4 THE QUEENS COURIER • QUEENS BUSINESS • JUNE 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
queens business
‘A window to the world’: Establishing
Flushing as a global destination
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Downtown Flushing is a dynamic
place for “food and fun,” according
to Dian Yu, executive director of
the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub
Business Improvement District (Flushing
BID).
“We feel that downtown Flushing can
be a window to the world,” Yu said.
Earlier this year, the dedicated organization
launched a free coupon book with
deals and freebies for 85 total local small
businesses, followed by a parking discount
and consumer gift program that
rewarded those who shopped local. A
total of 10,000 coupon books were distributed
in a two-week period, the executive
director said.
“We defi nitely feel that we as the BID
need to do what we can for the mom
and pop shops,” Yu explained. “We feel
strongly that they’re the ones that need
the most help and make the most impact
on the community.”
Th ese two campaigns are only pieces
to a larger, ongoing eff ort to promote the
area’s diverse, ever-growing selection of
businesses, the executive director said. Yu
made note of a recent infl ux of high-end
bakeries and restaurants in the area, as
well as a myriad of retail off erings.
“We’re looking to do more for our
community in terms of how we can help
small businesses grow, how we can connect
with them with valuable resources,
and what we can collaborate with them
on,” Yu said.
Th e BID also operates the booth in
front of the Flushing Library on Main
Street and Kissena Boulevard, where
residents and visitors can fi nd coupon
books, neighborhood guides, bus maps
and more useful information. Th e organization
is also working to expand and
transform the booth, providing a more
interactive experience and expanding the
resources available there.
“We were very fortunate to inherit
the former police booth in front of the
Flushing Library,” Yu said. “We want it
to serve as the go-to place for people in
downtown Flushing.”
Residents can also look forward to the
group’s annual street festival on Sept. 16.
“Our goal is to make this a signature
event for downtown Flushing,” Yu said.
“Th e street festival provides a taste of
what we have to off er.”
Th e event is free to the public and will
bring local food and retail vendors, performances
and a live band to 40th Road,
between Prince and Main Street. Food
will be available for purchase.
Learn more about the Flushing BID by
visiting their website at www.fl ushingbid.
com or by calling 718-888-1805.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Yanping Nora Soong
Pick up fresh fruits, veggies, pasta and more
at this newly opened Flushing Greenmarket
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Flushing residents can access farm
fresh food, free recipes and more at this
local farmers market.
Th e Flushing Greenmarket at Maple
Playground offi cially launched its second
season on July 5. Th e market will be open
every Wednesday until Nov. 22.
Shoppers can buy fresh fruits, vegetables,
eggs, pasta, soups and baked
goods from regional farms and producers,
including Duchess County’s Breezy
Hill Orchards and Knoll Krest Farm.
Th e market will also off er free recipes,
family-friendly activities, seasonal celebrations
and nutritional education and cooking
demonstrations from the NYC Department
of Health’s Stellar Markets program.
“Not only are greenmarkets are an
excellent way for communities to support
locally grown, fresh and healthy
food, but they are a telling sign of the
economic vitality of neighborhoods,”
Councilman Peter Koo said. “Th ank
you to the Greater Flushing Chamber of
Commerce for supporting healthy choices
for shoppers here in Flushing.”
Th e Greenmarket will operate between
8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. Cash,
SNAP/EBT, Debit/Credit, WIC and
Senior FMNP coupons are accepted.
Maple Playground is located at Kissena
Boulevard and Maple Avenue.
Th e Greenmarket is a collaboration
between the Greater Flushing Chamber
of Commerce and GrowNYC, an organization
that works to preserve local farmland
and provide access to healthy foods.
For more information, visit grownyc.
org. Photo via Shutterstock
Photo courtesy of Flushing BID