Last Updated: April 2018
Being a Jamaica, Queens-based writer (and native son) for a long time I had to make the 30 minutes or so subway ride into the city for proper places to both get good coffee and write. For many years Southeast Jamaica has been a good coffee desert, opting for cheap coffee and buttered roll served in bodegas and delis over anything resembling a quality latte, espresso or cappuccino. No place for a proper writer to sit, connect with wifi and bust out his laptop. That is until recently....
With gentrification has come the associated changes to the neighborhood landscape like the addition of small restaurants and eateries, chain pharmacies and stores and of course, that staple of the melanin-challenged invasion, Starbucks.
So while I'm NOT a fan of the bad shit that comes along with gentrification, like rising property taxes and rents, I AM a big fan of the ability to have places to write that are local (as in a short walk or bus ride away). Sometimes you just have to take the sweet with the sour....
I will keep this page updated with new spots as I find them (and they open or close) to help my fellow Jamaica, Queens writers, cause why should we have to go to the city to work if we don't have to?
A Note About Starbucks
Given the Starbucks controversy, I will say this. I have NEVER had a problem at any Starbucks I have ever been to and will not let the actions of a racist individual apply to a whole company.Starbucks - (89th Ave and Sutphin Blvd)
Hours:M-F 6:00am to 9:00pm, Sat 6:30am to 9:00pm, Sun 7:00am to 9:00pm
(Note: this store changes operating hours depending on the season, google for the most current hours)
Located directly across the street from the Queens Civil Courthouse, this Starbucks was my go-to local spot for writing. Warm, cozy, big windows, decent street parking nights and weekends (if you drive), close to a number of buses and located a couple of blocks from the E and F trains (located directly between the Sutphin Blvd station on the F and Sutphin/Archer station on the E subway lines). It's also walking distance to the LIRR Jamaica Station.
As a bonus, if you are hungry, the next block has simply one of the best Asian dumpling houses in Southeast Queens. I'm talking about the Beijing Dumpling House, home of the tastiest shrimp and pork dumplings I have EVER had, period. For under $10 bucks you can get a heaping plate of noodles or fried rice, dumplings and a drink, highly recommended!
January 2019 Update: Starbucks recently changed the hours for this store. They now close at 9:00pm every day. Since Starbucks Corporate plays with the hours of this store so much check their website for the current store hours.
Dunkin' Donuts - 144-01 Liberty Ave (Between Pinegrove and Inwood Streets)
Hours: Mon - Sun/24 Hours
Located right next door to a Family Dollar and now a brand new Comfort Inn hotel, this is a 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts that is also a Baskin-Robbins and Internet Cafe. It is bigger than the typical Dunkin' Donuts (probably the biggest in the area) offering comfortable seating, tables, TV, and wi-fi and has become a social staple of the neighborhood.
Mornings and early evenings tend to bring the most customers and local construction workers loading up on caffeine on their way to work. Other than that you can usually get in and out fairly quickly. The staff can vary though (especially late nights) with some struggling with English on complex orders, but if you are a straight coffee and donuts/bagel person you won't have any problems
Starbucks - 132-40 Metropolitan Avenue (at the intersection of Metropolitan & Jamaica Ave)
Hours: M-F 5:30am to 9:00pm, Sat 6:00am to 9:30pm, Sun 6:00am to 9:30pm
Located at the intersection of Metropolitan & Jamaica Avenues, just one block west of the Van Wyck Expressway this Starbucks caters to and draws many (if not most) of its customers from nearby Jamaica Hospital and the various medical centers that support the hospital. Because of this, the interior seems to reflect more of a social bent (small tables and chairs) rather than catering to workers or writers (no large tables to spread out books, notes or reference material). For instance, I am writing this synopsis on an 11 inch Chromebook, and it covers over half the table!
Being right outside a popular exit of the Jamaica-Van Wyck subway station also means a LOT of in and out foot traffic which can be distracting if you are focusing on banging out some words. On the plus side, it closes at 9:30pm on Saturday and Sunday which is later than the other local Starbucks, which gives you a half hour more to get'er done.
