While Sunnyside continues to cope with the aftermath of a large fire that took multiple businesses down yesterday, a neighborhood staple has re-emerged and some new businesses have opened in the area.
ABC, the longtime variety store at 45-20 Greenpoint Avenue, held its grand re-opening yesterday after closing for four months of renovation and expansion work.
The bargain store now features an almost entirely white and bright interior with new paneling, lighting, and furniture. The large store is also roomier due to its expansion into the small adjacent shop, formerly Jane’s Gifts, which closed in July after a near 30-year run.
Steve Sasson, president of ABC Super Stores, told the Sunnyside Post at the time that the store hadn’t been touched since 1978, when it first opened.
Some work, however, remains to be done outside of the store, although a timeline for full completion is unclear.
The variety store’s temporary closure came about a week before South Pole, another staple bargain store in the neighborhood, announced it would close its Queens Boulevard location after decades in operations.
News of the simultaneous bargain store closures stunned many who frequently visited and depended on the shops for everyday goods.
At ABC today, shoppers rejoiced in the store’s reopening and were impressed with the new look.
“I live in the vicinity, and it’s a go-to for the area,” said Sheryl W., a 28-year resident. “This is something that’s necessary in the neighborhood…everyone uses this store.”
She quipped, however, that the renovations may mean changes for customers’ pockets, too.
“I’m happy for the remake but you can see some of the things went up,” she said.
Elsewhere in the area, at least two new businesses have opened.
Prime Pharmacy held its grand opening on Dec. 3 at 45-15 Greenpoint Ave., a site across from ABC and previously home to Bing’s Hallmark before closing nearly a year ago.
Work began on the independent pharmacy, which joins several big-box brands in the area, some time in June.
About two blocks away, meanwhile, Miss Laser, a chic laser hair removal shop, also held its grand opening yesterday.
The corner site at 47-02 47th Ave. marks the third location for Frida and Manny A., a Fresh Meadows-based couple who started the business in 2016.
Treatment is often done in multiple sessions by certified laser technicians, with sessions priced between $35 and $240 depending on the body area. Packages and combos are also offered, along with memberships.
The new shop, at a site that saw a bodega for decades until at least 2017, comes after the entire property was renovated under a new landlord.
