Business owners fear a rise in “for rent” signs along Myrtle Avenue  in Glendale will attract the wrong kinds of businesses and delay their plans to bring a Business Improvement
District to the area. NY1's Tanya Klich reports.

 

Myrtle Avenue is a major commercial hub in Glendale. Hans Lehner of Zum Stammtisch describes it as "miles and miles of family businesses and locally-owned businesses." His restaurant has been around since 1972.

But a rise in “for rent” signs along the strip is disturbing many local business leaders.

"I find that a lot of the small family businesses have closed down and a lot of the old neighborhood businesses,” said Lehner. “And there are newer things opening up, and also more vacancies than normal.”

According to the Queens Chamber of Commerce, there are about 40 empty stores for rent, or for lease, on Myrtle Avenue between Cypress Hills and 71st Streets. Chamber Director Thomas Grech tells NY1 the economy simply hasn’t picked up in certain parts of Queens. Some Glendale residents agree.

“It's because the rent is so high that people can't afford to have a business,” said George Hoover, who has lived in Glendale for more than 70 years.

Many business owners hope the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) expands to Glendale. But Patricia Gatt, interim president of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, says many worry the vacant stores will delay this plan.

"One of the concerns is that maybe someone might damage the properties,” said Gatt. “Since there is no one there, there might be damage to them in some way or another."

Council Member Elizabeth Crowley recently allotted $400,000 in funding for the Department of Transportation to improve the strip. Her office recently met with business owners about how to attract viable businesses to Glendale, and how to keep certain kinds of businesses from filling the vacant stores.

"Ones that are fly-by-night types of businesses. I have seen a lot of cellular stores open and close and dollar stores open and close,” said Lehner.

"The NYPD, the 104th Precinct needs to be congratulated for closing businesses that were undesirable, like massage parlors and things like that," said Gatt.

The DOT also plans to build two new pedestrian plazas in Glendale, including one right outside of Zum Stammtisch, on Myrtle and Cooper Avenues.

“That's going to be very nice for the people here,” said Hoover.

A move that can bring Myrtle Avenue in Glendale one step closer to becoming a BID.