Home of the Mets, Flushing has New York’s multi-ethnic Chinatown, and is characterized by self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship, and thriving culture. Flushing or Queen’s Chinatown as many call it, is vibrant, always busy, and is the largest Chinatown in New York City. With many bubble tea places, Asian restaurants, Chinese bakeries, and shopping for stationary, books, and music, Main Street/ Roosevelt Avenue are always busy. A very diverse area, Flushing supports many different types of communities, and has many hidden gems. With a much more suburban feel than Manhattan’s Chinatown, Flushing
With immense density, each block has an average of 20-30 business, comprised of shops, stalls, and business such as spas and jewelry stores located on several floors, entrepreneurship thrives among immigrants. The neighborhood’s diversity is everywhere—with shops, churches, bodegas, and different types of ethic stores and restaurants. A particularly thriving Chinese community, McDonald’s and Burger King also have Chinese signs alongside the logos.
For foodies, Flushing is a great place with much authentic Chinese, Korean, and Indian cuisine to choose from. With several Pho places, Korean BBQ, Dim Sum, and Asian super markets, the common hole in the wall joints tend to be the most popular. Bubble tea, which is a sweet and milky tea, served hot or cold, often with tapioca balls or other toppings is a popular treat in Flushing. On Main Street, almost every other shop is a Bubble tea place, and it’s very common to see people walking around with bubble tea in their hands, or bubble tea on the train. There are also many very small Chinese bakeries, which have many cheap and quick eats.
Appealing to a large demographic of people, Flushing also has a very large Macy’s right on Main Street, which is regularly open until 10PM, and is always busy. The Flushing Mall on Main Street has ice cream shops, book stores, discount stores, and jewelry stories, phone accessory stores, restaurants, household goods, Chinese imports, and much more. Interestingly, almost each block in this neighborhood has 2-3 stationary stores, which seem to always be busy with people of all ages- from children to adults.
Although the neighborhood is not as “hip” as Williamsburg, Brooklyn, or Astoria, Queens, it is extremely successful, and branded by liveliness and culture. Flushing can be considered an exemplary model for entrepreneurship and small business ownership for immigrants in New York City. A truly great place, Flushing has a quintessential narrative for potential.
Presentation of photos: http://portal.sliderocket.com/CTSEN/2E87E9EF-E9B3-47F0-8BA1-5D594D9AB739
Spreadsheet (also attached): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoPHKWzmABxydEowV093Z2RHZW5pQW5yeW9qSERLbGc#gid=0
