The Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce was organized back in 1947 when Sunnyside still had open fields. Metered parking now occupies the land where weeds and wild flowers once grew beneath the trolley tracks. The trolley ran along the train all the way from the Queensborough Bridge. Bob Hoffman, Manager of Manufacturers Hanover Bank, was the Chamber’s first president and one of its main organizers.

Luke Adams, Marketing Director of the Chamber, always mentions Bob because he would later become famous appearing in newspapers throughout the United States. Hoffman was the unwilling accomplice when a very large bank withdrawal occurred of $64,000 by the notorious bank robber Willie (the Actor) Sutton in March of 1950. Luke says wishes that we had someone like Willie today for our Fundraising Committee.

At left: May 18, 1949 – Borough President James A. Burke heads the notables at the Chamber of Commerce Dinner. Rear from left to right, Joseph Sabba, Managing Editor of the Woodside Herald, co-chairman; “Bill” Erdey, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce; Edward J. Riley, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce; Louis Lodati, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman (Lodati's son Anthony is Second Vice President and still at Lowery Liquors today!); Stephen Sipos, co-chairman.Front from left to right, Joseph M. Busch, Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce; James A. Lundy, former President of the Queens chamber of Commerce, Commissioner John M. Christensen, Chairman of the dinner; Honorable James A. Burke, Borough President of Queens, and “Bob” Hoffman, President of the Chamber of Commerce.

We continue to be an organization built around assisting and helping local businesses, professionals, and merchants. We have a voluntary board of directors, who are trying to help build businesses and improve services in our community. Always mindful of the community services to which we are entitled, our Chamber acts as a watchdog in monitoring that these services are delivered.

We work closely with all community groups and organizations; many of our Board Members live as well as work in our community. The Sunnyside Chamber meets for lunch on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:30 PM at Dazie's Restaurant, 39-41 Queens Boulevard, which between 39th Place and 40th Street, near the 41st Street/Lowery station on the #7. The cost is $20. We welcome you to join us. The Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce continues to build on the sense of community that was begun so long ago.