Aaaaand the Eastern European shop is closing...

[jhjefe]

Shame.  It was a gem.

Can anyone confirm that an Italian deli is taking its place?

[dssjh]

she just didn't have the energy. too bad. she said she wouldn't close until she had someone to take it over, so maybe?

[Ecrivain]

It’s going to be an Italian deli, or so she said. We shall see.

[ClydeM]

It’s going to be an Italian deli, or so she said. We shall see.

An Italian deli would be great and would save me my weekly trips to Astoria or Arthur Avenue, but I'm not particularly optimistic. While I don't doubt that something that advertises itself as an Italian deli will open in that space, I'm skeptical that it will actually be an Italian deli. We don't really need something like JC Italian Deli again. I still have no idea what that place was trying to be, but it certainly wasn't an Italian deli by any stretch.

I am disappointed that Appettito is closing. While their collection of sausages was small, they were always quite good.

[Jhx]

Take what over? Her lease?

[Ms. Jackson]

Nooooo! My Napoleon cake! My rum cookies! Delicious salamis and pickles! Where will I get them now??!

[JH3525]

ClydeM:  If it does become Italian, can you imagine how successful it would be if an established high quality  Italian Market like Sorriso's of Astoria replaced Appettito.  Whoever would have thought that SAC's of Astoria would open in Jackson Heights. 

[dssjh]

something top of the line would be great. but sorriso is about five times the size of appetito -- which has no room to prepare food (they had a woman who brought in stuff she made in her home) and very little room for storage. we can hope for a good selection of meats and cheeses, and some packaged imports, but probably not a lot more.

[ClydeM]

something top of the line would be great. but sorriso is about five times the size of appetito -- which has no room to prepare food (they had a woman who brought in stuff she made in her home) and very little room for storage. we can hope for a good selection of meats and cheeses, and some packaged imports, but probably not a lot more.

It doesn't need to try and be like Sorriso, and someone with a modest bit of sense could put together something quite good in that space. For instance, a focus on high quality salumi and cheeses, with a few staples such as pasta as a bonus. There are stalls in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, that are about the same size as Appittito that have a great selection. My favorite salumeria in Philly is even smaller but they have figured out how to maximize the space, and focus on high quality products (no Boars Head!).

[jhjefe]

Agreed,  I have the same concern with a prospective “#italiandeli”.
A proper Italian deli would be ok but even then, I’d miss their cabbage rolls, perogies, sausages,  and all manner of treats. Even the rye bread was the best I could dependably find in the hood .  Ugh.  As much as I’d like to be that person that makes their own perogies and cabbage rolls I have come to terms with that never happening until maybe deep into retirement...

Shop keeper says the rent isn’t to high- but the owner moved to jersey and couldn’t be bothered with the headache... anyone want to take over? keeping the same supply chain ?  Not sure if understand the situation completely but doesn’t sound like a purely profit driven decision.

[dssjh]

it's not a profit driven/rent issue. she was increasingly stressed and tired from being a one-woman show, so she threw in the towel. it's understandable. 70 hour weeks are killer.

[am315]

That would be a perfect spot for a fish store.

The neighborhood desperately needs a place to buy fresh fish.