Two local supermarkets are on the brink of closing, and some people are mad as hell. But is there anything that can be done about it?
At Food Emporium on 68th and Broadway, the end is approaching quickly (May 4), and the store is now offering up to 80% off on certain items. But liquidation sales can be tricky, and we’ve already heard from a reader that the “discounts” don’t really seem like deals. Liquidation sales often take advantage of our desire for deals, even as the prices are not much lower than normal, as ABC News found out a few years ago.
At Food City on 94th and Columbus, the outlook is murkier. The market still plans to close at the end of this month, but there’s been growing political pressure on The Lefrak Organization, the owner of the building, to sign a new lease. Food City is the go-to supermarket for many elderly and low-income residents in the area. A rep for LeFrak sent us a statement earlier today (we had been attempting to get a response from them for the past few weeks). The statement reads:
“Food City has been our tenant at 705 Columbus Avenue for many years and has not been asked to leave. We have been in conversations with the City on plans to improve the physical and retail facilities at this location. The existing 50 year old facilities are outmoded and in nearly irreparable condition. We have no plans for condominium development or other residential uses, nor have we increased Food City’s rent since 2005. We await further feedback from the City on how we can work together to transform this important retail property into a vibrant asset that will serve this community for decades to come. Until that time, we cannot make multi-year commitments with our tenants.”
We asked the LeFrak rep if that means that Food City doesn’t have to leave, and why then would Food City be getting ready to close. The response was unclear: “Food City is under a month-to-month lease. Our statement speaks for itself, and, as regards your last question, we do not speak for Food City.”
Food City apparently hasn’t had a long-term lease since 2004.
We’ve reached out to Gale Brewer’s office to find out the implications of the statement and what the city can do in this case. We’ll update this post if we hear back.
Food City’s owners certainly seem to think they’re being evicted, as you can see in the interview below between Food City owner Adam Katz and City Council candidate Ken Biberaj.
Bring in SuperWalmart and thereby raise the purchasing power of the old and the poor, as their prices are so low, and provide lots of good jobs.
The City can give major subsidies to developers to build luxury condominiums but there appears to be NO MONEY to help small business and food stores stay in neighborhoods..our tax dollars should be going to kep our neighborhoods and small business healthy. I know most of us aren’t billionaires but I think some politician should take up this issue, I mean really take it up, and fight for small business subsidies and help to keep food stores in neighborhoods.
there is no reasonable place for middle and low income people to shop on the uws we are being pushed out.
I am mid 30s, fairly high income, and shop at Food City. It is key for everyone in the neighborhood. I love to cook, and many stores in the neighborhood do not carry a good selection of items. Tons of things I can find at Food City, I cannot find at Whole Foods, West Side Market, aAssociated.
I think the customers are a mix of elderly, lower income, higher income. It doesn’t matter what you make, good prices, nice selection, friendly service, and quality are important to everyone.
Also, the workers are great. The deli and the cashiers. I certainly think after 40 years, it is a shame to close them. Build a new food city store in whatever is going there.
Lefrak statement sounds as though they want a variance to build a high-rise on this space, now apparently limited to two stories, and would include a supermarket in such a high rise. Lets work to save this irreplaceable space—the plaza, and especially the air space above it, the sunlight, the expanse of sky. Some smart business person should steal a march and open a new mid-price supermarket in the immediate area: one-block radius.