Dine and Discover Queens: Katerine Rodriguez of Empire Shop

It’s “Dine and Discover Queens” time! “Dine and Discover Queens” is a monthly spotlight on some of the best restaurants around the borough! This month’s featured eatery is Empire Shop located at 4710 39th Place in Sunnyside. Katerine Rodriguez is the owner of the establishment. To learn more, go to https://empireshopnyc.com/

Can you share a bit about your restaurant journey in Queens?

My journey in Queens has been satisfactory because my husband, who is the chef, has captivated many people with his special sandwiches and charisma. I think it was something that was missing in the community with this busy life that is led today, plus everyone loves it. I like the idea of finding healthy food in the same place.

How do you get involved in the surrounding community?

We have participated in Sunnyside Shine events such as Restaurant Week and Sunnyside Tasting. Recently I met a very special person from the Queens Chamber of Commerce. She has taught me that there are several organizations that support small businesses and women entrepreneurs. She has also invited us to events that a lot of business owners do not know we have access to. I am motivated to be part of all this! I also want to invite everyone to come out on May 14th for our second anniversary event. All items on the menu will be $6 and the Queens Community is welcome to celebrate with us!

What makes your restaurant unique?

There are several types of food from each country; some restaurants have fast food, others have healthy food, but we have everything in the same place. We have typical hot sandwiches from some countries and some authentic sandwiches from Empire. The names of our sandwiches are also unique. We have things like the NYPD Breakfast Sandwich, the Heart Attack Sandwich, and the Mariachi Sandwich. The açaí, dragon fruit and acerola bowls use super-fruits that are delicious and provide many benefits to the body. We also have healthy drinks.