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Jackson Heights Yoga Studio to Close, Owner Struggles to Renew Lease

Mimi Yoga

May 3, 2016 By Michael Florio

A Jackson Heights yoga studio is closing at the end of the month.

Mimi Yoga For Me Studio, located on the second floor of 76-11 37th Ave, notified its clients Friday that its last day will be May 31.

The studio has been operating out of its second floor space for the past five years. However, owner Mimi Borda said she has been renting without a lease for the past year.

She said she fears that her landlord will offer the space to a neighboring tenant that is looking to expand or will raise the rent.

Borda said she wants to run her business with a sense of stability and that it would be unfair to her members if she were to abruptly close.

“I don’t want to be given one week to leave the building,” she said. “That wouldn’t be fair to my customers.”

She said she wanted to leave the building on her own terms.

Borda, who claims that this is the only yoga studio in Jackson Heights, said her customers are sad that she is closing.

“They will have no place to go,” she said.

She still has plans to teach classes.

She will be teaming up with Emblem Health to hold weekly yoga and Zumba classes at the Renaissance Charter School.

In June, she will also begin teaching a weekly yoga class at Travers Park. She expects these classes to run until December.

“I am not sure what the future holds after December,” Borda said.

She has considered opening at a different Jackson Heights location, but said that rent is just too high.

“We’re a small business,” she said. “We cannot afford to pay the rent that landlords are asking for.”

“Landlords have asked for $10,000 a month just to use a basement,” she added.

Borda said she will miss the community once the studio is closed.

“This is the most amazing bunch of yogis,” she said. “I love this community.”

Borda first opened Mimi For Me Yoga on Roosevelt Ave and 79th Street in February 2010.

She moved to her current location five years ago.

Prior to starting her own businesses Borda taught yoga classes in a dance studio.

The property owner could be reached for comment.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

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