Caribbean L 8 ife, APRIL, 2-8, 2021
An inside view of Thomasina’s Catering Hall, 205-35 Linden Blvd. St. Albans,
Queens. Thomasina’s Catering Hall
Thomasina’s Catering Hall
reopens with April 4 buffet
By Tangerine Clarke
For over one year, there have been no
celebrations in the banquet hall industry
because of the coronavirus pandemic,
but gradually owners are becoming optimistic,
since Gov. Andrew
Cuomo announced limited
capacity is allowed, with
COVID-19 protocols in
place.
Owner of Thomasina’s
Catering Hall, Valencia
Williams, in an exclusive
interview with Caribbean
Life, recently, said like anyone
else, “we were devastated
when the shutdown
came, and had to stop
every thing, not only the
business, but we had to lay
off employees.”
Thomasina’s, a full-service
catering hall, located
at 205-35 Linden Blvd.,
in St. Albans, Queens, is
designed with two rooms,
one that seats 270 patrons,
and the other 80 patrons.
The venue that offers packages
Valencia and Frank Williams,
owners of Thomasina’s
Catering Hall,
pictured in their space,
that will reopen on
April 4 for Easter Dine-
In Buffet. Thomasina’s
Catering Hall
inclusive of meals, music, deejay, a
liquor bar, and professional photography,
is poised to open on April 4, 2021 for a
dine-in Easter buffet, from noon to 5 pm.
Dine-in price, $14.99, take-out price is
$6.99/lb.
Mrs. Williams whose family-owned
business has been a strong source of service
to the community for more than 40
years, noted that despite the facility not
using utilities, companies were still issuing
bills. She shared, that in spite, only
the refrigerator that we kept running, and
the use of small amounts of water, bills
mounted up.”
Along with her husband, Frank, both
Panamanian-born, they managed the
best they could, before getting the opportunity
to start a Sunday buffet take-out
service, from 1 pm to 5 pm from June
2020. However, she said the financial
intake was minimal since the word that
they were open once a week was slow to
reach the community.
They tried unsuccessfully
to attract customers
in a timely manner. Meanwhile,
Thomasina’s Catering
continued to lose revenue,
because according
to Mrs. Williams, the cash
flow was not enough to pay
the cooks and waiters, and
maintain the facility.
They continued the
business, she said, because
they wanted to provide the
service to their community.
Patrons also enjoyed the
meals served, and appreciated
the take-out service,
since at that time there was
no indoor dining, as Thomasina’s
remained COVID-
19 compliant.
The service offers a pastor
for wedding ceremonies,
if couples so wish. The space too, is
rented with or without meals.
Now that the catering hall is reopening,
patrons who request a special dish,
not offered, are entitled to bring in their
own cuisine. However, it would have to be
prepared by a licensed cook. “We cannot
take responsibility for food that we did not
prepare,” she insisted.
“We are receiving inquiries regarding
bookings, so we are letting people know
we are available.”
The majority of the bookings are being
scheduled for the summer months. “We
look forward to hosting activities in full,
but it depends on people maintaining
safety. Because if we are not safe we will be
back to square one,” she warned.”