Revitalize Queens Village’s Businesses

I moved to Queens Village in 1974. Initially, the community had many businesses that thrived. There was the Community movie theater, butcher shop, gas station, Woolworth's, Super Discount, and many small businesses like hardware stores and auto parts stores. While many of these small "mom and pop" stores have been replaced by businesses like Riteaid and Duane Reade, a good number of businesses closed up shop, only to be replaced by some businesses that keep inconsistent hours or a provides goods and/or services that are not practical to a significant percentage of the community. Furthermore, many of these businesses are an eyesore—window fronts poorly identified, products strewn haphazardly about, etc.—-particularly along Hempstead Avenue (Jamaica Avenue to the Elmont border). Queens Village residents living in the immediate vicinity of the aforementioned businesses along Hempstead Avenue, would like to see a variety of new practical businesses: a bank, a Staples, stores like Starbucks and Pandora, a supermarket, a FedEx Office, and many more businesses, which can be easily accessed by foot or car. The residents of Queens Village should not have to travel outside of our neighborhood to buy the things we need. By bringing in new businesses, ones that are practical, we can better the community’s quality of life, as well as revitalize the neighborhood and give the residents what they deserve.