99c Fresh Pizza during construction

99c Fresh Pizza opened on Tuesday selling pies and slices at discount prices.

The pizzeria, located at 41-10 49^th Street, is selling 18” pies for $8.00 ($2.00 extra per topping) and a slice for 99c (plus 50 cents per topping).  It offers free delivery (718-507-9099).

“This [pizzeria] is the first of about 20 that we’re looking to open in Queens over next 2-3 years,” said Steve Nelson, one of the three owners.  The next step is to open another pizzeria in Sunnyside–on the south side of Queens Blvd—with others in Woodside, Long Island City and Elmhurst.

One of the owners includes Sunnyside resident Joe O’Sullivan, who selected the site since it was vacant and is in a busy section of the neighborhood. Nelson said the three owners bought the license to operate under the name from Brian Harley who owns the brand.

99c Fresh Pizza has built a name for itself in Manhattan, where it has established eight locations.

44-07 Queens Blvd

The former proprietor of Bliss Bistro is opening Tapenade, a casual French restaurant located at 44-07 Queens Blvd, on Thursday.

Alim Maruf, with his business partner Abu Khan, will be marking the restaurant’s grand opening by offering free drinks and hors d’oeuvres from 12pm through 10pm.

“Tapenade will be a French bistro–just more affordable and with a larger menu than what Bliss Bistro had,” Maruf said. Bliss Bistro was a French restaurant located on Skillman Ave. (46th St.) that closed about 12 months ago.

Tapenade will offer typical French fare, with a brunch and dinner menu. The brunch menu will includes: omelets (9.50); eggs Benedict ($9.50); eggs Florentine ($9:00); quiche ($6.50); and sandwiches ($7.00 -$8.00).

For dinner, the restaurant will offer appetizers such as calamari ($7.00) and escargot ($6.50) and entrees that include duck ($14.00), pastas ($8.50), shell steak ($20.00), Black Angus hangar steak ($18.00) and New Zealand lamb chops ($20.00). The restaurant is expected to have its liquor license in a month.

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.

While Maruf misses the neighborhood feel of Skillman Ave., he expects to do much better in 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 58 diners inside and as many as 50 in the patio out the back. He will open the patio in summer.

The restaurant will be open seven days from 11:30am through 11:00pm.

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