This is the first in a series of articles spotlighting our storage facilities and neighborhoods.
Nestled in the southeastern corner of Queens, New York, Hollis is a middle-class, family neighborhood of about 34,000 residents and the home to our brand new Queens self-storage facility.
Whether you’re transitioning from college housing, relocating to Queens for a job, seeking business storage, or renovating your Hollis home, CubeSmart on Jamaica Avenue has over 74,000 square feet of storage space, including climate-controlled storage and vehicle storage units. For your convenience, we sell various moving and packing supplies, and we offer a free move-in truck and driver to ease the process of moving large furniture. Our teammates speak English and Spanish and are eager to help you store your items.
Local Customer Theresa M. explains, “Hands down best customer service!! Janette, Eboni, Byron, and Efrain went above and beyond to make my moving process as easy and enjoyable as possible!” Another Customer, I Williams, says, “I’ve never stored before but this storage facility is by far the best!”
Take a tour of this location:
How to Get to Us – Public Transit Options for City Dwellers
The Long Island Railroad is the commuter’s choice with a convenient location at 143rd Street and Sutphin Boulevard that can take travelers right to Penn Station. From 179th Street and Hillside Avenue, the F train takes Hollis residents to and from Manhattan, as well. Bus access is easy with the Q110 bus stopping right at CubeSmart on Jamaica Avenue at 186th, just up the street from Dunkin’ Donuts.
Hollis’s Hip-Hop Past
Just over a mile from CubeSmart Self Storage on Jamaica Avenue, the corner of 205th Street and Hollis Avenue marks Run-DMC JMJ Way, named in honor of the iconic hip-hop group, and features a mural commemorating the life and talent of the group’s D.J., Jason Mizell.
From their humble roots in Queens, NY, Run-DMC became the first mass-market hip-hop group, ushering in a new style of hip-hop music as they emerged on the music scene in 1981. They went on to be the first hip-hop group to be nominated for a Grammy Award, earn a platinum record, and be inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Their hit song “Christmas in Hollis” paid tribute to their hometown, and their chart-topper “Walk This Way,” produced in collaboration with rock band Aerosmith, introduced the new musical subgenre of rap rock.
Hollis is the birthplace of numerous other hip-hop artists including LL Cool J, Ja Rule, and producer and founder of Def Jam Records, Russel Simmons.
What’s Hollis Like Today?
The neighborhood’s hip-hop past seems out of place in the quiet Hollis of today. This pocket of Queens features tree-lined streets, rows of single-family homes, and beautiful parks, including the 358-acre Cunningham Park along Francis Lewis Boulevard, which features sports fields and courts, hiking trails, bicycling greenways, barbecue areas, playgrounds, and family events for all residents to enjoy. Bordering Hollis in the St. Albans neighborhood, the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center and park hosts the annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival every July. Attracting over 20,000 Caribbean foodies, reggae lovers, and cultural enthusiasts, attendees are sure to enjoy a day of great food and fun right in the heart of Queens.
The Hollis neighborhood feels like a suburb within a city with its lush parks, families of all ages, and Queens Library located right in town. Both St. Johns University and York College sit just a few blocks away from the center of Hollis, bringing energy to this serene pocket of Queens.
College Storage Options for Students in NYC Pro Tip:
College students from NYU and The New School should consider this location for summer storage or storing their belongings while studying abroad. It’s not very far from the end of the F train, which is the station where anyone flying out of JFK International would transfer to the AirTrain to get to the airport. The F train has a stop with elevator access conveniently located near NYU and The New School in West Village at West 4th Street. Take the F train to the Jamaica-179 Street stop and either transfer to the Q3 bus, or walk 15 minutes to CubeSmart. You just might save some serious cash versus storing your items in Manhattan. Drop your stuff off, get back to the train station, take the AirTrain to JFK and fly home.
Are you a proud resident of Hollis? We’d love it if you shared in the comments some of your favorite things about your neighborhood!
We would be excited to welcome new teammates CubeSmart. Check out our available positions in New York City.
Sources
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/nabe-guide-hip-hop-haven-hollis-queens-article-1.187500
http://rundmc.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/realestate/hollis-queens-living-in-serene-for-all-its-hip-hop-cred.html
