Fairway Market Expected to Open in November

The long-awaited Fairway Market is expected to open its doors at the Douglaston Shopping Plaza in November, northeast Queens leaders said.

The market’s debut was originally scheduled for spring 2010 before being pushed back several times amid an extended process during which Fairway obtained permits for the site.

But state Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, and Councilman Mark Weprin, D-Oakland Gardens, both said they were told by the upscale market's owners that the store would finally open in November.

“I know they’ve started the work there finally,” Weprin said. “I know a lot of people are very excited. I think the neighborhood will enjoy having the services they provide.”

Fairway could not be reached for comment.

Community leaders said Douglaston residents were beginning to become skeptical about the opening of the market.

“A lot of people think it’s not going to happen,” Douglaston Civic Association President Eliott Socci said. “Or, they believe it’ll happen when it happens. I tell them that Fairway will open the store. They signed a lease and can’t just walk away.”

The opening of the market, which is replacing Waldbaum’s at 242-02 61st Ave., was delayed as Fairway applied for permits with the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals and worked out interior design issues with Con Edison.

In addition, the store required a permit to allow for a larger sign bearing the market’s name.

“The sign wasn’t big enough and they wanted people to be able to see it from the street,” Community Board 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece said. “They haven’t done any work outside the store yet, but they’ve been working internally. I know they originally anticipated opening in the summer, but they’ve had to face every hurdle as far as logistics and red tape.”

The high-end supermarket chain prepares its own food, roasts its own coffee, bakes its own bread and keeps a large inventory of cheeses. It also has an on-site butcher, both kosher and non-kosher.

The market will operate from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Currently, Douglaston seniors are forced to walk up to one mile to Stop & Shop, which is the closest grocery store to the Fairway site.

Weprin said he believes the store will bring more business to the shopping plaza’s other stores, such as Grimaldi’s or the movie theater, once it opens.

“A lot of people don’t know the shopping complex is there,” he said. “If there’s a lot of traffic coming into Fairway, people will start using the other services in the area.”