Jan. 22, 2016 By Christian Murray
A prime Vernon Boulevard location is about to get a new lease on life.
The Delta Force Army Navy store, which has been located at 49-10 Vernon Blvd. for about 25 years, has officially closed and is for rent. While the store has been shut for about five years, the business owner has been using the space for storage as part of his eBay business.
The building is owned by the operator of the Delta Force Army Navy business. He and his ancestors have owned the building for about a century.
The commercial space has had many tenants over the decades. It has been a check cashing store, taxi dispatch company, shoe store and hat store.
The owner, who did not want to provide his name to avoid getting phone calls from brokers, said he is in no rush to rent the space.
“I want to make sure I rent it out to the right person,” he said.
He noted that he would not rent it to a nail salon, hair stylist, dentist or pharmacist since there are too many stores in the neighborhood like that. He also said it would not be a bar, partly because his mother lives in the building and a church is across the street – so a full liquor license could not be obtained.
According to the owner, he put a for-lease sign up in the window at about 9 a.m. Thursday and within 24 hours he had received more than 100 phone calls. He said that he has been generating a lot of interest from Manhattan restaurant owners looking to open in Long Island City.
One call that piqued his curiosity was from a retailer who sells brand-name sneakers.
“We do need more retail in Long Island City,” he said.
He did not disclose how much the rent will be, stating, “everything is negotiable.”
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