Vacant in Garden City: Franklin Avenue Activity

Nearly a year ago John Wilton, chair of the Garden City Merchants, Professionals & Retailers Group, called the strip of empty storefronts on the east side of Franklin Avenue between Ninth and Tenth streets "somewhat catastrophic in its appearance."

There now appears to be much movement in the area as an "Asian-themed restaurant" -- to be the fifth in Garden City -- readies to open in the former TD PriceWaterhouse property. Next door, a tapas bar is also gearing up for a possible June grand opening to replace Upper Crust Café.

"I spoke to the contractor of the new tapas restaurant next to Sushi Ya, they expect to be open in approximately a month," Wilton said. "The Asian-themed restaurant is moving along."

Wilton said there's also activity in the old Gross Jewelers store. "If you haven't gone to the new Gross Jewelers store it's absolutely magnificent. It looks like it belongs on Fifth Avenue. There is activity in the old Gross jewelry store. There are people looking at it right now. Some of them are food orientated," he said, adding that Mumon, formerly located at 1300 Franklin Avenue, in the Winthrop University Hospital Wellness Pavilion, has some "interesting food purveyors that are thinking about opening up another restaurant."