Rappers and hip-hop enthusiasts often went to the Jamaica Colosseum Mall in Southeast Queens to cop hats from Two Dollar Dave’s shop DADA.

“LL Cool J wore it in the ‘Around the Way’ video,” said Two Dollar Dave, also known as Dave Huie. “And from there, everybody, like, everybody wore it, like literally it was out of control.” 

Or they would swing by with friends to get gold chains or order custom airbrushed gear from Shirt Kings.   

What You Need To Know

Many are mourning the loss of the Jamaica Colosseum Mall. It officially closed on Jan. 31

For generations of New Yorkers coming of age in the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s, the former Macy’s-turned-marketplace for independent vendors and small businesses was an iconic meeting place

While building management declined to talk, business owners say COVID was the first blow. Then, property owners stopped renewing leases for the mom-and-pop stores

“Jam Master Jay was the first one to actually give it the shine of light,” Shirt Kings owner Tyson Bowman said.

For generations of New Yorkers coming of age in the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s, the former Macy’s-turned-marketplace for independent vendors and small businesses was an iconic meeting place.  

“As far as what it meant to people where you got your first sneakers from, your meeting your girlfriends, your boyfriends,” Bowman said. “I’m gonna tell you honestly, it makes me emotional, because everything for me, from changing and seeing how life is going and learning life and stuff like that, it happened here.”

Many, like Bowman, are mourning the loss of the Colosseum. It officially closed on Jan. 31. 

While building management declined to talk, business owners say COVID was the first blow. Then, property owners stopped renewing leases for the mom-and-pop stores. 

“I would say maybe like four to five years ago, four, that’s when it started,” Rotten Apple Wear owner Che Williams said. “And then they stopped the bus terminal, so a lot of the foot traffic died with that. So it wasn’t as populated as it was.” 

Last fall, the City Council approved a rezoning plan for the area, paving the way for redevelopment.  

“It was two years of community input,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “And really, I think the community was interested in seeing the Ave move forward, but try not to lose its essence, right?”

With the Colosseum now closed, political leaders like Richards hope new development will reserve space for small businesses. 

“The developers have not been forthcoming yet, and we look forward to hearing from them, the owners of the Colosseum. I can say where we’re building the new bus terminal,” Richards said. “They’ve agreed to actually work with us in terms of ensuring that the small businesses that we know, the stalls, really have an opportunity to be a part of that project.” 

Independent business owners like Williams say whatever the new Jamaica Avenue looks like, it will need community support if there’s any desire to preserve the area’s legacy. 

“Everybody’s crying, missing, but they could have supported it,” Williams said. “Ain’t blaming nobody, it is what it is, the economy, world going crazy, but it’s God’s plan, it’s not ours.” 

Music producer Taiwan Green, also known as Mr. Fingaz, hopes zoning changes will make it easier for the community to be a part of any new iteration of the Colosseum. 

“You can’t even drive down Hillside without there being crazy traffic,” Green said. “You can’t drive down Jamaica Avenue anymore. There’s nowhere to park.”

Green and other community organizers have worked with Colosseum management to open its doors one last time to the community. 

“I’m doing this event to try to bring the community together to see we need to trust each other, we need love each other,” he said.

And say goodbye to what was once a cultural hub.