Mandee on Bell Boulevard to close in January
Unreasonably high retail rents are what caused the Mandee store, on Bell Boulevard between 42nd and 43rd avenues in Bayside, to announce it will close in January, said Gregg Sullivan, executive director of the Bayside Village Business Improvement District.
“Rents have got to come down; they have got to meet market place,” he said. “The last thing we want is bad business practices on the part of real estate owners hurting businesses.”
Mandee corporate headquarters could not be reached for comment. Sullivan he said he fully expects Mandee to return in the same matter that Payless Shoes did, which was gone for about a year before returning to a new space on the boulevard.
Mitch Slavuter, owner of Prime Realty, said property owners can generally get good rents from large franchises such as Mandee and Payless, but on the other hand these major corporations expect to get a deal on their rents.
“If they move back, it will be because they really want to be here,” he said.
Sullivan said Johnny Famous, between 40th and 41st avenues, will be closed for about a month as it transitions between owners.
He said the building is being remodeled and expects the transference of the liquor license to be a routine matter when it comes before the community board.
— Rich Bockmann
