Astoria -- Changing in a Good Way

I so love watching the neighborhood evolve and change. There seems to be a great influx of interesting, creative people moving into the area. I ride the subway every day to/from work. This gives me a chance to people watch.

I also love all the little new shops that are popping up in the Ditmars area. And...the restaurants...what can I say? Our favorite is Trattoria L'Incontro (spelling?). My husband and I just call it "Rocco's". He's the owner and chef. Feels like a Manhattan restaurant that got dropped in our neck of the woods.

What we really need, and this is just my opinion...a good bookstore like Barnes & Noble. Just some of my thoughts for a Sunday night.

Tags: bookstore, ditmars, trattoria l'incontro

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Comment by Gregor Samsa on January 27, 2012 at 1:13pm: Bookstores in Astoria are not very likely given the fact that they are pretty much anachronisms. Borders went belly up with Barnes and Noble barely hanging onto vapors as their business model unravels. Unfortunately, Amazon.com is Astoria's go to for books and likely to remain so.

Comment by Maria M. on January 24, 2012 at 4:18pm: Northern blvd. would be good. Perhaps we could get rid of that awful Old Navy near 48th street.

Comment by Greg on January 23, 2012 at 10:18pm: Trader Joe's would be great in Astoria but it would be better as a stand alone of sorts (or at least have a huge parking lot). The Rego Park location is such a nightmare for parking because of the other stores that share the small parking lot.

Comment by Chrissie Eden on January 23, 2012 at 2:38pm: Ian, there is this area in dev over by 38th st/Steinway area that looks like it was meant to be a high rise or some kind of shopping area like the Best Yet/BofA/wine store on 37th st and 20th ave, but it seems progress has come to a standstill--maybe developer ran out of $? But that looks like a good area that would house big box retail like a TJ or Target type store. Out of the way, could provide parking, etc. since a lot of people (though not myself) do drive and likely would.

Comment by Chrissie Eden on January 23, 2012 at 2:35pm: We'd have a bookstore if people bought books. How many are actually buying books as opposed to just browsing all day. Reason we don't have one is bc we can't support one. Even the big chains that have such selection and independent classics like the St Mark's book store are having a hard time staying open.

Comment by Ian Hardouin on January 23, 2012 at 2:32pm: This is Queens, and more residents here have cars, including families in Astoria. TJ's could also draw people from LIC, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside and Woodside. Driving is the most efficient way for people in those nabes to get to Astoria. Lastly, providing for some parking may be a requirement for a store of TJ's size to come into Astoria. And that will require finding a decent size lot that is at least a little bit out of the way.

Comment by Rita on January 23, 2012 at 2:04pm: I miss the flower shop pictured above. It was owned my a lovely family who grew their own flowers in Ecuador. As for chains... Target has always been on my wish list. But Trader Joe's, B & N,and Target are all big footprint stores, possibly appropriate for some zones on 21st st. or Northern Blvd.

Comment by Eric Gordon on January 23, 2012 at 1:45pm: We don't live on the moon guys. The NQ is right there. None of the other three TJs in the city have parking available; I think it's a great location.

Comment by Daniel P on January 23, 2012 at 1:41pm: I've been to the Trader Joe's in Rego Park. The parking is horrendous. I'm sure a store along 31st Street would not be suitable for high traffic, especially right by the bridge.

Comment by Ian Hardouin on January 23, 2012 at 1:16pm: What is parking situation around Trader Joe's in Rego Park? That could be key factor of whether they come to Astoria. (Manhattan offers great transit access that eliminates need for parking.)