Real Estate
Betting on
Long Island City
16 NOVEMBER 2017 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
Photo by Dean Moses
Two business owners explain the neighborhood is great for Tommy Demaras had lived in
Long Island City for six years,
and when he decided to open a
restaurant, he realized his neigh-borhood
would be the perfect place to do so.
Demaras opened Maiella, a restaurant
serving authentic Italian dishes with a
modern flare, at 4610 Center Blvd. in
2015.
“I felt that the clientele of the Long
Island City area was phenomenal,” he
said. “I felt that the proximity and the
view of the city behind the Pepsi-Cola
sign was beautiful and the neighborhood
was equidistant from Long Island, New
Jersey, Westchester and very easy to
get to for everyone.”
Since the restaurant is located near
the subway, the Long Island Rail Road
and several bus stops, Demaras said his
customers are a mix of locals and people
from surrounding areas.
“We’re a great meeting ground for
someone that doesn't want to travel
all the way into the city,” he said. “They
come right across the bridge down the
LIE and they're in front of our restaurant.”
Maiella also provides valet parking
for customers.
Demaras also credits property owners
TF Cornerstone for making the process
of opening the restaurant easy.
“They eat all of the pasta,” he said.
“They've been supportive. They were very
easy to deal with in the rental process.
They work with us and let the tenants
who are moving in know about us.”
Demaras also owns another business at
a TF Cornerstone property: Crank Cycling
Studio at 46-30 Center Blvd. He opened
the studio in 2012, and the studio offers
cycling classes for half the price of com-petitors
such as SoulCycle and Flywheel.
He also works with the local com-munity
to raise money for a variety of
causes. For the last two years, Maiella
has provided catering for a fundraiser
to benefit nearby P.S./I.S. 78. At Crank,
the staff has organized rides for breast
cancer and hurricane relief.
Demaras argues that Long Island City
is a great place to open a business but
that entrepreneurs must work to get
the word out.
“Although Long Island City seems small,
there are a lot of different pockets,” he
said. “People who live over by 51st Avenue
don't necessarily walk toward 46th Avenue
unless they have a reason. They got on a
train, head to the city and head home. It's
a wonderful area to open a business and
you definitely got to do outreach.”
The neighborhood has seen a large
uptick in the number of residential build-ings
being constructed, which Demaras
said is good for business. Though he may
open another business in the area in the
future, he is focused on growing Maiella.
“We’re doing phenomenally,” he said.
“We still have so much more room to
grow. I just want to concentrate on that.”
To learn more, visit Maiella’s website
at www.maiellalic.com or call to make a
reservation at 718-606-1770.
