A new high-end Mediterranean restaurant is slated to open at 7000 Austin St. in Forest Hills, taking over the space formerly occupied by TGI Friday’s, which closed in October 2024.
The unnamed restaurant group, known for operating several successful venues across Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island, has signed a long-term lease with Muss Development LLC to occupy the entire 8,631-square-foot ground floor of the two-story mixed-use property. The restaurant is expected to open by the end of 2025 and will join an already robust lineup of national retailers and eateries at the site. Other tenants include Target, Starbucks, Men’s Wearhouse and more.
“Well-located neighborhood retail continues to thrive in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island,” said Jason Muss, president of Muss Development. “We are pleased to welcome this high-end Mediterranean restaurant to 7000 Austin St. and to Forest Hills. We believe it will be a great fit with our other tenants, the shopping corridor, and the entire neighborhood.”
The building at 7000 Austin St. is the largest retail and office complex on Austin Street, widely considered the commercial spine of Forest Hills. Spanning 78,938 square feet, the property also offers 400 parking spaces—a rarity for dense retail corridors in New York City and features two stories of commercial space.
Austin Street is one of Queens’ most established shopping and dining destinations. The site is well-connected by transit. It is a short walk from the Forest Hills–71st Avenue subway station, which serves the E, F, M, and R lines, and the Forest Hills LIRR station. Several city bus routes, including the Q60, Q64, and QM18 express bus, make the location easily accessible from across Queens and even Midtown Manhattan.
