41-10 49th Street (source Amit K.)

A new pizzeria that’s opening on 49^th Street, across the street from Café Marlene and next to Florent’s, will be selling a slice of pizza for 99cents.

For upper Skillman Ave residents, the struggle to find a slice of pizza is going to be over– as two pizzerias are about to open.

A new pizzeria will be opening on 49^th Street, across the street from Café Marlene and next to Florent’s. That pizzeria is expected to sell pizza for a $1 per slice. The business owners are currently renovating the 41-10 49^th Street space.

This development comes just a little over a month after it was reported that a new pizzeria will be opening at the old location of Rosario’s Pizzeria & Restaurant. That pizzeria will be located at 50-12 Skillman Ave. and is expected to open at the very beginning of 2012.

Meanwhile, a bakery appears to opening at 51-18 Skillman Ave., called Olimpica.

50-12 Skillman Ave.

Doctors’ offices will be opening at 45-10 Skillman Ave. early next year, according to workers on the site and other local sources.

The property, which has been vacant for about 18 months, was at one time the location of the Sunnyside Medical Center.

Location of second Shalom store

Shalom Book Store, the Catholic store located on Skillman Ave., is opening another shop—just one block from its existing operation.

Shalom, based at 49-08 Skillman, will be opening its new store at the former Sea Kiss Boutique, which is at 48-13 Skillman Ave.

The new store will focus on selling statues and figurines of Mary, Jesus and various biblical figures. The owners of Shalom are still in the process of moving these items to the new store. The new store is expected to open soon.

The existing store will focus on the sale of videos and books.

Shalom, which is a Hebrew word for peace, also sells many of its Catholic products online. That site is http://www.shalombooksny.com

Another French restaurant is opening in Sunnyside and this one will be owned by the former proprietor of Bliss Bistro, Alim Maruf.

Maruf, with his business partner Abu Khan, is opening up “Tapenade” at the location of the former Rose Restaurant on Queens Blvd. “The menu will be larger and more affordable than what Bliss Bistro was,” Maruf said. Bliss was a French bistro located on Skillman Ave. (46th St.) that closed earlier this year

Maruf will be in competition with the recently opened Bliss 46, which is a French restaurant run by Bliss Bistro’s former chef. However, he is not concerned about the competition, saying he has another expert chef—and that his restaurant will pay particular attention to ambiance, music and decoration.

Tapenade will offer typical French fare: from calamari, escargot, quiche, duck legs, pate and cassoulet. He will also offer pastas, shell steak, lamb shank, wine and beer.

There will also be a children’s menu.

While Maruf misses the neighborhood feel of Skillman Ave., he said he likes his new space. “Queens Blvd is the heart of Sunnyside where people come from all over…there is the subway and it is accessible to people from both sides of the blvd.”

The restaurant will be able to cater to 55 diners inside and as many as 40 in the patio out the back.

Maruf is confident of his success, despite the closure of Bliss Bistro. “If everyone supports me, it will do well.”

The restaurant will be open during weekdays from 12pm to 3pm and 4pm to 11 pm.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the hours will be 11am through 11pm.

The restaurant is schedule to open at the end of December.

The restaurant will be offering a special menu for Thanksgiving that will be based around turkey and pie.  However, starting Friday, it will be offering classic French bistro fare.

“The menu will include classics such as escargots à l’ail, gratinée French onion soup, and coq au vin,” according to owner/chef Esteban Rojas.

Bliss Bistro, a now defunct French restaurant where  Rojas worked as a chef, “showed me that French food would be welcome in the area.” Alim Maruf, who owned the now-closed Skillman Ave. restaurant, is not involved in the new enterprise.

Rojas reports that he is looking forward to opening a relaxed, neighborhood restaurant with excellent French cuisine. Rojas is a Sunnyside resident. “I live blocks away and I am looking forward to walking to work.”

The restaurant will be located at the now-defunct “Victoria’s 11 Pizzeria,” which is at 43-46 46th Street.  Hours for Bliss 46 planned are expected to be: 4pm till 11pm, seven days a week, with Saturday and Sunday hours for brunch.

The restaurant is named after the 46th St./Bliss subway station close by.

Bliss 46 location

On Monday, a pizza shop called Verdecchio Pizzeria opened at 39-11 Queen Blvd, which sells slices for $2.25 and large 18” pies for $13.00. The shop also serves heros, pasta, burgers and salads.

The pizzeria is owned by Juan Quinde, a Sunnyside resident who has another pizzeria in Harlem. The restaurant is being managed by his cousin Hector Quinde, also from Sunnyside.

“We have always wanted to open a pizzeria close to home and we have the experience [to do so],” said Hector Quinde.  He added that he expects 40% of the shop’s sales to come from pizza, with the remainder coming from other food types.

The space was previously occupied by the Japanese restaurant Chikurin.

Meanwhile, Xio Lounge (located at 39-17 Queens Blvd) held its grand opening tonight, taking over the space that was previously operated by Ra Café & Lounge. The owners describe the business as “bringing upscale Manhattan to Queens” offering a “contemporary/modern look and classy ambiance.”

Deal$ opens Nov. 21

This week Deal$, the nationwide discount store owned by the Dollar Tree, is expected to open. The store is taking over the space previously occupied by Master Billards at 39-01 Queens Blvd.

The Dollar Tree is a publicly traded company that has thousands of stores across the nation.

Risen 99 cents, which has moved into the space formerly rented by Casa Romana, has opened.

However, it’s in for some competition. Directly across Queens Blvd, where Master Billiards was located, the discount store Deal$ is in the process of moving in.