38 The QUEE NS Courier • business • february 20, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶business Let The Fitness Detective get on your case The Fitness Detective, located at One Station Square, Suite 101, in Forest Hills Gardens (across from the LIRR station, in The Forest Hills Inn), officially opened for business last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Owned by retired detective Jannette La Sota, The Fitness Detective™ is there to help you solve the mysteries of personal fitness. To learn more, call 718-261-3361 or email info@ thefitness-detective.com. Douglaston Deli owner passing down legacy BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com/@liamlaguerre Matt Walters isn’t completely sure when he realized he wanted to own his father’s deli. It could have been when he was eight years old and cleaned out his parents’ kitchen cabinet so he could pretend to have his own store in the basement. There was also a time, at one-anda half years old, when his mother dressed him up for Halloween with a white shirt and black apron, like his dad’s deli uniform. But one thing’s for certain, although he has two brothers, it was always decided that he would succeed his dad. “There was never a question of who was going to take over,” Matt said. “They knew I wanted to do it and they went their separate ways.” He started working in the 42-year-old Douglaston Deli on Douglaston Parkway near Northern Boulevard 19 years ago, and will soon take it over from his dad, Richard, who plans to retire this year. Matt has been learning how to operate the deli since he began his job there at 15 years old. Today the combo still works side by side at certain times of the day. While the neighborhood may have transformed in various ways since the deli opened, the store hasn’t changed much, and therefore maintains a good relationship with the community. Matt plans to run the deli the same way as his dad. BUSINESS in the NEWS “When people come in here they’re not a number,” Matt said. “We know them by first name and we’ve built up a lot of great relationships with customers around the area.” Matt has no idea what’s in store for the next 42 years, but hopes the deli can stay in the family. “I have a daughter that’s a year-and-ahalf old,” Matt said. “She might be the next owner.” THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Matt Walters will be taking over his father’s deli, which has been a neighborhood staple in Douglaston for 42 years Entrepreneur Space celebrates three years BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com/@aaltamirano28 It has been three years since Entrepreneur Space opened its door and helped numerous self-starting businesses take off. The Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC)’s foodand business incubator celebrated its third anniversary on February 11. The celebration featured 40 clients displaying and selling their products. Some of those in attendance included QEDC’s Executive Director Seth Bornstein, Borough President Melinda Katz, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, Entrepreneur Space’s founder Kathrine Gregory and many more. The celebration’s theme commemorated the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs, where the Belgian Waffle made its debut. MariePaule Vermersch, daughter of the originator of the waffle in the U.S., was on hand to make waffles with the requisite powdered sugar, whipped cream and strawberries. The event was sponsored by Coffeed, Fairway, Fortune Society and Square Wine & Spirits. Photo Courtesy of the Entrepreneur Space The Queens Economic Development Corporation’s Entrepreneur Space celebrated three years of helping self-starting business take the first step.
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