i made my monthly (ish) trek to Sorisso this morning, and decided, on a whim, to walk down Steinway instead of getting off at 46th as i usually do.
i lived in Astoria from the very end of 1989 until the very end of 1996, and i've never seen it look as much like a ghost town as it does. since i saw two back to back vacant storefronts as soon as i turned from Broadway - the former Claire's and a leather store - i decided to count.
Steinway between B'way and 31st avenue: 8 vacant storefronts, mostly large ones.
Steinway between 31st and 30th avenue: 18 vacant storefronts. Eighteen.
what's left is mostly national chains, big name fast food and banks. the locally owned stuff is almost all gone. this could be our future if things keep going the way they are.