The former strip club Cityscapes, from where Cleanthony Early of the Knicks was followed in December 2015, robbed, and shot, which eventually led to loss of the club’s liquor license and permanent closure, is now an Ecuadorian restaurant called Casa Melania. Best of luck to the new venture; it’s certainly an improvement.
It was noticed on Memorial Day weekend that Boston Market on Metropolitan Avenue near Eliot Avenue was closed, with a “for rent” sign up and a chain link fence surrounding it. Boston Market has experienced an epidemic of closures. According to Restaurant Business Magazine, “The closures come either because landlords are evicting Boston Market over unpaid bills, or because state officials are shutting down restaurants over unpaid sales taxes or other issues.”
Cookies ‘N Cream, a Westchester-based ice cream shop, opened a franchise at 64-62 Dry Harbor Road, and people living on the Ridgewood Plateau now have hand-rolled, kettle-cooked Maspeth Bagels at 53-76 65th Place.