28 THE QUEENS COURIER • QUEENS BUSINESS • AUGUST 10, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
queens business
International chain Powerhouse Gym will open LIC location
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @AngelaMatua
A decades-old Long Island City envelope
factory that will be renovated to
attract commercial and retail tenants
will be home to Powerhouse Gym, an
international fi tness chain.
Th e former Apple Tag & Label building,
located at 30-30 Northern Blvd.,
is an eight-story, 213,00-square-foot
building that bears a large neon apple
sign. Alma Realty, which purchased the
site, redeveloped the structure and is
planning to lease the space to top-tier
tech, media and other creative companies.
Alma Realty, the company that
owns the property, announced that
Powerhouse Gym has leased a 10-year
deal to occupy 10,323 square feet of
space. Th e fi rst gym was founded in
1975 by brothers William and Norman
Dabish in Michigan.
In 1984, the company began licensing
its name and now has locations in 39
states and 17 countries. Famous athletes
have trained at Powerhouse Gym including
boxer Tommy Hearns and celebrities
such as Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Cameron Diaz, John Travolta, Jerome
“Th e Bus” Bettis, Alex Rodriguez, Mike
Tyson and Dwayne “Th e Rock” Johnson.
Th e fi tness chain has also expanded its
brand to include merchandise, a magazine
and a television show.
Photo courtesy of Alma Realty
Flushing pet shop to close its doors for good next month
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A Flushing pet food and supply store
will be permanently shutting down soon.
Pet Menu, located at 191-19 Northern
Blvd., will close sometime towards
the end of September, according to an
employee. Th e business served the neighborhood
for 27 years.
“I am deeply saddened that such a wonderful
business as Pet Menu, with fantastic
customers and employees, will be closing,”
business owner Abe Kanfer said. “Th is
decision was not made quickly or easily.”
Kanfer will be running a liquidation
sale at the location beginning Aug. 4
Th e store’s selection of food, treats and
pet supplies for dogs, cats, birds, fi sh and
other small animals will be deeply discounted.
Kanfer will also be selling the
store’s fi xtures, furniture and equipment.
“We feel privileged to have served
Flushing and the surrounding communities
as your neighborhood pet supply
store for over 27 years,” Kanfer said. “I
want to off er my heartfelt appreciation
to all our employees and fantastic customers
for their continued support and
patronage. We look forward to seeing you
during our sale!”
Th e Pet Menu staff can be reached at
718-939-4738.
“Powerhouse Gym choosing to sign a
10 year lease in Long Island City demonstrates
a strong commitment to the community
and is a great sign for the neighborhood’s
future,” said Peter Kosteas of
Alma Realty Corp. “Th e demand for this
type of retail shows that Long Island City
is attracting a healthy living residential
population to go along with the growing
offi ce space market. Such amenities are
what brings people to the neighborhood,
fueling the local economy and attracting
even more investment.”
Th is will be the fi tness brand’s third
location in New York. Th ere is currently
a Powerhouse Gym in Bayside and
Syosset on Long Island.
Greenthal Property Sales, a family
owned property management fi rm,
signed a 12-year lease to occupy a 15,303
square-foot space at the building in July.
Photo via GoogleMaps
Powerhouse Gym is moving into a renovated factory in Long Island City.