165th Street Mall

165th Street Bus Terminal

Company type	Bus terminal
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1930
Founder	Shore Road Development Company, Inc.
Headquarters	Jamaica, Queens , United States
Area served	Jamaica, Queens, Nassau County
Products	Bus transportation services
Owner	FBE Limited (until sale in 2023)

165th Street Bus Terminal Overview

The 165th Street Bus Terminal, frequently referred to as the Jamaica Bus Terminal, the Long Island Bus Terminal (a designation displayed on the entrance’s red tilework), or simply the 165th Street Terminal, was a prominent bus facility located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. This terminal, owned by FBE Limited, accommodated services operated by NYCT and MTA Bus, alongside routes managed by the NICE Bus connecting to Nassau County. Prior to MTA's acquisition, it also acted as a hub for Green Bus Lines. Situated at the intersection of 89th Avenue and Merrick Boulevard, it was positioned near the main branch of the Queens Public Library. The majority of bus lines passing through Jamaica utilized this terminal or connected to either the Jamaica Center subway station on Parsons Boulevard or the Long Island Rail Road station on Sutphin Boulevard.

Unlike many other key bus terminals in New York City, this terminal lacked a direct subway connection. The nearest subway stop was the 169th Street station along Hillside Avenue, served by the Template:NYCS trains line. Additionally, numerous buses traveling eastward via Hillside Avenue also made stops at 179th Street, which is served by the same Template:NYCS trains line.

History

Passengers boarding a 2000 Orion V CNG (1567) on the Hempstead-bound N6 route operated by Long Island Bus, alongside an Orion VII OG and four RTS buses at the terminal.

The "Long Island Bus Terminal" was initiated in 1930 by the Shore Road Development Company, Inc., aiming to enhance transit connectivity to and from Long Island. On August 11, 1936, Bee-Line, Inc.—a forerunner of the Nassau Inter-County Express—commenced operations at this terminal, running routes throughout Jamaica, Southeast Queens, and Nassau County. This facility supplanted Bee-Line's earlier terminal, the Jamaica Union Bus Terminal located at Jamaica Avenue and New York Boulevard (currently Guy R. Brewer Boulevard), which was subsequently acquired by Green Bus Lines. The new terminal, constructed at a cost of $1.5 million, included amenities such as a waiting area, lounge, and ticket counters. It was flanked by two single-story buildings positioned on 165th Street and Merrick Boulevard. Upon its inauguration, the terminal provided connections to the nearby BMT Jamaica Line station at 168th Street and Jamaica Avenue, and was set to serve the IND Queens Boulevard Line’s 169th Street station on Hillside Avenue once it opened in 1937. In May 1939, Bee-Line ceased operating its Queens routes; these services were taken over by the North Shore Bus Company, a predecessor of New York City Transit bus operations, starting June 25, 1939.

By March 1947, the New York City Board of Transportation assumed control of North Shore Bus Company, thereby bringing the terminal’s bus routes under municipal management. Subsequently, in 1952, ownership of the terminal transferred to the Jamaica Realty Corporation, and a year later in 1953, operational responsibility shifted from the Board of Transportation to the New York City Transit Authority, now part of the MTA. The terminal also became a stop for services run by Green Bus Lines, which preceded the MTA Bus Company routes based out of JFK Depot. When the 168th Street subway station closed in 1977, the bus terminal lost its sole direct subway connection.

Originally designed with a single entrance on its northern side via 89th Avenue, at some later time the structure facing Merrick Boulevard was removed. This alteration enabled buses to enter or exit directly onto Merrick Boulevard or into the terminal itself.

168th Street Bus Terminal

The 168 St Terminal shown empty (top), alongside a Q6 bus arriving at the terminal (bottom).

In January 2023, the 165th Street Bus Terminal was sold to a developer with plans to transform it into a mixed-use complex. The terminal’s lease was set to expire in September 2023, prompting relocation plans to a nearby parking lot as the site for the new terminal. The temporary 168th Street Bus Terminal opened at 90-01 168th Street, roughly two blocks away, while the MTA continues searching for a permanent facility. This new terminal officially began operations on June 1, 2025.

List of routes

The terminal accommodated seven routes managed by MTA New York City Bus, four by MTA Bus Company, and six operated by Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE; previously known as MTA Long Island Bus). All buses terminated here except for the Q17, which passed through. Southbound Q17 buses stopped on Merrick Boulevard outside the terminal, while northbound Q17 buses heading toward Flushing halted one block east on 168th Street.

Bay	Route	Operator	Destination	Primary streets served	Service/historical notes
1	Template:NYC bus link	NYCT	Belmont Park Racetrack	Hillside Avenue, Hempstead Avenue
2
3	Template:NYC bus link		College Point	Hillside Avenue, Francis Lewis Boulevard (northbound), 14th Avenue	Route extended to this terminal in 1989
4	Template:NYC bus link		Springfield Gardens	Hillside Avenue, Francis Lewis Boulevard (southbound), Springfield Boulevard	Service expanded to include this terminal in 1989
5	Template:NYC bus link		JFK Airport Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station	Hillside Avenue, Farmers Boulevard
6	Template:NYC bus link		Little Neck	Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Little Neck Parkway
7	Template:NYC bus link		UBS Arena/Belmont Park	Hillside Avenue, Hollis Avenue
8	Template:LI bus link	NICE	Hempstead Transit Center	Hempstead Turnpike	Previously operated by Long Island Bus All n6X express trips stop outside on Merrick Boulevard. n6X express runs during weekday peak hours only to HTC.
9
10	Template:LI bus link		Hicksville LIRR station	Hillside Avenue, Westbury Avenue, Prospect Avenue, West John Street	Formerly Long Island Bus service Weekday service ends at Mineola Intermodal Center, other times extend to Hicksville. Express service terminates at Roosevelt Field Mall.
11
12	Template:LI bus link		Hicksville LIRR station	Jamaica Avenue, Jericho Turnpike, Old Country Road	Previously Long Island Bus route. Open-door policy in Queens from 239th Street to Nassau County line. Most trips end at Roosevelt Field Mall, with some weekend early morning and late evening runs continuing fully to Hicksville.
13	Template:LI bus link		Green Acres Mall Hewlett	Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont Road	Formerly under Long Island Bus operation. Weekday rush hour service in peak direction only (PM departures).
	Template:LI bus link		Great Neck LIRR station	Hillside Avenue, Lakeville Road, Community Drive	Previously Long Island Bus route. Weekday rush hour service limited to peak direction (AM departures).
14	Template:NYC bus link	MTA Bus	JFK Airport (cargo area)	Sutphin Boulevard, Rockaway Boulevard	Formerly operated by Green Bus Lines Extended service to this terminal in 1989 Does not serve passenger terminals directly.
15
16
17	Template:NYC bus link		Spring Creek, Brooklyn	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue"	"101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" "101st Avenue" (Repeated text error detected; correcting.) Corrected:
17					Template:NYC bus link

The destination is Spring Creek, Brooklyn, with main streets traveled being 101st Avenue. This route was formerly managed by Green Bus Lines and was extended to this terminal in 1989. |- !18 |} (Continuing with corrected format.)

|- !18 |} (Original text had no additional notes beyond what was already stated.)

|- !19 !rowspan=2 | Template:NYC bus link |} Destination: South Ozone Park, Queens. Main roads served include the Van Wyck Expressway Service Road and Lincoln Street. This route was previously operated by Green Bus Lines and extended service to this terminal in 1989. |- !20 |} (No additional notes.) |- !21 |} This bay is currently not assigned. |- !22 !rowspan=2 | Template:NYC bus link |} Operator: MTA Bus. Destination: Howard Beach, Queens. Main streets traveled are 127th Street, 109th Avenue, and Cross Bay Boulevard. This route was formerly run by Green Bus Lines and extended to this terminal in 1989. |- !23 |} (No further details.)

165th Street Mall

The pedestrian mall along 165th Street (top), and the Jamaica Colosseum Mall (bottom).

Located next to the bus terminal, the 165th Street Mall is a pedestrian-only shopping corridor that spans the full length of 165th Street between 89th Avenue and Jamaica Avenue. This retail strip contains more than 160 shops, including numerous clothing and shoe retailers as well as a food court. Originally built shortly after the terminal's opening in 1936, the mall was part of the terminal complex. Retail spaces were also established on 166th Street (now Merrick Boulevard), though those no longer exist today. In 1943, a significant fire damaged eleven businesses along the mall, and another major blaze in 1959 destroyed six stores, resulting in over $1 million in damages.

Between 1947 and 1979, the mall featured a substantial Macy's department store designed by Robert D. Kohn, marking one of Macy's earliest locations in Queens. The store eventually closed due to several challenges: increasing burglary concerns, demographic shifts in Jamaica, Queens from a predominantly middle-class White community to a working-class Black and immigrant population, and the shutdown and demolition of the BMT Jamaica Avenue El east of 121st Street, which negatively affected many area businesses.

In May 1979, the city transformed 165th Street into a pedestrian mall by closing it to vehicular traffic and resurfacing it with red bricks. A third fire struck in May 1983, damaging twelve stores along the corridor.

Today, one of the mall’s main draws is the Jamaica Colosseum Mall, which opened in 1984 within the former Macy’s building. As one of New York City's largest jewelry marketplaces, it hosts over 120 vendors and jewelers, includes rooftop parking, and contains the food court serving the wider 165th Street Mall. Notably, several prominent New York rappers, including Jamaica native 50 Cent, frequented this mall during their youth; it has also been used as a filming location for music videos.

After the Archer Avenue Lines began service in 1988, merchants at the mall filed a lawsuit against NYCT due to business declines caused by rerouted bus lines serving new subway stations. In response, NYCT extended routes Q76 and Q77 from the 179th Street station, while Green Bus Lines introduced five additional bus routes to the terminal to help restore transit access.

Nearby landmarks

Situated just one block west of the terminal along 164th Street stands the First Presbyterian Church, which dates back to 1662. Positioned a block north of this church at the intersection of 89th Avenue and 164th Street is the Jamaica Main Post Office. Directly opposite Merrick Boulevard are found the Queens Central Library and the Children's Library Discovery Center. Also located one block to the south is the former Loew's Valencia Theatre, currently housing the Tabernacle of Prayer Church. At the southeast corner where 165th Street meets Jamaica Avenue, across from the shopping mall, rests the old control tower of the 168th Street station, which has been leased to retail businesses since the 1930s.

See also

• List of bus routes in Queens
• List of bus routes in Nassau County, New York
• Fulton Mall
• Port Authority Bus Terminal
• George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal
• Rosa Parks Hempstead Transit Center
• Mineola Intermodal Center

External links

• Template:Commons category inline