By Bill Parry
The Fourth of July fireworks are coming back to the Queens waterfront for the first time in five years. Macy’s annual extravaganza will be launched from barges on the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday afternoon.
De Blasio was one of several politicians who had been fighting for the event to return to the East River since the festivities moved to the Hudson River in 2009.
“When he was public advocate, Mayor de Blasio and I met with Macy’s executives and discussed the countless benefits of bringing one of New York City’s most spectacular events back to the East River where many more New Yorkers would be able to enjoy them,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said.
The fireworks show draws as many as three million spectators each year, and Queens has been left out of the action since the department store switched waterways celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Hudson River.
“For too long, residents of our neighborhoods have been left out of what is not only a citywide, but a national event,” State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said.
Several businesses that were flood-damaged during Hurricane Sandy are looking forward to the crowds now expected to flock to Long Island City and Astoria this summer.
“It’s great news, we finally have our fireworks back,” Riverview Restaurant owner Tony Raouf said. “It will help Long Island City tremendously and we are very happy about it, indeed.”
The Riverview, at 2-01 50th Ave., needed extensive repairs after it was flooded with three feet of water in the 2012 superstorm.
The Waterfront Crab House, at 203 Borden Ave., needed $500,000 worth of repairs in Sandy’s wake.
“That will really help pack the place that night,” Crab House manager Barbara Eden said.
The potential one-night boost to the economy in western Queens cannot be underestimated, according to Rob MacKay of the Queens Economic Development Corporation.
“It’s huge news, very big news for us,” he said. “Not only for restaurants, bars and other businesses, but there are strategic places like rooftops that are poised for a big payday, not just on the waterfront.”.
One of those locations is the Z Hotel, with its 5,000-square-foot rooftop lounge. The hotel is situated at 11-01 43rd Ave. just south of the Ed-Koch Queensboro Bridge.
“I am so excited. It is huge and it is about time the fireworks are back,” the hotel’s Marketing Director Lisa Gneo said. “We’re going to put together a wonderful plan of action for that night, for sure.”
But, not everyone was happy to hear the news.
Gianna Cerbone-Teoli, the owner of Manducatis Rustica, said, “I am going to close because it’s a Friday night and people will have been drinking all day long. The crowds come in to use the bathrooms, and that’s when trouble starts.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718.260.4538,
