Location
June 6, 2016 By Michael Florio
A new café focused on organic and gluten-free products is coming to 31st Street this fall.
QNS Cafe, a coffeehouse and pastry shop, will open at 22-35 31st St. in September or October, according to co-owner Dino Philippou.
The cafe will offer a variety of organic coffees, as well as fresh organic juices.
“We will be a nicer version of Starbucks with higher quality,” he said.
While the menu is still in the works, QNS Cafe will serve salads and fresh salmon dishes, as well as organic and gluten-free pastries and baked goods.
All of the pastries and baked goods will be prepared fresh in-house, including homemade flour, according to Philippou.
“It will be a lifestyle brand,” he said. “It is a lifestyle to eat healthier and look for the freshest dishes.”
“We will not be your average cafe or bakery,” he added.
Philippou saw a need for this type of establishment in Astoria as residents are willing to spend a little more to ensure great quality, he said.
“We believe the community will embrace us,” he said.
Philippou is very familiar with the neighborhood as he grew up by Astoria Park and still has family that lives there. He has run several businesses in the neighborhood. Philippou is a partner in Cavo and sold his share in MexiBBQ at the end of 2015, he said.
The establishment is named QNS Cafe for a couple of reasons.
“First, when you hear QNS you think of Queens,” he said. “But we are also located right next to the Q and N subway station [Astoria-Ditmars Blvd].”
The subway station was a major reason why Philippou and his partner Tim Pappas decided to open at this location.
“The foot traffic to and from the train is great,” he said. “Plus Ditmars [Boulevard] is right up the block.”
Philippou said a lot of residents have stopped by and asked when they are going to open.
“Everyone loves coffee,” he said. “Those who know about us are really looking forward to the high-quality product we will offer.”
The cafe will seat 20 people. It has a 2,000-square-foot backyard that will add more seating. However, that likely won’t be open until after the winter, Philippou said.
The hours are still in the works, but Philippou is anticipating opening around 6 a.m. He said the closing time will be determined based on the demand at night.
“We may close at 9, 10, 11,” he said. “It all depends on the community.”
The location was previously occupied by Last Stop Restaurant.
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11 Comments
I’m so happy I just cut me a gluten-free fart! 😀
deal with it !!!!!!!
ETSI !!!!!!!!!!!
Rocco that Naples sun is obviously killing your brain cells. Your information is spot on LOL!!! May God bless you get through your ignorance and hate that you possess. Btw that hammock is a great idea. See you soon 😉
Hey Rocco I didn’t know that you’re so interested in my work experience and personal life. Maybe we can meet and discuss our concept and vision and you can tell my partner and I how to operate since you’re so interested. You sound like a real ignorant uneducated individual. Maybe we can use you to make our coffee. That’ sounds like a perfect fit!! We are doing interviews next week. Stop by buddy. Cheers !!!
Good luck to QNS. I hope that Starbucks (and other bland chains) gets a run for their money, but I think that a price point closer to that (lower) is more realistic for this neighborhood.
Very funny Old Astorian – new owner has great planning abilities!
We will definately offer vegan options as well. And we will still hold the name as planned. Pls stop by I would personally like to meet. Tim Pappas
Thanks, Tim! I will definitely stop in, vegan baked treats are rare in Astoria!
F* the gluten free crap, make something vegan! Also, by time this opens the Q will be gone and it will be the N and the W.
Such a perfect comment. Not everyone is gluten free and even if they were there is no guarantee you’re getting a wholly gluten free product. There could be cross contamination in the kitchen.
So it should be NWS cafe
I haven’t seen any permits filed in the window so they’re either working illegally or taking their sweet ass time.
Also, we know the prices of Cavo and MexiBBQ is disgusting. Seems like we’re going to get taken here