Flushing is known for its cuisine, crowd, and culture. One can find a multitude of restaurants, ranging from Greek to Chinese. The variety of food makes it incredibly overcrowded, making it impossible walk ten feet without yielding to a mob of pedestrians. The thick population density of Flushing may be new, but it has always been home to immigrants and their aspirations.
There are several hair salons in Flushing, each touting its expertise and knowledge of style. However, my father and many other residents of Flushing are loyal to one barbershop, Jimmy’s Barbershop. Jimmy, an early immigrant to Flushing and longtime resident of Flushing, has been operating his small business for years. He has no online presence or Facebook account to promote his business. His clientele consists of those who have relied on him to give them a haircut once a month for years. He has no book of hairstyles to choose from and his haircuts aren’t unique, but his dedication to his work makes his customers reluctant to leave him. Jimmy’s patrons get a history and life lesson along with every haircut and a shave.
Flushing is home to businesses, old and new, but it also hosts humanitarian efforts. Every year, Flushing Meadow Park hosts American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. This walk unites the community against cancer, which is typically not addressed in Asian cultures. The cheer that cancer survivors receive when they reach every checkpoint of the five-mile walk shows the spirit of the community. All the proceeds of the walk go towards the American Cancer Society’s efforts to provide for cancer patients and cancer research. Everyone has different reasons for participating in the walk, but what unites these strangers is the singular vision of eradicating cancer.
As Flushing grows more and more populated, it is gaining opposition for its commercialization. There are giant supermarkets on just about every block and it is the definition of overcrowding. Politicians and residents are constantly at odds with the owners of new malls and shopping centers, as they contribute to the lack of space and displace family businesses.
I really like how you described the neighborhood. It seems that you have all the topics for this semester already covered. I am really interested in reading a piece on the barber. He clearly seems to play a major role in the neighborhood,
I used to love going to Flushing when I was in middle school, but now it seems to be too much of a chore (mostly because it’s always packed). The flashy billboards they’re installing everywhere also turn me off. Flushing is slowly starting to look like the Times Square of Queens and I personally can’t stand it.