Long Island City Restaurant Corazon De Mexico To Close

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — The economic effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic have claimed another victim among Long Island City's culinary scene.

Corazón de México, a Mexican restaurant at 10-09 50th Ave., will close later this month after two and a half years in the neighborhood, according to social media posts and news reports.

Cynthia Shephard, who owns the restaurant with her mother Maria Iglesias, told the Queens Post that they could no longer afford their $13,000 monthly rent and could not get their landlord to agree to a rent reduction.

New York City's indoor dining ban was a contributing factor, she told the news outlet. The restaurant’s outdoor seating area cost $4,000 to build and only seats 10.

“The winter killed us,” Shephard told the Queens Post. “It’s been hard. It’s impossible to survive and we still have no idea when indoor dining will reopen.”

The duo also owns the bakery La Adelita in Woodside, which will stay open for now, Shephard said.

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A post shared by Corazón De Mexico Restaurant (@corazondemexicolic)

The restaurant is selling equipment and other items as it prepares to close, the LIC Partnership said in a tweet.

The impacts of COVID-19 are continuing to affect our community and we are sad to see that Corazón De Mexico Restaurant & Bar is closing. They are selling items and equipment now through January 28th from 10-3pm. For more information email corazondemexicocorp@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/uB1pym4xRt
— LIC Partnership (@LICPartnership) January 12, 2021

Corazón de México joins such neighbors as The Creek & The Cave and Corner Bistro that have shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to one estimate, a third of New York City small businesses may never reopen after the pandemic.