Ultimately, he said, he envisions Rockaway Avenue dominated by shopping and eating establishments, and with fewer office-type businesses. “I think that progression will take place,” he said.

Chen agrees that more retail is the way to go. “They bring me business,” he said.

New business owners optimistic

Besides the empty stores, Hernandez has few other complaints about Rockaway Avenue. In fact, she said, she and her husband, Armando, are very pleased with the location they selected for their new business, which opened nine months ago. They spent nearly two years searching for a spot for a children’s fitness studio. They live in Lynbrook, but their children attend Valley Stream schools. When they spotted a vacant storefront between two popular businesses, Sip This and P.J. Harper’s restaurant, they jumped on it.

“When we found this location, it seemed to be right for us,” Saundra recalled. “We’ve gotten tons of business from walk-ins.”

She said that while Gym 4 Kidz, which hosts exercise classes during the week and children’s parties on weekends, has gotten some customers through traditional advertising, it has grown mostly because parents have spotted it while on Rockaway Avenue. And more pedestrian traffic would keep the business growing, she said.

Wine & Liquor, at the corner of Rockaway and Jamaica avenues, is not new to downtown, but it is under new ownership. Tushar Delhiwala took over the business, which had been closed for some time, after owning a convenience store in Hicksville for 20 years.

“It’s a nice little downtown business street,” he said. “I hope I do well with the support of the community.”

Delhiwala, who sells wine from many states and countries, said that in addition to the benefit of the location — his store is near the popular Mitchell’s restaurant and Ancona’s pizzeria — he hopes his attention to customer service will bring people back. The Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Wine and Liquors earlier this month.

Parking and zoning

One of the biggest complaints about Rockaway Avenue has been parking, but village officials say there are plenty of spots, either on the street or in municipal lots on the side streets.