Bye Bye UJ’s
December 18, 2007
Lots of Forest Hills restaurant news today. Queens Central posted the awful news that UJ’s luncheonette has closed. Countless kids have grown up in this place. I vividly remember my 9-month-old son getting head tremors while he stared at the black-and-white ceiling and the hypnotizing ceiling fans. I called his pediatrician on the spot to ask if she thought it could be a neurological problem. My son went on to spend many happy mornings with his friends there, while we parents downed the bad coffee and were just grateful for a place we could go in bad weather. The staff was welcoming and the food was fine. I was just there two weeks ago with my daughter, reliving the experience. Where, oh where, are we supposed to go for scrambled eggs and fries when we don’t feel like cooking on a Sunday a.m.? Please don’t say the T-Bone Diner.
Entry Filed under: Forest Hills, food. .
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1.
Anne | December 18, 2007 at 11:23 am
This is a tremendous loss to the neighborhood, rivaled only by the closing a few years back of Homestead on Austin Street. Both closures were abrupt – you didn’t see them coming.
I have been there many times in assorted groupings, including a party of 1. UJs was a familiar place with comfort food. It was an institution that gave us a bit of a small-town feel, particularly with its retro look. I was there a few weeks ago when I had just missed a LIRR train and had an hour to spare – it was a nice little refuge, a treat to stop for waffles unexpectedly.
While there are some pleasant surprises, it seems that many of the newer stores and eateries are not nearly as interesting or charming as their predecessors. This is not nostalgia speaking as much as the observation that the entrepreneurial ambiance is often replaced with the chain mentality.
The closing of UJs is a carpe diem call to patronize those places that you enjoy while they are still here, and maybe they’ll be able to stick around a bit longer.
2.
Carol | December 30, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Hello,
By George – I think I found a vacant location. The address is 102-30 Queens Blvd in Forest Hills. It appears to be a dry cleaners that went out of business. Perhaps UJ’s could relocate there!!!
Happy New Year!!!
Fondly,
Carol
3.
karbeth | December 30, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Which side of the Boulevard is that on?
Thanks Carol!