Author Topic: ABC Store Closing (Read 7295 times)

braun · « **on:** December 19, 2016, 08:12:16 AM »

This weekend I saw signs that ABC Store on 31st bet 21st and Ditmars will be closing. They don't say when it will close. I'm really not happy about this at all. This store has everything you could want at great prices. There aren't any other clothing stores in the area that sell ladies, mens, and childrens wear as well as having things for the house like curtains and bedspreads. I wonder what will be taking its place. I hope not an apartment building

Eamonn · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2016, 08:36:44 AM »

That is a shame. It appears days are numbered for this type of retail. The real estate is just too valuable for this large department store type establishments. I wouldn't be surprised to see the phenomenon move over to Steinway St.

animal · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2016, 12:18:17 PM »

I think the property was sold a year ago or longer and the lease was finally up.

I hope it becomes a high rise. We need more rentals in the area.

braun · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2016, 12:52:35 PM »

Quote from: animal on December 19, 2016, 12:18:17 PM

I think the property was sold a year ago or longer and the lease was finally up.

I hope it becomes a high rise. We need more rentals in the area.

The last thing I would want is a high rise. That's something that we don't and it wouldn't fit in with the rest of the buildings in the area. They should open another store in that space. That's what we need

animal · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2016, 02:17:47 PM »

Why would we need another store when there is Amazon?

We need more rentals. The only way to bring rent prices down is to have more units on the market.
I suppose a 500 unit building can go there and some retail or restaurants could go on the first floor.

Eamonn · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2016, 03:51:14 PM »

Quote from: animal on December 19, 2016, 02:17:47 PM

Why would we need another store when there is Amazon?

We need more rentals. The only way to bring rent prices down is to have more units on the market.
I suppose a 500 unit building can go there and some retail or restaurants could go on the first floor.

I am inclined to agree. This is a zone that is desperate for new housing.

Simplymei · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2016, 04:27:54 PM »

Greetings ~ hopefully i copied the link correctly about the closing of ABC

goldenwood.nyc/our-company/news/articles/featured-closing-21-25-31st-street-astoria-ny-11105-635m

(Braun, I'm with you, although I did not frequent the place, it was perfect for me whenever i had last minute shopping)

C'iao for now ~

Happy Holidays Everyone

28Grand · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2016, 04:32:43 PM »

This came up in another thread. The building where ABC is located was sold almost two years ago for $6.35 million cash and at that time it was reported that ABC had 2 years left on their lease, which is why they are closing now.

It's my understanding that under current zoning regulations, a mixed-use development is allowed, i.e. retail at street level and two floors of housing. So no "high-rise" but it's likely that there will be new residential units built if the new owners decides to develop the property.

Modified to add link:
http://www.goldenwood.nyc/our-company/news/articles/featured-closing-21-25-31st-street-astoria-ny-11105-635m/

mm · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2016, 04:57:32 PM »

Quote from: Eamonn on December 19, 2016, 03:51:14 PM

I am inclined to agree. This is a zone that is desperate for new housing.

Depopulating the area would be my preferred solution....

Eamonn · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2016, 04:58:48 PM »

Quote from: mm on December 19, 2016, 04:57:32 PM

Depopulating the area would be my preferred solution....

Curious. If one doesn't like dense population density, why live in the largest, most populated, most densely populated city in the country?

aldo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2016, 05:29:58 PM »

http://astoriapost.com/abc-super-stores-is-closing-as-property-purchased-for-8-5-million-this-month

therebels · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2016, 06:09:16 PM »

Quote from: mm on December 19, 2016, 04:57:32 PM

Depopulating the area would be my preferred solution....

Makes 2 of us.

mm · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2016, 07:08:54 PM »

Quote from: Eamonn on December 19, 2016, 04:58:48 PM

Curious. If one doesn't like dense population density, why live in the largest, most populated, most densely populated city in the country?

"dense population density" sounds like a tautology. But that aside, perhaps there's a level I find tolerable and now it's been passed and things start getting annoying to me?

I can avoid people sufficiently due to my situation, but I can't avoid overpriced hipster nonsense... or post-hipster nonsense.... which is due to a bunch of people moving in here.

So, depopulating Astoria would be a win in my opinion.

angela1969 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2016, 08:08:47 AM »

abc store will not be opening in Astoria anymore -- they said the rentals are too high --

Starwind51 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2016, 08:16:27 PM »

Quote from: Eamonn on December 19, 2016, 04:58:48 PM

Curious. If one doesn't like dense population density, why live in the largest, most populated, most densely populated city in the country?

Living in quiet areas like Astoria is what made living in dense, populous New York City bearable. You'd go crazy in Manhattan, come home to Astoria to get sane.

braun · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2016, 08:05:04 AM »

Quote from: Starwind51 on December 20, 2016, 08:16:27 PM

Living in quiet areas like Astoria is what made living in dense, populous New York City bearable. You'd go crazy in Manhattan, come home to Astoria to get sane.

Starwind I agree with you. In the summer I love coming home to Astoria after working in the city. I look forward to going down to the park and just relaxing

Eamonn · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2016, 09:13:29 AM »

Quote from: Starwind51 on December 20, 2016, 08:16:27 PM

Living in quiet areas like Astoria is what made living in dense, populous New York City bearable. You'd go crazy in Manhattan, come home to Astoria to get sane.

Its not that I disagree with you its I don't think it is responsible or realistic to expect an area so close to Manhattan to remain the way it is. I love the area which is why I live here. I do however understand that we are smack dab in the middle of the most populous and desirable place in the country and world. I can guarantee you there were people complaining about when the building/house you live in was built. We need to be smart about growth and that means more housing and dense growth. The alternative is to continue to the 1950s model of sprawl gobbling up green space at the edges of our cities.

Starwind51 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2016, 05:37:42 PM »

On 31st Street, between Broadway and 31st Avenue, didn't they construct an apartment building with the Deals store on street level? Deals may be schlocky, but the point is you can have large-space retail operations with low price points and new housing above. Even by the el.

Simplymei · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2017, 11:14:47 AM »

Greetings ~ so I stopped by ABC last night and they now have signs posted all over that they are closing soon. I asked the guy by the entrance ... when? After thinking about what I asked him, he replied, March. We'll see. Merchandise has been marked down and expect it to go even lower when it gets closer to March.

Now Mandee has signs that read "Construction Sale .." what does that mean? Have they been brought out too? I think they will not close but will re-open after whatever construction is done w/ABC? Maybe? Just a guess.

C'iao for now ~

braun · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2017, 08:18:45 AM »

I walked into Mandee's last night and it was a mess. Shoes thrown around all over the floor. Originally they said the rumor was that the stores from the library to 21st Avenue would close, but Mandees is before the library so I don't know what to think about this.

Pawgny · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2017, 06:51:10 AM »

Local rumor is that all the shops between the 24 hr corner store to the Library - are coming down. In its place will be three 10 story buildings. No Bueno

litza · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2017, 11:04:52 AM »

I've asked at Verdi Fresh and there's no news from them about their lease ending as of a few weeks ago. El Olivo just renovated and a friend of the owner told me that they have no plans to close. So the stores north of ABC might be sticking around.

As for Mandee, I wondered the same thing, but I also saw them repairing the sign last week. I don't think they'd repair the sign right before they closed for good...but who knows.

C-J · « **Reply #22 on:** January 30, 2017, 01:22:16 PM »

I don't think anything can be constructed over six stories given the new zoning regulations which went into effect several years ago. Even at six stories it would be the same height as the complex across 31st Street.

One wrinkle I heard is that the church on 21st Ave is refusing to sell their air rights which could also impact how tall this building can be.

In other news, Soho underneath the gym is closing on February 10th. :(

angela1969 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2017, 09:19:04 AM »

I got married in that church and I am so happy they are not selling the air rights -- good for them --

litza · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2017, 05:23:25 PM »

Well.... A friend who's an active member of the church and who's been close to the negotiations has told me that they are in fact transferring some of the air rights (they need the money to stay solvent and do necessary improvements). It sounds like it won't actually allow them to go much over the height permitted by the zoning laws (75 feet with the transfer, I think?). I believe that this sort of transfer is also "as of right," which means that it does not require approval of the Community Board (based on a conversation I had with a CB member).

(I'm personally very much in favor of development on that site, but glad that it won't be out of scale with other buildings in the vicinity.)

So far as I know the buildings north of ABC are not losing their leases, though I guess that could change any day. And I heard yesterday that the laundromat is closing, so perhaps it already has changed?

C-J · « **Reply #25 on:** February 01, 2017, 10:17:51 PM »

Quote from: litza on January 31, 2017, 05:23:25 PM

Well.... A friend who's an active member of the church and who's been close to the negotiations has told me that they are in fact transferring some of the air rights (they need the money to stay solvent and do necessary improvements). It sounds like it won't actually allow them to go much over the height permitted by the zoning laws (75 feet with the transfer, I think?). I believe that this sort of transfer is also "as of right," which means that it does not require approval of the Community Board (based on a conversation I had with a CB member).

(I'm personally very much in favor of development on that site, but glad that it won't be out of scale with other buildings in the vicinity.)

So far as I know the buildings north of ABC are not losing their leases, though I guess that could change any day. And I heard yesterday that the laundromat is closing, so perhaps it already has changed?

That would be a bummer if the laundry place closes as I love those people!

braun · « **Reply #26 on:** February 02, 2017, 08:03:25 AM »

Somebody told me that little store that sells suitcases and toys and other things is closing also

litza · « **Reply #27 on:** February 02, 2017, 10:55:10 AM »

Yup, the toy/luggage store is definitely closing. Everything is 20% off right now.

An update from my friend at Grace Lutheran - the Attorney General's office has stalled the air rights transfer, but it sounds like that's just a technicality and it's going to go through. It sounds like this is a big, long project - they have a 15-year timeframe for the entire thing. So it may be that the ABC-to-library project will be the first phase and the buildings north of ABC will be a second phase, since they still have several years left on their leases.

C-J · « **Reply #28 on:** February 06, 2017, 08:58:08 AM »

Owner of the laundromat told me on Saturday she lost her lease (it was a four year battle) and they will be closing in the next 2-3 weeks.

:(

therebels · « **Reply #29 on:** February 06, 2017, 05:15:31 PM »

So the library is being torn down as well?

C-J · « **Reply #30 on:** February 06, 2017, 05:37:34 PM »

I believe it's everything north of the library over time. Unless they bought that and Mandee as well.

braun · « **Reply #31 on:** February 07, 2017, 08:12:10 AM »

They better not close the library. I will really miss that

TJT · « **Reply #32 on:** February 07, 2017, 11:06:21 AM »

Quote from: braun on February 07, 2017, 08:12:10 AM

They better not close the library. I will really miss that

I have no real information on this but my gut instinct is that if that space were rebuilt, the proposal would include a new library space as part of the new construction. If it were a closure, it would be temporary, and then a nicer library afterwards. That would certainly be my hope and expectation.

therebels · « **Reply #33 on:** February 07, 2017, 05:18:02 PM »

Quote from: TJT on February 07, 2017, 11:06:21 AM

I have no real information on this but my gut instinct is that if that space were rebuilt, the proposal would include a new library space as part of the new construction. If it were a closure, it would be temporary, and then a nicer library afterwards. That would certainly be my hope and expectation.

Agree with you 100%. I would like to see either the library stay as is or have a new library put up.

braun · « **Reply #34 on:** February 10, 2017, 03:17:40 PM »

I doubt very much that they would knock down the library.

TJT · « **Reply #35 on:** February 10, 2017, 03:20:37 PM »

Quote from: braun on February 10, 2017, 03:17:40 PM

I doubt very much that they would knock down the library.

I wouldn't say that at all. It's an old and uninspired structure. What I think is that the branch at that general location will stay, but it could find a new home on the ground level of new construction.

litza · « **Reply #36 on:** February 10, 2017, 03:21:57 PM »

I don't think the library is going anywhere. And I don't think that Mandee's getting demolished, either - saw workers bringing fresh drywall into the building a couple of days ago, so I think they're renovating. From what I glimpsed, I think I saw some new interior walls, so maybe they're subdividing the space?

braun · « **Reply #37 on:** February 13, 2017, 08:06:09 AM »

Quote from: litza on February 10, 2017, 03:21:57 PM

I don't think the library is going anywhere. And I don't think that Mandee's getting demolished, either - saw workers bringing fresh drywall into the building a couple of days ago, so I think they're renovating. From what I glimpsed, I think I saw some new interior walls, so maybe they're subdividing the space?

That's what I thought because it was called a construction sale

round2 · « **Reply #38 on:** February 27, 2017, 10:28:10 AM »

Was shocked and saddened to discover that Wave Thai lost their lease and have closed. They don't have plans to reopen, at least not any time soon. That's a major loss, to me.

braun · « **Reply #39 on:** February 28, 2017, 08:08:42 AM »

The rumor was that all of those stores from the library down would be closing so I'm not surprised, but I'm not happy about it

replan · « **Reply #40 on:** March 01, 2017, 01:55:03 PM »

Here's a story about what's planned. A mixed use condo, 43 apartments with stores.

https://therealdeal.com/2017/03/01/rockfarmer-plans-nearly-100k-sf-condo-in-astoria/

litza · « **Reply #41 on:** March 01, 2017, 02:12:12 PM »

Thank you! That's the most concrete information I've seen about the project. I'm pleased to see that these guys seem slightly less shady than some local developers - they did the Astoria Lights project, about which I've heard nothing but glowing reviews.

I am sad to see that the footprint includes Verdi Fresh. Though the highlighted properties on the map are also inaccurate, since they don't include Wave Thai/defunct Cuban coffee shop/toy store.

replan · « **Reply #42 on:** March 01, 2017, 03:17:27 PM »

Quote from: litza on March 01, 2017, 02:12:12 PM

Thank you! That's the most concrete information I've seen about the project. I'm pleased to see that these guys seem slightly less shady than some local developers - they did the Astoria Lights project, about which I've heard nothing but glowing reviews.

I am sad to see that the footprint includes Verdi Fresh. Though the highlighted properties on the map are also inaccurate, since they don't include Wave Thai/defunct Cuban coffee shop/toy store.

Yeah, most developers aren't going to publicly disclose what their plans are until they're reasonably confident it can happen. I'm in the real estate industry so I don't trust the rumor mill about things like this until I see/hear something from a reputable source.

The diagram in the article was probably done by the reporter or someone on their staff rather than the developer so I wouldn't 100% trust its accuracy. I just did a bit of research on city websites, all the buildings north of the library look like they're owned by related companies even though they're under different LLCs, so I have to believe they're all part of the development. It also looks like they were working on putting together this assemblage for some time.

28Grand · « **Reply #43 on:** May 31, 2017, 09:36:32 AM »

In case any one missed it, ABC Store has been resurrected as "ABC Deals" in the old Mandee's space (I think), closer to Ditmars.

braun · « **Reply #44 on:** May 31, 2017, 09:44:05 AM »

Quote from: 28Grand on May 31, 2017, 09:36:32 AM

In case any one missed it, ABC Store has been resurrected as "ABC Deals" in the old Mandee's space (I think), closer to Ditmars.

ABC Deals is a completely new store that has nothing whatsoever to do with ABC Stores. I really don't like this store too much and miss ABC Stores. They had lots of good deals on clothing. I bought most of my bathing suits there. This new ABC Deals isn't so great. They don't have much clothing and the prices aren't so great.