Resurgence in Dutch Kills Has Restaurant Owner Thinking Opportunity

James Williams Sunday, March 31, 2013

There are those restaurants that sit, unopened for a period of time, that you just hope will regain new life somehow. That is what is happening in Long Island City with a resurgence of the Dutch Kills area. The resurgence of the Dutch Kills section of Long Island City has given one entrepreneur the impetus to reopen a restaurant that he closed two years ago.

Rocky’s Food, an Indian-Latin restaurant located at 41-23 29^thStreet (a half block from Queens Plaza North), will reopen on April 1 after being shut for two years. Owner Lachman Rattu decided to reopen the eatery after observing the changing economic landscape in Dutch Kills, where he has run a variety of businesses since 1984.

“Two years ago there was no business [at Rocky’s Food],” Rattu said.

However, he said the entire business climate has changed with all the new development. JetBlue opened its 200,000 square foot headquarters in 2012, and about 10 hotels have been constructed in Dutch Kills in recent years. Furthermore, there is a 350-room Marriott being built nearby, as well as a 250-room Hilton.

“Look around, there are people everywhere – I had to give the restaurant another go,” Rattu said.

Rattu, who goes by the nickname Mr. Rocky, owns the building and also runs an employment agency called LIC Staffing Services next door to the restaurant.

Other restaurants along Long Island have begun to have new life through renovations and rebuilding. Hopefully, Rocky's Food continues its tremendous tradition of providing great food. While the cuisine is a bit on the eclectic side, it is quite good.

jamesw@longislandyellowpages.com

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