Flushing’s Main Street businesses count on locals to survive

In Flushing, Queens, local businesses on Main Street are surviving the downturn because of Asian immigrants’ customer loyalty. Flushing resident Fred Fu, who owns a travel agency in the area, told WNYC reporter Richard Yeh (listen below) that almost all of his business happens within Flushing. “I live in Flushing downtown, my business is in Flushing, I eat in Chinese restaurants in Flushing, everything’s in Flushing,” Fu said. Pharmacy owner Peter Koo said that while he’s seen a drop in sales, he can compete with nearby chain store Duane Reade because of his loyal customer base. Koo said he and his employees can explain doctors’ directions in Chinese to residents, and also help them understand things other than prescriptions. “If they have a bill they don’t understand, we’ll explain, ‘oh, this is a Con Ed bill,” Koo said. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of Asian immigrants in Flushing almost doubled.