Nov. 12, 2018 By Meghan Sackman
The Starbucks in Jackson Heights located at 78-25 37th St. has been shut down by the Health Department.
Since Friday, the busy location has had a large yellow notice plastered on its front door that reads: “Closed by Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene.”
There were two employees inside the locked location Monday but both were unwilling to answer questions.
The NYC Health Department was unavailable to comment Monday but Jackson Heights business owners and residents had plenty to say about the closure.
Janya Sing Pan Radezh, owner of the Thai restaurant Arunee located next door, said she was disappointed to see it close—even on a temporary basis.
“I’m upset because I’m a coffee girl too. I drink it every day,” she said. “I think they will improve it [the store] … and they will come back.”
Her daughter Ming was also disappointed by the closure.
“It will affect us in some way because we are next door,” she said. “I guess they [help] bring more customers here.”
Many residents who were peering in through the window had mixed feelings about the closure. Some were milling around outside disappointed they couldn’t get their drinks.
Others, such as resident Greg Culling, shrugged his shoulders and said he wasn’t upset because he never went there.
“I don’t usually patronize Starbucks anyway so I don’t really care,” he laughed.
