Nothing puts a town on the map like a local bakery. Astoria has Rose and Joe’s, a traditional old-school Italian bakery. Greenpoint has Peter Pan, an old-fashioned donut shop manned by young Polish women in uniforms. Williamsburg has Fortunato Brothers, a pasticerria that transports you back to 1970’s Brooklyn, and where cannolis are to dessert, what pasta is to dinner: a midway point. As in “I’ll have the tiramisu and a slice of cheesecake, and throw in a cannoli …or two.”
Heretofore, Long Island City hadn’t smelled fresh bread since Silvercup shut down forty years ago, but by the end of the year there will be three bakeries in town. No, they won’t be old-school, or even traditional, but hey, neither is LIC. The first one though, 51st Bakery & Cafe, is well established, having been opened since the beginning of the year. It’s kind of a neighborhood hangout, where in addition to baked goods, you can get awesome fresh-made sandwiches. The second one, Pink Canary, opened this week. Located on Jackson Avenue, it is operated by the owners of Shi and features cakes and cupcakes. Finally, coming in the fall, Cannelle Patisserie is a French bakery that will be located in the Maximilian on 47th Avenue and 5th Street.
Ok, we’ve got the bakery thing out of the way, let’s get to what makes this town run, real estate. Three notes of interest in that department. The first is that, according to The Real Deal:
“The 30,000 square feet of retail space at TF Cornerstone’s East Coast development in Long Island City has now been entirely leased. At 4545 Center Boulevard, I Love Kickboxing will occupy 2,967 square feet of studio space. National waxing services chain European Wax Center has also signed on for 1,252 square feet. TD Restaurant Group (aka Trattoria L’incontro – The Editor) will operate a 7,733-square-foot Italian restaurant at 4610 Center Boulevard in a space behind the iconic Pepsi sign. The eatery will include a 2,200-square-foot outdoor terrace.”
Secondly, according to TF Cornerstone, its 584-unit 46-10 Center Boulevard is now 50% leased. This occurred in only two months time, going a long way towards confirming my prediction in my 2014 LIC Real E-State of the Union that rents on the waterfront will be rising by year end, despite the abundance of building going on in LIC as a whole.
If high rents have you bummed out, then here’s a little tip for those who want to stay near LIC and qualify affordable housing. The lottery for apartments at 1133 Manhattan Avenue, on the northern end of Greenpoint, is now open. See the greatly reduced prices and earning requirements in the link provided.
Finally, Rockaway Brewing Company is launching a Kickstarter campaign to purchase a canning operation. In order to get the word out, they are hosting a free party tonight at The Cliffs LIC from 8pm -11pm with beer, sandwiches, and a live DJ. Check out the Rockaway swag you get for donating to the campaign here.
Oh wait, one more thing: MoMA’s PS1 Warm-Up Series begins tomorrow. Who needs the Hamptons?
1133 Manhattan Avenue Rental Rates and Income Qualifications – the lottery is open, but not to all
TF Cornerstone Leases Up Retail At East Coast – kickbox, wax, gorge, repeat
Former LIC Factory Gets $110 Million, Double ’09 Price – if you read the article, it sounds more like a triple. Either way, buyers frenzied and prices soaring.
Get Ready To Party Inside PS1’s New Courtyard Fungus Tower – just don’t eat it
little m says
June 28, 2014 at 7:08 amWhat about Sweetleaf? They have an onsite baker at their Jackson Avenue location.
Anonymous Bosch says
June 29, 2014 at 9:21 pmThree bakeries and one waxery. Progress has come to LIC.
Jack says
June 30, 2014 at 8:22 pmSilver cup–40 years ago? Sorry. There was a bakery on Vernon at 51st. Fresh Italian bread and baked goods, and excellent coffee–20 years ago.
Anonymous says
July 3, 2014 at 8:49 amjust wanted to say that Peter Pan bakery in Greenpoint has awesome breakfast sandwiches.