QUEENS — Rego Park residents have a new bar and gym near the Rego Center Mall.
BLVD Bistro & Bar and Retro Fitness both opened recently in the new complex at 92-77 Queens Blvd., at 62nd Avenue, which also includes a 50-room Wyndham hotel and a drive-thru Starbucks, the developer said.
BLVD — one of the few bars in Rego Park — is a combination of old and new. The modern decor features a large photo on the wall from 1940, depicting Queens Boulevard looking west from Grand Avenue, and much of the woodwork in the bar was made from reclaimed lumber, according to Matt Development, which owns the complex.
In addition to cocktails, wine and beer, the bar offers a breakfast and dinner menu, including Belgian waffles, bacon, egg and cheese wraps, as well as hot wings, guacamole and chips, Mediterranean platter, coal oven pizza, beef burger and a grilled chicken sandwich.
"The space is beautiful and we are excited to see it start taking off," said Donna DeSousa of Matt Development in an email.
The 18,000 square-foot Retro Fitness, which just opened in the complex, features a number of cardio machines and strength equipment and offers a variety of fitness classes, including spin, Zumba, kickboxing and yoga.
(Credit: Retro Fitness)
“We opened Retro Fitness to provide the community with a facility that will help them achieve their health and fitness goals,” said Ben Filingeri, owner of the new gym, which also includes a supervised children’s playroom and a Retro Blends Smoothie Bar.
The only drive-thru Starbucks in Queens, which is also situated in the complex, opened in March.
The hotel opened in June.
(Courtesy: Matt Development)
There is currently one retail space still up for rent in the complex, DeSousa said.
The new development replaced the former site of Goldfingers, a strip club that closed in 1999, after numerous complaints from local residents and elected officials.
