Electric car company Tesla has leased most of the space at the former locations of a multiplex cinema and Toys “R” Us in College Point, Queens, New York City, covering an area of 150,000 square feet. This move signifies Tesla’s continuous business growth in the New York region.
According to JLL’s third-quarter industry report, Tesla has leased the premises at 30-02 Whitestone Expressway, the former locations of Toys “R” Us and the multiplex theater, both of which had been closed down prior.
It is expected that Tesla will utilize the site for activities related to car sales, services, or deliveries, but the specific purpose has not been fully disclosed yet. The site is conveniently connected to nearby expressways, making it an ideal location for logistics and customer service. This move is part of Tesla’s broader expansion in urban areas, aiming to enhance customer service and operational efficiency.
The multiplex theater closed on May 5th this year, with plans to clear the site for the development of a 425,000 square feet industrial property. However, records from the Department of Buildings (DOB) indicate that the demolition work was halted. Documents reveal an ongoing 153,000 square feet manufacturing and retail development project. Permits also show the transformation of the former theater and retail property into Tesla’s office space, with an estimated cost of $8 million.
This is not Tesla’s first major move in Queens. The company has established service centers and showrooms in various locations in New York City as well. The deal was signed after Tesla’s Supercharger team purchased a 40,000 square feet plot of land in Maspeth.
In September, Tesla was also exposed by the media for investing $18 million to acquire approximately one acre of land in Queens, New York City, with speculations suggesting it will be developed into a “supercharging station.”
According to the New York City Department of Finance, Tesla paid $18 million to the real estate developer Wildflower to acquire a commercial property located at 48-26 54th Street in Maspeth, Queens, covering an area of 40,037 square feet (approximately 0.92 acres). PincusCo reported that the land purchase was orchestrated by Maximillian de Zegher, the Director of North American Charging Business for Tesla, leading to speculation that the acquired land will be utilized as a supercharging station for electric vehicles.