Vallone Welcomes Bookstores To Set Up Shop In Astoria
BY JOHN TOSCANO

After years of disappointment and frustration because his vibrant community of Astoria does not have a bookstore, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. recently renewed his campaign among the major bookstore chains to establish one here.

In letters to Barnes and Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks and others, Vallone pointed out that the closest major chain store is in Forest Hills, five miles from Astoria and Long Island City, even though there's an existing market of 200,000 residents.

In addition, Vallone wrote: "Astoria is a vibrant neighborhood, full of young professionals, artists, writers and senior citizens- a perfect location for your business. Students need a place to buy their books; children need a place to explore their imaginations, and adults need a place to take a break from the world, sip coffee and read quietly."

In his letter to Barnes & Noble, Vallone commented: "Within that [five mile] radius, there could be close to a million residents without a place to peruse the latest novels, magazines, music and movies. To put it into perspective, the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Edgewater, New Jersey is closer to Astoria than any bookstore in Queens. A Barnes and Noble in Astoria would serve not only the needs of my community and other undeserved neighborhoods, but also offer you an excellent business opportunity to capitalize on this untapped market."

Vallone also appealed to the "good corporate citizen" side of the bookstore companies, noting that they should take into account "where your services are needed most, not only where they are most profitable".

Astoria and adjacent areas Vallone said, are "full of senior citizens-prime bookstore customers-who find it difficult to travel to Forest Hills". Vallone feels the business environment presents a perfect opportunity for a bookstore to be "both a valuable business and public service to the community".

In the past, Vallone said, he has had conversations with some major bookstore owners, but the business and real estate climate at the time ultimately stalled any progress.

But as Astoria continues to gain a reputation as an up and coming neighborhood in the outer boroughs, attracting new young professionals and wealthier families, Vallone feels the business environment presents a perfect opportunity for a bookstore to profit from a growing marketplace.

The lawmaker also offered assistance for any interested bookstore owner to find a location and publicize their entrance into the community. He said he hopes to work with businesses, constituents and bookstore executives in coming months to reach a deal that would bring a bookstore to his district.

Editor's note: Since releasing the original letter Vallone discovered a new bookstore located in Long Island City, about three miles away. He still believes that the Astoria community would benefit greatly from having a major bookseller in the neighborhood and sent out a corrected letter asking several vendors to bring a store to the area.