New SweetleafNYC location (@sweetleafnyc instagram)
March 19, 2019 By Meghan Sackman
Two eateries with well-known names are about to open on Jackson Avenue.
Sweetleaf, a boutique café which has two locations in Hunters Point, plans to open its latest venue on Jackson Avenue on Thursday, March 21. Meanwhile, Xi’an Famous Foods, the well-known Chinese food chain, will also be opening on Jackson Avenue soon after.
Sweetleaf NYC, known for its specialty coffee, pastries, and rustic décor, is taking space on the ground floor of Jackson Park, a large residential development located at 28-10 Jackson Ave. that consists of about 1,800 apartments.
“We’re super excited about this space,” said Richard Nieto, the owner and a Long Island City resident. “I think this will quickly become our busiest location.”
This new LIC location will be about 900 square feet, similar in size to the original 10-93 Jackson Ave. cafe, and will offer the same menu.
(Sweetleaf)
The new locale will stand out from its other venues with a 24 foot high structural wall that goes right down the middle of the space. The wall, Nieto says, will be covered with art that pays tribute to Queens, completed by artists who had large murals at the now-demolished 5 Pointz site.
This will be Sweetleaf’s fourth location. Nieto opened his first café at 10-93 Jackson Ave. in 2008, the second location at 46-15 Center Blvd. in 2013, and the third location at 11-59 Freeman St. in Greenpoint soon after. The Center Boulevard location turns into a cocktail bar after 5 p.m.
The newest Jackson Ave. cafe will be open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Soon after the opening of Sweetleaf NYC, Xi’an Famous Foods will be opening down the street.
The restaurant, which will be located at 26-19 Jackson Ave, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, March 30, according to an Instagram post. It will, however, open a few days prior to then for a soft opening.
The Jackson Ave. spot will be the third Xi’an Famous Foods in Queens, with the others being in Woodside and its flagship location in Flushing.
The family-owned chain was founded in 2005 and serves dishes such as Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-Ripped Noodles, Spicy & Sour Lamb Dumplings, and a Stewed Pork Burger.
With the Jackson Ave. opening, the family will have 15 restaurants, including 11 locations in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, and the remainder in Queens.
For more information click here.
New Xi’an Famous Foods (@xianfoods Instagram)
