very little turnover (and not huge $ businesses -- dry cleaner, beauty salon, health store) but the south side where alchemy and lin's kitchen are is in constant flux, with discount stores and south asian groceries opening and closing every year or two. two different landlord mindsets, i guess.

Let's be honest.  37th Ave is the natural boulevard for JH.

It was planned that way in 1920's.

And 37th Ave is the obvious site for bars/interesting venues/great stores.

Promenading down 37th Ave in Jackson Heights is aesthetically pleasing...because of how it was designed. Charming really.  And far more attractive than say Court or Smith or 5th Avenue in Brooklyn...and even most streets in Manhattan.

That is...apart from the majority of uninspiring stores that exist along 37th Ave...
The architecture is impressive.  The retail...not so much.

I believe the only way a situation might be challenged is to expose it to the light.
Until now the landlords and their agents operate under shady situations.
No-one knows how much anyone else pays for their rent. And that's how landlords are able to maintain their level of price fixing here in JH.  By keeping folks in the dark.

Either the situation can be taken to the press...or lists of rents paid circulated to everyone...
and only then possibly...might these landlords/agents be exposed as rent gougers.

And PERHAPS shamed into fairness.

My guess is that many of the new English speaking retail tenants have no idea about their rights (or lack thereof) in these commercial situations.

In truth I am certainly no expert and have no idea how commercial rights work...though I have learned one thing.  New York City can be particularly Byzantine when it comes to rules and regulations...

Interesting. What you are saying is...to have patience and in 1 or 2 or 5 years things will sort themselves out...that sounds very Zen...and correct...thanks for your experience...as you have kinda seen all this happen before elsewhere... 

  Jeez. When my next door neighbor in my building wanted to open a little bistro in the neighborhood, all he had to do was ask other businesses what they were paying for leases and they told him. It's no big secret, you want to know, ask the person paying it.