March 6, By Christian Murray
El Ay Si, the popular restaurant located at 47-38 Vernon Blvd., is for sale.
Xerxes Novoa, the owner, has listed the business for $175,000.
Novoa opened El Ay Si (phonetically LIC) at the end of 2009 and his restaurant is best known for its chicken fried chicken, nachos and pulled pork tacos.
Novoa, whose motto has been to offer “good food at a good price – with good ambiance,” said that he is selling El Ay Si because he no longer wants to remain in the restaurant business.
Restaurants are very time consuming, he said. “You get very attached to them…and then you wind up being plumber/electrician and have to be around them all the time.”
Novoa, a Long Island City resident, said he plans to be a business consultant and real estate investor.
Novoa, who has been in the restaurant business for 12 years, said that he had a buyer for El Ay Si recently but the deal fell through at the very last minute. “The [prospective] owner had already spoken to the community board about how she was purchasing it.”
Novoa said he has put the restaurant back on the market.
His ad reads:
“Business grossing over 450K a year only open six days for dinner and brunch on saturday/sunday. 3 1/2 years plus 6 left on lease. Full Liquor license. If you would like further details please contact me. Serious inquiries only. Please have good credit to secure lease. Look forward to hearing from you. Please contact Xerxes at 646.872.7483”
