25-11 Astoria Blvd
June 25, 2018 By Tara Law
An Astoria family is opening an upscale coffee shop on Astoria Boulevard next month.
Higher Grounds at 25-11 Astoria Blvd. will serve La Colombe coffee, grab-and-go lunches and a variety of dessert options. The space is the former location of Le Frape, a creperie.
The coffee shop will be owned by Michael and Karen Ferguson along with their daughter, Caitlyn.
Caitlyn said that the inspiration for the coffee shop came in part from her passion for making coffee.
Caitlyn worked as a barista for four years, and had been hoping to open her own place. Her father had always wanted to open a business in the neighborhood, so the pair decided to bring their two dreams together, Caitlyn said.
“I really enjoy making coffee, but working for someone else isn’t the same. Now I’m going to make coffee for my own business,” Caitlyn said.
The coffee shop will offer a full coffee and espresso menu— including La Colombe ice coffee on tap. Healthy lunch and breakfast options will be available, including gourmet sandwiches, yogurt, fresh juice and smoothies.
The eatery will also offer more indulgent options such as People’s Pops ice pops, Melt Bakery ice cream sandwiches and Hershey’s ice cream.
The Ferguson family hopes that the coffee shop can become a destination for the neighborhood. The shop plans to host small musical events, Caitlyn said, and local artists will be invited to display their work on the walls.
The cafe will have plenty of seating–including countertop seating as well as seating at tables and benches.
The shop will also feature a garage-door style window that can be opened depending on the weather.
Michael Ferguson said that he’s happy to be opening in Astoria.
“I want to build a future here,” Ferguson said. “We always wanted to do something like this.”
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32 Comments
.. only racists in LIC and Astoria.. man you need to put the crack pipe down
Thats true Astoria is racist….I watch the Indy 500 and the Daytona 150. Its a fast paced area. Great spot for Higher Grounds!
Very excited about this!! I work a couple blocks away and my coworkers and I hope that this can be our new go to coffee spot! Good luck!!
It would have been nice to see a local roaster. Of which in this city, there are plenty. La Colombe is pretty good coffee, but not local.
If you can get your espresso drinks right, then you’ll have a chance. Cafe La Frape was nice and cute, but their espresso drinks were not on par.
Don’t be overpriced. Starbucks is horrible coffee for a horrible price. They just raised prices recently as well. Fuck that starbucks crowd. bunch of tasteless yuppies. Bring me real coffee, i’ll drink it often. Have a time limit for the tools on their laptops. Power ain’t free. Wifi isn’t free. The people who run the business have to pay for these things. It’s about time as a community we start doing more for businesses in the area. It’s become so transient and predictable in Astoria as to what is going to open.
Still keeping an eye out for more ice cream and cookie shops or the next Poke spot. Blah!
I wish you very best and don’t pay attention to those comment like Tim said “tobecco road”. He doesn’t understand that that tobecco is the one what brings bread and butter on somebody table.
Just don’t allow any non paying undesirables hang out inside and loiter like they’re allowing in Starbucks…. thanks!
The Ferguson’s have apparently mistaken this site for Yelp.
How exciting! Best of luck and prosperity to The Ferguson family. Pay no attention to the “glass half empty” comments, you will do great!
Hi Gemma. Thanks for the comment and the well wishes. Appreciate the positivity. – Higher Grounds Astoria
Very excited about this!! I work a couple blocks away and my coworkers and I hope that this can be our new go to coffee spot! Good luck!!
Hi Kelly. Thanks for the positive energy and we hope see everyone soon. – Higher Grounds Astoria
did you get coffee there before when it was a coffee spot?
Open up before 7 and maybe you have a chance, i don’t see it. All these Mom & Pop coffee shops need the finance crowd and that crowd is on the 6:30 N/Q. This is paint by numbers, don’t reinvent the wheel. Open up early and take debit. Enough said Fergusons. This advice is free.
Hi Mookes7. How are you? Thanks for the advice. We planned to open at 6 am to 9 pm. We will also accept credit and debit.
-Higher Grounds Astoria.
Sounds like a homerun then, look forward to it.
Thanks Everyone. Your support means alot. Family is everything. Higher Grounds Astoria.
Out of business in 6 months. Customers will order one coffee and sit there for 3 hours playing with their computer or some other device
Exactly. “Upscale” coffee on Astoria Blvd. LOL That area looks like Tobacco Road…
Hi Anonymous. We are hoping to exceed our customers expectations in everyway possible. Thanks for the comment . We will be serving La Colombe drip and La Colombe Draft Latte and Pure Black on Tap. Higher Grounds Astoria.
thanks
That’s great! I know of a local theater group who would like to present short scenes for a small audience.
I grew up at 2509 Esther Boulevard which is right next door so looking forward to coming back to my original home and having good coffee. May God bless your new business.
Hi Robert. Thanks for the well wishes. Looking forward to meeting you. Higher Grounds Astoria.
Wonderful concept !!
Looking forward to being a customer !!
You will do great !!!
Thank you so much Diane! Looking forward to having you as a customer
Astoria and Long Island City is notroiously racist, this so called business will just be another opportunity for bigots to express their hate, racism and bigotry.
.. only racists in LIC and Astoria.. man you need to put the crack pipe down
It is nice to invite area artists and craftspeople to show and sell their work in the community
Hopefully they will give some opportunities to the Arab population and artists that live so close to this spot and all over Astoria to display their work. Astoria is so wonderfully diverse.
Hi lemonia. Higher Grounds Astoria is going to be a destination of Inclusion.Anyone who would like to feature there art. Please contact us at Highergroundsastoria@gmail.com. Thanks. Higher Grounds Astoria
Mom, Kathy,Audrey wish you all a latte luck. Much success.
“local artists will be invited to display their work on the walls.”
They’ll be “invited” or “commissioned”? #payartistsforart