By Ivan Pereira
Downtown Jamaica is seeing a surge in new businesses big and small and a community leader is imploring major corporations to set up shop in the heart of southeast Queens.
Community Board 12 District Manager Yvonne Reddick said she was glad when Applebee’s opened up a new location on Jamaica Avenue two weeks ago because it was the first time in a long time that a major chain had come to the area. The success and popularity of the restaurant will be one of the many examples that should lure other major brand-name shops to downtown Jamaica, she said.
“We have enough beauty supply and nail salons. We need other businesses as well,” she said.
The avenue is already home to an Old Navy, GameStop, Cookie’s clothing store and the newly opened Gap outlet and Verizon Wireless store. There are many small shops that sell clothing, electronics and jewelry venues that have opened recently as well including the Icer clothing outlet store that opened at 162-24 Jamaica Ave.
Reddick said she does not like seeing her residents go to Long Island or other parts of the borough for their major shopping needs, especially during the holidays.
“We would love to have a Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond or Macy’s,” she said. “Why should we have to go to other areas and keep their businesses alive?”
The opening of new stores is much needed, according to Reddick, not only to counter the recession but also to fill the employment void that has hit southeast Queens. The Hostess and Wonder Bread factory on Douglas Avenue will be closing Jan. 7 and 200 workers from the 140-year-old factory will be out of work.
Reddick said groups such as the Jamaica Business Improvement District have been lobbying these chains to come to the area for years, but the response has been slow. One of the reasons behind the sluggish commercial response is the neighborhood’s previous image as a crime-ridden place, according to the district manager.
“Jamaica has been stigmatized that it is unsafe. That is not true,” she said.
Reddick noted that the community has taken a lot of steps to improve its image with the AirTrain, the Long Island Rail Road terminal and beautification projects.
“I haven’t heard of any complaints from the LIRR riders or AirTrain riders that it is unsafe,” she said.
More projects are on the way that will improve on the image and economy, including the Sutphin Underpass project, which will transform the area under the LIRR on Sutphin Boulevard into a lighted space with small shops that cater to commuters.
Reddick said she is confident this project and future stores will start to bring customers from other neighborhoods to Jamaica for a change.
“Come on down. We welcome you,” she said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
