OurLIC Video Conversation:  Ciaran Staunton; Molly Blooms, and The Queens Blvd Merchant's Initiative  7/1/2011

Ciaran Staunton, owner of Molly Blooms, talks with OurLIC about his vision for improving Queens Blvd for Sunnyside residents and merchants.

Ciaran Staunton, owner of Molly Blooms, talks with OurLIC about his vision for improving Queens Blvd for Sunnyside residents and merchants         Full video coverage and follow up Q&A are available in the left column in 2 segments of approximately three to five minutes each. kirim_staunton_molly_bloom_20110701 MVI_5633

Long Island City, New York July 1, 2011 - On June 7th, seventy people representing residents and merchants gathered at Molly Blooms, a new restaurant on Queens Blvd in Sunnyside.  They gathered with Congressman Joseph Crowley, and New York City Council Member, Jimmy Van Bramer to launch the Queens Blvd Merchants Association.  [ Go to OurLIC Article Sunnyside Queens Blvd Merchants Initiative Started 6/7/2011 ] The QBMI's hope is that it can facilitate communication and open up the discussion about how to improve Sunnyside. The group seeks to improve the community and encourage residents to Buy Local, Shop Local, and Hire Local. OurLIC met with Ciaran at his Molly Blooms restaurant so that he could share his ideas.  The conversation was video recorded and presented here in its entirety. HIGHLIGHTS of conversation with Ciaran Staunton, Molly Blooms: Ciaran Staunton opened Molly Blooms in March 2011.   He is also the owner of O'Neals Restaurant and Pub  on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. Ciaran has been a resident of Sunnyside since 2001 and has been active in the community.  He decided to invest in a business in Sunnyside. Ciaran has a strong belief about "re-investing in the neighborhood".  He has made a concentrated effort to apply this as a business practice.  All work in Molly Blooms was done by someone from Sunnyside. Molly Blooms buys from the neighbor, and hires people from the neighborhood. All of the construction work was done by people hired from the neighborhood. Ciaran bought the building in January, and had identified that a number of issues in the neighborhood needed to be addressed. For example, he points out that the neighborhood is popular to reside in, but there are emty storefronts.  He says "It's not just the economy. It is a number of factors as any successful business person will tell you". He met with a number of different stakeholders in Sunnyside to key in on issues like: How do we get it looking better? How do we get people shopping in the neighborhood? How do we get people to stay in the neighborhood? They identified things like the "iron gates". Ciaran met with various officials and then determined that a missing component of his initiative were the residents.  Until that point the initiative consisted of some merchants and some building owners. While he was promoting "Shop Local. Buy Local" he actually had not brought the message to the residents. This year, the initiative reached out to the local residents. The community was asked to give their input.   The first meeting was held on June 7th and included Congressman Joseph Crowley, and New York City Council Member, Jimmy Van Bramer. One of the problems being addressed is the fact that it is illegal to park on Queens Blvd before 10:00am. When someone stops for a cup of coffee, they are fined $115. Another issue is that the parking under the "bidges" is five hour parking. The parking is taken up by commuters who do not live or spend in the community. Ciaran makes the point that 300,000 people travel through the area every day.  The community needs to have them stop and shop in their stores and go to their restaurants.  He says "We need to make it more attractive".  He wants all of the iron gates, which were put up in the high crime days of the 70's, all removed.  He says that it gives people the thought that "this must be a high crime area". Ciaran also addresses the topic of vacancies.  He says that a high vacancy percentage impacts a banks willingness to lend money to a shop or restaurant. "A vacant building beside me is costing my money". As a result, the Queens Blvd Merchant's Initiative asked the residents what they would like to see in the neighborhood. Part of the problem is that a consumer can not do one stop shopping.  "That is the reality" he says. The OurLIC Video Conversation offers an interesting segment on "immigrant merchants" that are opening small, mom and pop businesses. "We all have something to gain by working together. It takes a village. We see ourselves as a village. We are going back to the old thing that if everyone cleans outside of their own door, then the whole street is clean. That goes back to the awning, the iron gates, etc". OurLIC also interviewed Lily Gavin on June 7th. Lily is owner of Dazies Restaurant on Queens Blvd and an active leader and advocate for Sunnyside and greater Long Island City. Lilly speaks out about the importance of everyone joining together to improve the community for the future. HIGHLIGHTS of conversation with Lily Gavin, Dazies Restaurant: Lily says that she is very excited to hear about the new merchants initiative and making a difference on Queens Blvd She welcomes the new businesses and new initiatives that people have and what they can bring to the table.   She says "This is what the community has worked so hard for with the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce". Lily, speaking as a prominent Sunnyside community leader and advocate, said that "Whatever we can do to help it along, we would be part of it, and support it. Definitely". She notes that the Sunnyside Business Improvement District (BID) has also accomplished alot for the community, and that it is still a young BID There is a welcome atmosphere for all of the merchants and all who bring great ideas to the community. Immigrant merchants, and their diversity, "...make the community a better place to live, to work, and bring support to the community, and also to our whole city". Lily Gavin would like to see a change in structure, the buildings, the landscape, the trees, the flowers, and the planters. Sunnyside is in the process of a rezoning that will include adding outside cafes. Lily Gavin, Dazies Restaurant, is looking forward to the future. NOTE: PHOTOS PRESENTED BELOW REPRESENT "A WALKING TOUR" OF QUEENS BLVD. STORES SHOWN ARE NOT NECESSARILY MEMBERS OF THE QUEENS BLVD MERCHANT INITIATIVE. STORES ARE SHOWN TO PRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD..   Ciaran Staunton, owner of Molly Blooms, talks with OurLIC about his vision for improving Queens Blvd for Sunnyside residents and merchants Burger with blue Cheese at Molly Blooms Burger with blue Cheese at Molly Blooms Dazies Restaurant, Sunnyside

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