Nov. 9, 2010 By Christian Murray
The Orchard Farmers Market opens Wednesday promising to provide Sunnyside with gourmet food at low prices.
The store, located at 42-24 Greenpoint Ave., will be offering several different food types. There will be a deli section, sushi section, poultry section and seafood area each staffed by a dedicated employee. There will also be a bakery that specializes in Mediterranean breads.
Other items include hot soup, and a variety of coffees, jams, olives, nuts, and produce.
“I’m excited that it’s opening,” said Okan Yukse, who is a co-owner of the store. However, after working many late nights “it’s also a relief.”
Yukse and his business partner, Tan Gur, have created a rustic feel with baskets hanging off the ceilings and wood-colored floors.
The store also has a small café area where customers are able to eat sandwiches—or just drink coffee. The owners have hired 13 employees.
Yukse is confident that he has the right formula for success. He knows the neighborhood well. He lived in Sunnyside for about six years, until he moved to New Jersey to establish another store about a year ago. He said he lived on Skillman Ave, next to 48th Street.
The store is 2,000 sqf and was once the home of Nelsons Christmas Shoppe. It is expected to be open from 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
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25 Comments
I was so happy when this place finally opened I think I actually cried while walking the aisles. 20+ types of olive oil!! Sushi to go! Tate’s cookies!!
But the lighting — holy shit– they NEED to address it. It’s impossible to see, read, identify for purchase, etc the items I might otherwise be compelled to take home with me.
By the way, the lighting they are probably using is HPS lighting (high pressure sodium lighting which casts a yellow/orange color).
The lighting is a little strange, orangey. Its just like street lighting. The colors are off. I’m not saying to put in fluorescent lighting like all the 99 cent stores. It should be more like Whole Foods and other gourmet shops, a warm and natural looking light. (A friend of mine who is an interior designer also agrees.)
I’ve been there a few times now since it opened (I live very close by) – I think I will do a lot of my small grocery shopping there now instead of at the Associated. By the way, I tried one of the cupcakes (chocolate), and they are awesome!
Patrick, the bagels at Foodtown on Greenpoint Avenue aren’t freshly made by them. They’re delivered nearly every morning from a supplier and briefly warmed up in the deli department’s oven before being put into the bins. The same is true of the newly renovated Associated on Greenpoint Avenue, which doesn’t bother to warm them after taking them from the delivery bags. Key Food at QB and 46th Street bakes its own bagels, but they’re too big and breadlike for my palate.
The lighting in stores like Rite-Aid is painful. Nice to hear that a store pays attention to its appearance, and is possibly saving energy in the process.
are you people really complaining about bagels? idiots.
What Roxy found out about the bagels seems to be my problem with the store – bagels can be found, freshly made, at Foodtown across the street. Orchards needs to be making these things themselves – bagels from a supplier is a disappointment. I also wonder why the store needs Progresso soups and all the items that can be found at a regular supermarket – to truly be a rare treat, drop the standard fare for locally produced goods, or goods you make yourself.
I love the store!! I think they have done an amazing job with the design, and the atmosphere is great 🙂 Staff is very friendly and helpful. As a Sushi lover, I am so happy to see the Sushi section! I do agree that they offer affordable higher-end food… I will be back for more shopping definitely!
I visited yesterday for the first time and was shocked to find no bagels in the bakery section. They did have some pre-packaged bagels that one can get in any supermarket, but none of the “loose” ones that deli and gourmet shops usually carry. I complained to a manager, who said that he would try to find a supplier ASAP.
I think it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. The south side of Sunnyside could use more nice places like this.
I saw some comments about the lighting being bad. Funny thing, I particularly liked the lighting. I think its part of the whole atmosphere they have going on.
oH AND BY THE WAY, I AM NOT AN OWNER OR A CRITIC. I JUST LOVED IT. I AGREE WITH ROGER THE SHRUBBER. IT IS THE TYPE OF STORE YOU USUALLY FIND IN CHELSEA OR THE VILLAGE BUT WITHOU THE HIGH PRICES.
I stopped by Orchard Farmers Market at 12:00 noon and it is a beautiful store. I walked through and could not believe the vast high end selection or the prices, i.e. bottled water for less than $1.00. The immediate sense in the store is the aroma of fresh coffee beans and fresh cheese. I was hungry so I had a meat pie (delicious), a spinach pie (had the real taste of fresh spinach) and some freshly made vegetable sushi (California roll). Okay, I admit it I have a huge appetite but I swear I ate every bite. Then, I had two really good cups of coffee and my favorite, baklava. I enjoyed every bite. I bought some apples, some pears, and some great Tates chocolate chip cookies. They have sauce from Italy for pasta, they have bottles of extra virgin olive oil that have the color you see only in Italy and other imported goods. They also had fresh fish and meat. For those who have complained about the lighting, it has huge windows and the sun was shining, so you could certainly see the color of the fruit and most of the fruit is in the front, outside so lighting is not an issue. I don’t know what the other person is talking about with lighting. THIS PLACE IS A RARE TREAT!! It makes you happy to go food shopping. TRY THE MEAT PIE. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.
I am so happy to see this lovely market finally open!! I think they have brought so much to this neighborhood! They have the greatest selection of organic & regular food. Fruits and vegetables I bought were very fresh and affordable! You should definitely check out the Bakery section, Cupcakes yay!!! I bought so much, and I am still enjoying my delicious goods! What else can I say?? Welcome to the neighborhood 🙂 You definitely have my business!!!
At least it’s not a pawn shop.
Now where am I going to get my ornaments? I hate progress.
It certainly is a vast improvement over that obnoxious, old pair that ran the Christmas shoppe.
I love the store. Great for the neighborhood. Only thing….the lighting is bad.
I have been looking forward to this store but the only thing that’s bothering me is the lighting. The lighting gives the store a horrible look and you can’t see the product in its true colors. I really can’t shop in a store like that.
love the store, just got back with way too much food. The staff was friendly and helpful. Hope the stay around for awhile. They have my business 🙂
Don’t feel bad – competition is good if it encourages them to freshen up their produce – often super bruised and mushy. If you can’t compete, you shouldn’t be able to rest on your laurels.
I’m impressed what they did with the place. It’s the kind of store you would expect to find in the Village or Chelsea. I do feel bad for the veggie stand on the other corner, I hope there’s enough business for both.
Good luck! I’ll be stopping by too.
I’ll be checking it out this week. Hope it lives up to the hype.
Look forward to stopping by this evening after work – let’s hope their fruit quality is better than we see elsewhere in the ‘hood – and it would be quite a coup for Sunnyside if Orchards actually offered affordable higher-end food.