Facade Collapse at Queens Furniture Store Injures Three

Store Facade Collapses in Queens

• 💥 A section of store facades along Jericho Turnpike in Queens suddenly collapsed around 5:00 p.m., crashing onto the sidewalk and nearby cars.
• 🧱 The collapse involved hundreds of cinder blocks, creating a cloud of dust that witnesses described as sounding like a bomb.

Plaza Furniture Store Impacted

• 🛍️ The majority of the fallen facade was from Plaza Furniture, a store that had reportedly opened just two weeks prior.
• 🚧 Neighbors mentioned that the store had been undergoing remodeling, with construction ongoing for some time.

Injuries and Rescue Efforts

• 🤕 Three people were taken to the hospital: a 25-year-old man trapped in the rubble with leg and back pain, and two children (ages 11 and 13) who were treated for minor injuries after their Jeep was hit by debris.
• 🙏 Witnesses are credited with quickly running to help and assisting in the rescue of the man from the rubble.

Ongoing Investigation

• 🔍 The City Buildings Department has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the facade collapse.
• 🤔 Neighbors speculate whether recent work, such as a new awning, may have contributed to the detachment of the facade, which also impacted adjacent businesses like a beauty salon, medical office, and Taekwondo studio.