Astoria's Steinway Street | Queens

Steinway Street, located in Astoria, Queens, is a historically rich and culturally vibrant thoroughfare known for its deep ties to New York City's industrial history, immigrant communities, and thriving commercial life. Stretching roughly from Berrian Boulevard in the north (near Ditmars Blvd) to Northern Boulevard in the south, Steinway Street has played a central role in shaping Astoria’s identity for over a century.

Historical Significance

Named after Steinway & Sons: The street and neighborhood owe their name to the famed piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons, established by Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later Henry Steinway), a German immigrant.

In the 1870s, William Steinway, Henry’s son, bought over 400 acres in northern Astoria to create a company town known as Steinway Village. It was designed to support the piano factory and its workers with housing, schools, a library, and even a church.

The village included worker homes, horsecar lines, a post office, and eventually a tunnel under the East River (the original Steinway Tunnel, precursor to today's 7 train line).

Steinway’s legacy lives on through Steinway & Sons’ continued presence in the area, with its factory still operating in nearby Long Island City.

The Steinway Mansion

Located at 18-33 41st Street, near Steinway Street’s northern end, the Steinway Mansion is an 1858 Italianate villa and one of the oldest surviving estates in the borough.

Originally owned by industrialist Benjamin Pike Jr., it was later acquired by William Steinway.

Though not open to the public, it is a recognized New York City landmark and a powerful reminder of Astoria’s industrial past.

Commercial Importance

Steinway Street is one of Queens' major shopping corridors, featuring over 300 retail businesses.

You’ll find:

Large national chains (Old Navy, Marshalls, The Children's Place)

Small, independent retailers (jewelry shops, electronics stores, bakeries)

Services ranging from salons and clinics to travel agencies

The street is managed by the Steinway Astoria Partnership, a Business Improvement District (BID) founded in 1991 to enhance safety, sanitation, marketing, and events for businesses and visitors.

Sidewalk sales, holiday events, and cultural festivals regularly draw people from across the borough.

Little Egypt

The southern part of Steinway Street, between Astoria Boulevard and 28th Avenue, is known informally as "Little Egypt".

This section is home to a significant Middle Eastern and North African community, especially Egyptian, Lebanese, and Moroccan.

The area features:

Hookah lounges

Halal butchers

Bakeries, cafes, and restaurants offering dishes like koshari, shawarma, and baklava

Arabic-language bookstores and barbershops

It’s a major center for both the local diaspora and New Yorkers seeking authentic Middle Eastern cuisine and culture.

Art and Culture

Steinway Street also supports public art and community projects.

In 2022, a 175-foot mural by artist Zeehan Wazed was unveiled at 35-05 Steinway Street, celebrating Astoria’s diversity and energy. The piece was sponsored by Kaufman Astoria Studios, a long-time cultural institution in the area.

This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to turn Steinway Street into not just a commercial hub, but also a cultural corridor that honors Astoria’s roots and creative spirit.

Transit and Access

Steinway Street is very well connected:

Steinway Street subway station (R, M trains) at Broadway provides direct access to Manhattan and central Queens.

Bus lines (Q101, Q18, Q104) run along or near the street.

Easily walkable and bike-friendly, especially in its more commercial northern stretches.

Contemporary Character

Today, Steinway Street reflects the blending of old and new. Historic ties to 19th-century industry now coexist with:

Thriving immigrant-owned businesses

Youthful creative spaces and studios

Global food scenes

Gentrifying pressures and real estate development

It remains one of the most distinctive and dynamic streets in Queens, embodying the borough’s history as a place of labor, immigration, innovation, and culture.

Steinway Street is not just a road—it is the living backbone of Astoria, where generations of New Yorkers have lived, worked, created, and thrived.