Photo: QueensPost
Sept. 17, 2013 By Christian Murray
Two Sunnyside bar/restaurants are up for sale.
La Kueva, a Latin Rock establishment located at 39-31 Queens Blvd , is on the market for $160,000.
Meanwhile, the Wild Turkey, located at 39-35 47th Avenue, has been listed for sale at $110,000.
Rae Arora, a co-owner of the Wild Turkey, said that while the restaurant is for sale, he hopes that he doesn’t have to sell it outright. In fact he would prefer it if someone would buy out his partner’s stake. However, the partners are open to all possibilities.
Photo: QueensPost
Arora said his business partner is a grandfather who lives in Suffolk County, Long Island, and is unable to come into the restaurant and help out as much as he used to. Furthermore, Arora said, he has young children and is currently working very long hours.
He said the bar is gaining a strong reputation among the LGBT community and its delivery business is picking up.
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34 Comments
Business does not have to be bad in order to sell. Like he said its his partner who wants a buy out. I’ve come across this several times in commercial real estate. Restaurants are some of the most demanding business’s and people just flat out get tired.
The Wild Turkey Pub is a cute, quaint little place. Everyone is welcome there. It is not classified as a gay bar however the people that go there are very friendly and welcome all walks of life. “SARA” how dare you suggest that gay people should move out of the area and stay in the village. You my friend must be complete trash. I dont know what you are talking about regarding Sunnyside being a family oriented neighborhood. It is now becoming that, yes indeed, however 3 “straight” men recently just murdered a homeless man in a local park, that your “family” may hang out in. Nevermind the corner stores that have a bunch of drunk men standing outside partying at 2 in the afternoon.
Straight men do not want to hang out where gay men do @ wittysmitty….with that attitude, straight women probably dont want to hang out with you. Maybe you should take a lesson from a gay man and learn how to act.
I look forward to all the changes in sunnyside. I hope that people continue to clean there acts up/ and get sunnyside to a place where everyone is accepted to make sure that sunnyside becomes a family oriented neighborhood. I hope that more “hipsters” move in and lesbians and gays move in so that people are more aware of all types of people.
THe Wild Turkey pub like most other bars in Sunnyside is a place that will help make our community bring all walks of life together.
Newsflash, Sara: Gays have families, too. I’m sure glad you’re not part of mine.
Oh, and they use laundromats, too. I’ve also lived in Sunnyside for the past 30 years, and I do believe the area would be better off without the likes of YOU.
The Wild Turkey is NOT a gay bar. True, several gay customers come in Friday nights for an LGBTQ social group. The interior is not dingy, but it is a work in progress.
As for that bigoted nonsense about “keeping the gay bars in the village.” Darling, what makes a family-oriented neighborhood is your opinion, but you can keep your trifling, intolerant mouth in check as your comment was truly anti-family and anti-community.
And for the straight dude who’s afraid of getting hit on by other men, relax. It doesn’t always work that way and if your momma equipped you with proper etiquette, all you’d have to do is say “thank you,” but politely decline. That would not be an issue at The Wild Turkey.
According to city dash data dot com. the majority of Sunnysiders are not owners- of their homes or of local businesses. They’re welcome, all the same. To those of us who have “invested” by buying something and paying a mortgage, all that really matters is that you have a positive outlook. Without renters and shoppers, we “owners” would be in trouble!
I’m thinking of opening a pub (just beer- maybe call it Suds?) with some washers and dryers in the front and some tables in the back. They’ll be a rainbow sticker and a Mets logo on the door, so all will know that they’re welcome.
Ok 40th street, you say you have invested in Sunnyside. What property have you bought and/or business have you opened?
Sorry, but coming here for the cheaper rent than you can afford in trendier neighborhoods is not investing.
I’m a young professional who moved to Sunnyside a year ago, and I am SO SICK of people on this forum saying that hipsters are “ruining” the neighborhood. Hipsters love supporting small local businesses in their community–how is that a problem? Now, I’m sorry that I needed a place to live and that this neighborhood is affordable for me, and that therefore I am part of a larger demographic trend. And you can call me crazy for thinking that a cafe would be a nice improvement to the neighborhood. But I love the neighborhood, I am invested in Sunnyside, and I regularly spend my hard earned cash at small, local businesses (not Burger King), so give me a break.
They should make La Cueva A good Laundry Mat, that is what we need in our neighborhood not another bar and cafe. I have lived in this neighborhood 30 years and i have never seen so much tittles going, hispsters,, Gays, — leave our neighborhood alone. All that is happening is prices in grocery stores are going up and rents. go to manhattan or Brooklyn/
Sunnyside is a family oriented neighborhood, keep your gay bars in the village
Bring back Gallagher’s
yeah, it all started here in Sunnyside. 6 people in the audience and they were mostly Genes friends.
The youtube videos are amazing, they sounded sharp. If you google coventry club you will see a band list for every night from ’73 until it closed. Ramones played once, Link Wray many times, Cyndi Laupers band even.
They turned down Aerosmith becuase they wanted 300 bucks.
Kiss was originally Wicked Lester and changed their name the same weekend as Popcorn Club changed to Coventry.
KISS at the Coventry Club 1973
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWIOyHr9FZM
Move over Bix Beiderbecke
Chaim Witz Place does have a ring to it… Too bad he was raised in Jackson Heights and not Sunnyside.
Stay tuned next week as Jimmy Van Bramer unwraps Sunnyside’s newest co-named street sign – Gene Simmons Place!
The Wild Turkey has really good take-out/delivery food for those who don’t know, including the best fried chicken delivery in the hood. I haven’t been in the joint yet but I will sorely miss the take-out goods if they fold.
@ Mayor –
KISS played what was then called The Popcorn Pub / Coventry Club which was located at 47-01/03 QB on January 30, 1973. Besides KISS, several other notable NY acts including the New York Dolls, The Dictators, The Ramones and Blondie played some of their earliest shows there…..
As far as I know, there aren’t any bars around here that I would say are gay “unfriendly”, they all seem quite happy to cater to anyone who shows up and behaves like a polite human being. But let’s face it, if you’re a straight guy going to have a beer and watch the Met game and your first impression of the place is a “strong reputation with the LGBT community” then yeah, it’s probably a gay bar, or at least one where gay men have decided that’s where they’d like to hang out with each other. So perhaps you’re better off somewhere else, there are plenty to choose from in Sunnyside. Now, why are people so defensive? You act as if simply acknowledging that gay bars exist and perhaps this is one of them, is some sort of slur or stigma. Perhaps you need to resolve this conflict within your own minds.
Angray, if you’re a straight male and enjoy spending time in a “gay friendly” bar, nobody’s stopping you. Other straight men might prefer to drink elsewhere. What’s the big deal?
@mayor mccheese…yes the Coventry was located at that corner. my husband saw Kiss there, as well as other bands, including the Ramones, NY Dolls. a definite piece of rock and roll history!
It would be nice to think that all the businesses in Sunnyside are “gay-friendly.” But it should be noted that there are still many ignorant people around. Identifying your establishment as having “a strong reputation” with either the straight or the LGBT community might not be the best approach – everyone should be able to hang out wherever they want. Don’t worry about getting hit on by the worng person; it’s probably not going to happen the way you think it will.
Gay friendly does not make it a gay bar. Supporting gay rights does not make you gay either. Some people are so ignorant.
First, ABC gets a new sign, then the car fire, and now this! If these news stories leak out, Sunnyside will be inundated with hipsters. Who knew there was so much going on in our community? What’s next?
@joanie luvs chachi
Then stop tapping your foot in the bathroom stall.
@Guy, KISS played their first show at what is now the Red Wing store? Seriously?! Please confirm!
I have been there a few times, it’s definitely not a gay bar.
Where’s the rainbow flag? I need some marker so I know not to step into the place. Just don’t like getting hit on by other guys, real uncomfortable.
Sunnyside has a reputation for music, KISS played their first gig as KISS in Sunnyside where that boot store is.
Thank goodness La Kueva 2.0 is on the market. Hearing their loud music along with Xio Lounge’s loud music at night is really annoying.
@ Hoof Hearted: That’s an old photo. They’ve actually spiffed it up quite a bit.
i really like the wild turkey–it’s chill and the staff is friendly–i think they need more advertising/promotions and maybe events to pick up biz and attract more locals..it’s in a weird location–not so much foot traffic.
“He said the bar is gaining a strong reputation among the LGBT community…”
So basically, it’s a gay bar.
Can Not wait for La Kueva to leave!!!!!!!!!!!!! now just take that slime pit Xio with it!
Rae is a wonderful guy! The food there is hearty and service is friendly. It is def a very community type of place. I love coming here!
“He said the bar is gaining a strong reputation among the LGBT community and its delivery business is picking up.”
Business is picking up so he wants to sell?
OKAY!
Wasn’t that Wild Turkey bar called Off the Blvd or something similar and came under new management several months ago? I seem to recall they were promoting a “gay night” back then. From the photo, it looks rather dingy and divey. Not very inviting at all.