Hunters Point drawing in new breed of businesses

Formerly thought of as an industrial haven, the Hunters Point neighborhood of Long Island City is snapping up retailers and restaurants, transforming the area into a residential-friendly nabe, according to residents. Joseph Conley, chair person of the Community Board 2 in Queens, said that the Hunters Point community has been pushing for a residential rebirth, and that the movement is paying off. “We’ve seen a tsunami of residential development,” Conley said. “To attract even more residents… we’re looking for more of those amenities that people would be looking for in a typical [residential] area.” Contrary to much of the city, which has been seeing more big-box retailers move in, the majority of the new retailers and eateries in Hunters Point are small businesses, according to community members, such as the Breadbox Café, which recently opened in a former auto mechanic’s space.