About Queens Village where I was born and raised there was an area of Hillside Avenue that led from Francis Lewis Boulevard which ran from around the corner where I lived.
Hillside Avenue itself is an Avenue that extends a long way down into Nassau County.
On Hillside Avenue and Francis Lewis Boulevard there was and still is a strip-mall located within the vicinity.
However, many years back during the 1970’s and 1980’s, up until the mid 1990’s, the surrounding area was a more engaging place to visit, mingle, and entertain oneself in.
I cannot remember every single establishment that was present during the more effervescent times but there was a large Grand Union supermarket that stayed open for 24hours.
There were convenient pharmacies, a huge appliance store called “Steven’s”.
There was a Pet Shop, a Record Shop, Gaby’s delicious Pizzeria, a Health Food Store, a Shop where one could buy just about any little thing or gadget handy for one’s home or hobby. A Shop for curtains, rods, hooks, bedspreads, sheets, pillowcases, bathroom accessories- and more bed and bath articles.
The entire block was packed with an array of stores- not to mention the other establishments that occupied up and down the blocks of the area.
Boy did we have some good old times on the streets of Hillside Avenue!