Encore
Outside view of where the Encore restaurant once operated today, courtesy of Google Maps Known Name(s)
Encore
Address
105-13 Northern Blvd. Corona, NY 11368
Establishment Type(s)
Restaurant
Description
The site where the Encore restaurant was located is along Northern Boulevard in Corona, Queens, NY, just two doors east of the Myrt’s site. It is part of a three-story walkup apartment building made of Flemish bond brickwork, with a flat roof. Today, above the entrance, there are two rows of three replacement windows. Each window is equipped with a stone window lintel with a keystone piece in the center. Additionally, the west window of the top row and the middle window of the bottom row both have fire escape access with the ladder dropping down from just above the entrance. There are two entrances to this site. One is to the store and the other leads to the apartments above the store. The store today serves as a general grocery store and deli serving the community’s food and beverage needs. On the front windows of the store, there are visible advertisements of what the store offers, as well as bundle item deals of certain products.
Detailed History
The building was constructed in 1930 at a time before the area started to become commercialized and a mass influx of migrants moved to this area of Queens. Unfortunately, historical evidence regarding this site is scarce but the surrounding area of Corona provides relevant historical context. From the mid 1940s through the 1960s, numerous legendary African American musicians (such as Harry Belafonte), civil rights leaders, and athletes settled in the neighborhood. In the middle of the 20th century, Corona experienced significant shifts in its ethnic composition, around the same time this site was listed in the Green Book in 1954 and 1955. In the 1950s, the predominantly Italian-American and African-American neighborhoods began to transition with an influx of Dominican residents. At the same time, Corona also became more commercialized. Northern Boulevard, where the Encore Restaurant operated, was in the middle of a vibrant commercial and residential area with numerous hair salons, restaurants, bars, and other businesses. This portion of Corona, Queens, was a hub for local life, including retail, cultural events, and the start of greater movement out of Manhattan into Long Island. The start of this commercialization can be seen in the historical photograph from the NYC Municipal Archives depicting cars parked on the sides of the street, a billboard advertisement on the top of the building, and even a storefront Baptist church.
