While most of the borough was gearing up for a blizzard that paralyzed the city on Sunday, Feb. 22, hundreds of southeast Queens residents spent the day before the storm at the Jamaica Colosseum Mall, which closed down at the end of January.
State Sen. Leroy Comrie, Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman and Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams hosted a private closing ceremony at the Colosseum at 89-02 165th St. and honored its cultural significance and legacy in the community since the marketplace opened in 1984 at the former home of Macy’s, and became an anchor for the local economy. Comrie welcomed elected officials from across Queens, community and faith leaders and business owners to reflect on the Colosseum’s impact and recognize those who helped shape its history over more than four decades.
“The Jamaica Colosseum wasn’t just a marketplace, it was part of the heartbeat of Southeast Queens,” Comrie said. “For decades, small business owners built opportunity within its walls and families built lasting memories. We gathered to honor that legacy and the community that made it what it was.”
Like Comrie, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards went to Jamaica High School a few blocks away on Hillside Avenue.
“This is our home,” Richards said. “A lot of memories on this block, some of them good, some of them bad, in all honesty. Let me say that this is the place that made me, you know? We think about all the talent, all the entrepreneurs who came out of here.”
The private gathering was followed by a block party outside that drew more than 300 who also grew up at the Colosseum Mall and joined clergy, community board members and representatives from community-based organizations including LIFE Camp, King of Kings Foundation, 100 Suits and others.
Richards told the crowd that organizers were getting signatures on petitions to rename the block after the Colosseum Mall. He also vowed that the community would have a say on what comes next at the site which is in the area rezoned by the City Council last year, under the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan.
“We’re going to send a very strong message to the developers to make sure that this is not going to become Downtown Brooklyn,” Richards said. “That the people that paved the way can remain in this community and be centered through any development that’s happening here.”
After the farewell bash, Queens Public Library Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniel told QNS about the cultural significance the Colosseum had on generations in Southeast Queens.
“The closing of the Jamaica Coliseum marked the end of an era for many who grew up in New York City,” McDaniels said. “Jamaica Avenue was a vibrant hub for shopping, socializing and aspiring entrepreneurs. Hip-hop artists such as LL Cool J, Run-DMC, 50 Cent, Nilli Minaj, and Nas could often be seen walking inside the Jamaica Colosseum. For me, it was an opportunity to experiment with new ideas and start a successful career in entertainment.”
McDaniel went on to be the co-creator and host of the long-running “Video Music Box” series that made its debut in 1983.
