LIC Market, located at 21-52 44th Dr. Long Island City (Facebook)
Aug. 18, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
LIC Market, a restaurant known for its brunch and wine selection, is the latest small business in Long Island City to shutter in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The restaurant, located at 21-52 44th Dr., closed permanently earlier this month, the owners posted on Facebook on Aug. 7
The post did not specify the reason for the closure although it referred to the “lunacy” of the current year.
“We are very sad to announce that after 10 amazing years in LIC, we are closing our doors,” the Facebook post read.
The post said that the business had faced many challenges in the past but that this year was too much for it to endure.
“We always managed to pull through, carry on, evolve as needed. But this 2020 lunacy… this is something else,” it reads.
“Hearts broken. Hearts pulverized, really. But this is not a forever goodbye. We’ll be in touch. You stay in touch, too. From now, through the other end of this madness and beyond.”
The restaurant opened in July 2010 and was a sparse, rustic style establishment with a modern twist. It was a long, narrow venue featuring white bricked walls and an outdoor patio area to the rear.
The establishment’s buttermilk pancakes and frittatas were popular for brunch along with the duck hash and shredded brisket burgers. Its dinner menu was updated regularly and often consisted of chicken, pork, steak and seafood dishes along with salads and lasagna.
A key component of the business was its wine selection which focused on specialized natural wines sourced primarily from France, California, and Austria.
The eatery had established itself as a local favorite with overwhelmingly positive reviews. It had amassed 4.5 stars on Google from 793 reviews and 4 stars on Yelp from 784 reviews.
LIC Market did provide delivery and takeout during the shutdown and opened up its outdoor patio area in June for customers, according to the company’s social media posts. The business also opened a small outdoor tent at the front of the restaurant.
The closure of LIC Market adds to a growing list of Long Island City businesses that have closed during the pandemic. The Burger Garage restaurant on Jackson Avenue., Artist & Craftsman Supply on Queens Boulevard and The Secret Theatre on 23rd Street have all closed down over the last few months.
