Free Breakfast at Local Deli? What's the Catch?

Well there is no catch - except that free breakfast was made available to anyone who walked in between the hours of 5:30AM to 11AM today for the grand opening of our newest night owl and 24 hour establishment, Star One Gourmet Deli.

Located on Melrose Avenue at the corner of East 152nd Street, Star One Gourmet Deli is the latest business to open its doors in Melrose.  Over the last few weeks no less than 5 business have opened their doors for the first time to Melrose residents, not including Boricua College which opened up officially yesterday (more on that in a few).

Local residents were very impressed that a business was giving away free breakfast to local residents during such bleak economic times (a quick survey of the eager customers on line said they didn't believe last week's report that the recession was over since June of 2009).

Minerva Herrera of Melrose said that what Star One Gourmet Deli is doing today, "is a very beautiful thing in today's world and nice for their new customers."  She went further on to say that she wishes them many beautiful and successful years.

"Welcome2Melrose" Star One Gourmet Deli!  Great way to create a loyal customer base on your first day!

Here's to your success!

New customers patiently waiting for a rare treat - free breakfast!

Melrose is Night Owl Friendly

While many of the outer boroughs and their neighborhoods sleep at night, Melrose is abuzz with 24 hour activity. You may wonder, "What is open after midnight into the wee hours of the morning besides bodegas and fried chicken restaurants?" (not that there is anything wrong with the aforementioned establishments but sometimes one might want to eat something that won't harden your arteries or ruin that figure you've worked so hard to achieve. The answer is quite a few.

There's Lincoln Cafe, directly across from Lincoln Hospital on E 149th Street at the corner of Morris Avenue where you can get your sandwiches made to order and find a selection of healthy potato chip brands like Dirty Potato. On the next block right on E 149th Street between Morris and Courtlandt Avenues you have Dunkin Donuts and La Isla Restaurant specializing in Puerto Rican and Dominican dishes (ok so not necessarily healthy but they're open if you need to get your fix at 3AM).

As you walk further down 149th Street and you pass a castle of a certain color that is open 24 hours (delicious but as unhealthy as it gets) you get to the Times Square-esque intersection (sans the bright lights, ads and billions of people) of 3rd Avenue/East 149th Street where Melrose Avenue begins as well as Willis Avenue. If you head North on Melrose past PeaceLove Cafe (sorry guys, not open in the wee hours) between E 152nd and E 153rd Street you will find Xochimilco Family Restaurant which is one of the best Mexican eateries in Melrose. Although not open 24 hours, they do get an honorable mention since the kitchen is open until 12AM Sundays - Thursdays and on Fridays and Saturdays they are open until 4AM.

Walk 4 more blocks up North and you come upon King Gourmet Deli on Melrose and E 157th Street. King Gourmet Deli has a 24 hour deli counter where you can pretty much order anything you want including wraps.

These are just a small sample of what is available to our local night owls whether they live in Melrose or work here. More to come in the near future on 24 hour establishments.