FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 2, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Queens leaders honor duo who confronted anti-Semitic attacker
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Queens lawmakers and community
leaders gathered outside of Bagels & Co.
in Fresh Meadows on Monday, Nov. 22, to
denounce the recent anti-Semitic threats
made against the establishment and to
honor two staff members who bravely confronted
Oldest gay bar in Queens to remain in Jackson Heights after owner purchases building
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e oldest gay bar in Queens will
remain a cornerstone in the Jackson
Heights community aft er the owner purchased
the building in which it has operated
for more than three decades.
Friend’s Tavern owner Eddie Valentin
and his business partner Casimiro Villa
persevered at a time when so many bars
and restaurants were forced to shutter
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am thrilled to be celebrating our permanent
acquisition of Friend’s Tavern,
aft er over 32 years of business here in
Jackson Heights, which is a melting pot of
the world,” Valentin said. “It has been our
privilege to serve this neighborhood as
well as so many customers from the rest
of the city who seek a second home, and a
safe space where we serve smiles and hugs
with every libation.”
When she heard that Friend’s Tavern
wanted to purchase the building at 78-11
Roosevelt Ave., Assemblywoman Catalina
Cruz connected Valentin with the Queens
Chamber of Commerce. Th e chamber
facilitated an introduction to representatives
from TD Bank, which led to a mortgage.
“For 32 years, Friend’s Tavern has served
as a cultural mecca, a home and haven to
those without, and a beacon of hope and
love for the LGBTQI community,” Cruz
said. “I am honored and thrilled to have
been a part of the purchase of the building
by Friend’s Tavern owner, Eddie Valentin,
and his team, so that we can give this cultural
institution a permanent home.”
A ribbon-cutting celebration at the tavern
Monday night followed a diffi cult
year and a half for so many small businesses
in Queens that were impacted
by COVID restrictions placed on bars
and restaurants. Th e trying circumstances
only strengthened Valenti’s determination
to purchase the building and ensure
Friend’s Tavern could continue to operate
for decades to come.
“For three decades, our space has
been a refuge for our LGBTQ community,
not only from the U.S. but from so
many countries from around the world,”
Valentin said. “We look forward to the
next 30 years of creating friendships, and
giving our love back to our wonderful
community.”
Friend’s Tavern has been a particularly
important nightlife space for gay and
bisexual Latino men, many of whom, as
immigrants, found a sense of community
in an openly gay environment that they
may not have had in their native countries.
“We are thrilled that we were able to be
a trusted partner to Eddie and Casimiro,
providing them with the fi nancing needed
to continue their 32-year legacy as a safe
space for the Queens LGBTQ community
and its allies,” LGBTQ+ & Community
Business Development VP Steven
Garibell said. “Th is celebration reinforces
how strong partnerships between local
offi cials, community organizations and
fi nancial institutions can help our small
business community reach their goals and
help fuel the local economy.”
Th e Queens Chamber of Commerce
served as a conduit in securing the mortgage.
“Iconic establishments like Friend’s
Tavern make Queens special, they add
to the unique character of our neighborhoods
and create jobs and opportunities
for all,” Queens Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Tom Grech said. “At
the chamber, we pride ourselves on helping
facilitate connections between our
members that allow businesses to grow
and thrive. We are delighted that Friend’s
Tavern will continue to serve the LGBTQ
community in Jackson Heights, and look
forward to enjoying many more celebratory
occasions at the bar for years to come.”
Friend’s also played a role in social justice
and commemorative events in the
neighborhood. In 1993, when Jackson
Heights was chosen as the site of the inaugural
Queens Pride Parade, representatives
from the bar marched and sponsored
the block party on nearby 37th Road.
“As the oldest gay bar in Queens, Friend’s
Tavern has been an inclusive and historic
and safe space for our LGBTQIA+ community
for decades,” Councilman-elect
Shekar Krishnan said. “I’m so proud to
celebrate with Eddie and the whole team
at Friend’s, their purchase of the building,
and to recognize how beloved of an institution
it is for Jackson Heights, Elmhurst
and all of Queens. Friend’s Tavern refl ects
the very best of our community — a shining
example of inclusivity, equality and
warmth. Here’s to many more years of celebration
of this cherished small business
as it continues to grow.”
the perpetrator.
State Assembly members David Weprin
and Clyde Vanel, Councilman Barry
Grodenchik, Councilwoman-elect Linda
Lee and Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards voiced their support
for the Jewish community while stamping
out hate in the “World’s Borough” during
a press conference at 188-02 Union Tpke.
on Monday.
“No acts of anti-Semitism or hate of
any kind is acceptable in this community.
Queens is the most diverse county
in the United States and we must try
to embody and defend the spirit of welcome
and acceptance in the greatest place
in the world,” said Weprin, who represents
the district.
On Nov. 10, just aft er 3:30 p.m., a suspect
entered the establishment while recording
with his cellphone as he approached
an employee.
“Th e individual made threats to the staff ,
patrons and business owner saying he will
break the windows and burn the building
down unless they took down the Israeli
fl ags that are fl ying with the American
fl ags on display,” Weprin said.
Th e NYPD 111th Precinct and NYPD
Hate Crimes Task Force is currently investigating
the incident as a hate crime.
Aft er speaking with Deputy Inspector
Kevin Chan of the NYPD 111th Precinct,
Weprin noted that police have some leads
on the individual, but cannot disclose the
confi dential information. Weprin says they
hope to identify the individual who was
caught on video surveillance wearing a
gray hoodie with gray sweatpants, a black
beret and white headphones.
Aft er commending the two staff members,
Kevin Vasquez and Juan Yax, for stepping
up to the perpetrator, Weprin presented
them with a proclamation.
Although they’re being hailed as heroes,
Yax and Vasquez, who are both from
Guatemala and have been employed at
Bagels & Co. for seven years, say they were
just doing their job.
“We don’t feel like heroes — we did what
anyone else would do. When you live in
this community, you don’t want something
bad to happen,” Vasquez said. “We appreciate
the award.”
According to Yax, he tried to stop the
man from entering the restaurant.
“I didn’t know what he had in the book
bag. I asked him twice and saw a gentleman
and another customer outside, and I
chased aft er him,” Yax said.
Th e lawmakers encouraged bystanders
to step up and speak out against acts of
hate and violence.
“To combat hate, it takes each and
every one of us to stand up against these
acts. It takes everyday citizens to stand
up and speak out against these incidents,”
Richards said. “We are also proud of our
Israeli fl ag in Queens county and stand
with the Jewish community, each and
every day.”
While there was a spike in hate crimes
against the Asian American community
during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee
noted the importance of communities
across the borough supporting each other.
“We represent so many cultures, dialects,
communities and faiths. Whether it’s the
Israeli fl ag, the turban on your head, what
you wear, your skin color, no one should
face any hate discrimination based on what
you wear or look like,” Lee said. “We have
to make sure that we are fi ghting it.”
Rabbi Manes Kogan, of the Hillcrest
Jewish Center at 183-02 Union Tpke., said
people should not fear representing who
they are.
“We need to make sure that we are equal
before the law. We should keep the fl ags
up, and be proud of who we are and not be
afraid of showing what makes us unique in
our communities,” Kogan said.
Photo courtesy of Queens Chamber of Commerce
Friend’s Tavern will remain a cornerstone of the Jackson Heights gay community after the owners
purchased the Roosevelt Avenue building it has operated in for more than three decades.
Photo by Carlotta Mohamed/QNS
Bagels & Co. staff members Juan Yax (third from left) and Kevin Vasquez (fi fth) were recognized by
Queens lawmakers and community leaders in Fresh Meadows on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.
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