From The Peopling of New York City
Local Business
As much as the mind may perceive Roosevelt Island as a little world of its own, the stomach may be harder to convince. While the island is full of social and special events aimed at community members of all ages and dispositions, it seems to be significantly lacking in the local business realm, making retail stores and, even more tragically, restaurants, a rare site.
This has not always been the story of business in Roosevelt Island; in 1969 the city decided to sign the island over to the state of New York and the business future could not look more promising. New residents came onto the island and new businesses sprouted up along with them. [1]
Apparently this business boom was short lived, because in following years the growth of local business on Roosevelt Island has seemed to slow close to a stop. Until very recently there had been only two restaurants on the whole island, a fact that caused one resident to state, "I hate Mexican food, but I would eat tacos every night for a year if we had a Mexican restaurant on the island." [2]
The main cause of this business standstill probably owes itself to the state operated Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC). Under this board's direction any new business has to submit to an approval process that includes a request for proposals, open bidding, documentation of customer base and proof of financial and stakeholder gain. This situation leaves one resident to ask, "Can a state government that runs out of Albany operate a small town at a distance?"[3]
| R.I. Nails & Co.: 570 Main Street, 212-759-2014 | New York National Bankm: 619 Main Street, 212-319-0029 |
| Accountable Financial Management Corp: 599 Main Street, 212-644-8231 | M&D DEli: 570 Main Street, 212-838-3964 |
| China 1 Kitchen: 609 Main Street, 212-588-0806 | Gristedes: 686 Main Street, 212-355-9600 |
| R.I. Cards & Gifts: 563 Main Street, 212-688-7928 | Liberty Hardware: 544 Main Street, 212-319-6997 |
| Trellis Restaurant: 540 Main Street, 212-752-1517 | R.I. Cleaners: 571 Main Street, 212-758-1778 |
| Edison Metro Corp.: 668 Main Street, 212-486-8571 | We Are One: 599 Main Street, 212-319-5421 |
| U.S. Post Office: 694 Main Street, 212-752-5564 | Full Service Hair Salon: 523 Main Street, 212-688-0055 |
| RI Thrift Shop: 520 Main Street, 212-486-8958 | Dr.James Flannigan Chiropractic Services: 507 Main Street, 212-688-4980 |
| Grog Shop: 605 Main Street, 212-838-5822 | Island Flowers & Gifts: 568 Main Street, 212-572-5545 |
| R.I. Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Lawrence M. Itskowitch DDS, PC: 501 Main Street, 212-752-8722 | Dr. Katherine Grimm, MD Pediatrician: 502 Main Street, 212-753-5505 |
| Dr. Jack Resnick, MD General Practice: 501 Main Street, 212-832-2310 | Starbucks: 455 Main Street, 212-317-1298 |
| New York Public Library: 524 Main Street, 212-308-6243 | R.I. Racquet Club: 281 Main Street, 212-935-0250 |
| Subway (sandwich shop) North: 900 Main Street, 212-935-7029 South:1 Main Street, 212-317-4781 | Coler-Goldwater Hospital & Nursing Facility Coler Campus: 900 Main Street, 212-848-6000 Goldwater Campus: 1 Main Street, 212-318-8000 |
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Hope for Roosevelt Island business is on the horizon. The Roosevelt Island Residents Association passed a plan last summer (2007) that endorsed a new system for dealing with the business issue. The plan calls for the lease of commercial space to one master leaseholder who will then, in turn, sublet individual storefronts to different businesses. The leaseholder will work with a group of advisory residents to decide which businesses to rent to. [5]
Although the plan is not without faults, something seems to be working because since the start of this year two new restaurants have opened on the island.
New Restaurants
Fuji East Japanese Bistro 455 Main Street 212-583-1688
Nonno's Focacceria
Pizzeria & Deli
455 Main Street
212-753-2330
A Personal View- Here is a peek at what a couple of Roosevelt Island employees have to say about their jobs and the island:
Place of Employment: Nonno's Focacceria
Jack has been working at Nonno's since its opening about 4 months ago. He has been working in the food industry for 20 years and recognizes that Roosevelt Island has a great need for food service. Aside from being one of the few restaurants on the island, according to Jack, Nonno's serves another purpose; teaching good work ethic to many of the neighborhood's children. All of Nonno's delivery workers are Roosevelt Island youth. Jack likes this environment and Roosevelt Island in general, saying "The people are great." Although he does not actually live on the Island, he thinks that Roosevelt Island is, "a great place to live," and points out the island's good qualities such as, "the air is clean."[6]
Name: Theresa
Place of Employment: RI Thrift Shop
Theresa is a former Roosevelt Island resident, but now she lives in Brooklyn. She first moved to Roosevelt Island when she was attending the French Culinary Institute, but then had to leave because it became too expensive. About her job at the shop, she says "it's one of the best jobs I've ever had." She feels that Roosevelt Island is "a nice community if you can get to know people." She also mentions the community's diverse population and says that in spite of its lack of food services, she is trying to move back. [7]
References
- ↑ [1] "A Fig Tree, And Not Much Else, Grows On Roosevelt Island"
- ↑ [2] "A Fig Tree, And Not Much Else Grows On Roosevelt Isand"
- ↑ [3] "A Fig Tree, and Not Much Else, Grows On Roosevelt Island"
- ↑ [4] "Business"
- ↑ Kalkin, Jonathan. "The RIRA Common Council Has Signed On to a Plan to Market Northtown Storefronts Through a Master Leaseholder." The Wire. 16 June 2007. 13
- ↑ Field Notes 23 March 2008
- ↑ Field Notes 9 April 2008
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