Sunday, June 10, 2012

Flushing supermarket threatened with closure


From the Queens Chronicle:

The Key Food supermarket at 25-03 Parsons Blvd. in Flushing is going to close its doors at the end of June if an agreement cannot be reched on the lease.

The move is going to put a burden on seniors, who have mobility issues, and residents who don’t have sufficient transportation alternatives to carry groceries. It will also cut out a major source of American products that will be harder to find at nearby Asian markets, residents say.

Bosco Wong, the manager of the supermarket, said he learned about the closing three to four weeks ago.

“It’s very upsetting,” Wong said about the closure as he was putting prices on products. An employee of Key Foods for 38 years, he’s been a manager of the store for two months.

As for what will happen to the employees, Wong said that some will be laid off and others will be transferred.

He is unsure about what the future holds for him. “Hopefully I’ll be relocated.”

But he hopes the landlord will come to an agreement with Key Foods and stay open.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK......?

Anonymous said...

Wasnt the whole outer layer of the whole supermarket and shopping center just redone like 2 years ago?

Alan said...

Wasnt the whole outer layer of the whole supermarket and shopping center just redone like 2 years ago?
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It may have been less than 2 years ago but the store was poorly managed with many items (especially healthy products such as Van's Frozen Waffles and certain types of Kashi cereals) missing from the shelves. What a shame. It was only a matter of time.

I was in the store yesterday and there was no music as in the past, although a funeral dirge would've been appropriate. AND there are slim pickings until the end of the month.

The morale of the employees remaining couldn't be any lower. Many are unsure of their futures, especially those who can't travel to work at a different Key Food.

This will have a HUGE impact on this neighborhood. Many of my neighbors don't drive or have access to transportation for a large grocery run. Deliveries add on to the cost of food for those on fixed incomes.

Finally, why was the community kept in the dark about the closing? No elected official seems to be involved with protecting the community. State Senator Toby Stavisky's office is right around the corner!!!

The supermarket is the anchor store for the Lindenview shopping center and I'm sure the impact of the closing will be felt by the other businesses located there. There's an H Mart already on Union Street and the prices are high and I've noticed that some fruits and vegetables offered at the store are not as good as they used to be.

Let this be a lesson to all about how apathy and lack of support by elected officials could have a huge negative impact on a community!!!

PS Way to go Mitchell-Linden Civic Association! Thanks for YOUR help as well...NOT!!!

Anonymous said...

Anon 3 said:
"PS Way to go Mitchell-Linden Civic Association! Thanks for YOUR help as well...NOT!!!"

Check out their Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mitchell.linden.civic.association

A Neighbor said...

Check out their Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mitchell.linden.civic.association
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What a joke! Thanks. I needed a good laugh.

PS No mention of the supermarket closing.

Anonymous said...

Here's Queens Courier's spin on the story. Note how Debbie Markel took her head out of her ass long enough to make comments.

http://queenscourier.com/2012/flushing-key-food-may-close-its-doors/

Anonymous said...

Anyone else think its strange that the store's manager was apparently not involved in the lease negotiations? And - oh please - not another place to buy cough medicine and bubble gum to replace a supermarket.

Anonymous said...

Geez..."Bosco Wong"...
now there's a name for you!

Maybe the "Key Food" market will re-open as "Kee Foo" emporium.

There goes another nail in Flushing's coffin.

Floo-shing
is the new Asiatic colony folks.

The horde is poised
to completely surround the area.

The "round eyes" and "ghost people" had best learn to speak Mandarin or leave.

At least then they will be able to know when an Oriental is saying nasty things about them.

Anonymous said...

Where is John Choe
and Arlene Fleishman on this?

Their heads are up their asses too.

Anonymous said...

Nobody really cares about
the "olde tyme" locals, despite what every pol might publicly say to the contrary.

Local officials'
attitudes appear to be that they all should have moved away at least 5 years ago.

Now nobody seeks out co-ops at Mitchell Gardens or Linden Hill,
unless they have limited purchasing power.

Because of
the structure and practices of these co-op boards...no seller can realize enough of a decent profit to move to better pricey co-ops.

These multiple dwelling facilities will become middle class Chinese housing soon.

The poorer Chinese will take over the Bland Project.

That has already begun.

Anonymous said...

Out goes Key food and in comes a drug store chain.

How much ya wanna bet?

Anonymous said...

I stopped going to Key Food a long time ago. Their prices were always more expensive than other supermarkets. Why is Boars Head Deli meats $2 more expensive per pound than Fairway's prices?!! Their vegetables/fruits are not necessarily better quality (like Whole Foods) but they charge a premium. They prepackage their vegetables so you can't pick them out. I was taught to pick out your vegetables and fruit as a little girl. When you travel to other countries, you pick out your produce, not buy them in plastic packaging. If that's how you like to get your food, might as well order from Fresh Direct.

Anonymous said...

Out goes Key food and in comes a drug store chain.

How much ya wanna bet?
------------------------------------------------------
There goes the neighborhood!

I'm sure the owners of Raindew are watching developments closely. Imagine a neighborhood where most people won't have a choice of where to shop for non-Asian foodstuffs within walking distance.

Anonymous said...

Fairway and Whole Foods???
Please. The closest Fairway is in Douglaston and the nearest Whole Foods is on the Island.

On average Key Food prices are more expensive than most other stores but you have to look for sales.

The oriental market on Union (Hmart?) has great produce and fresh meat at fair prices. I have been noticing more caucasians in there lately.

Also, Key Food has been mobbed up for decades. Same as Waldbaum's.

Anonymous said...

"Imagine a neighborhood where most people won't have a choice of where to shop for non-Asian foodstuffs within walking distance."

It's called Flushing ;(

Anonymous said...

Anon No. 7;

Maybe his mom and dad really liked chocolate syrup!!!

Anonymous said...

Flushing has a BJ's. I will admit that the pedestrian access is poor.

Anonymous said...

Flushing has a BJ's. I will admit that the pedestrian access is poor.
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Give yourself a BJ. NOT a solution to the problem, is it now? The story isn't about bulk purchasing but you trolls have no brains and are therefore incapable of critical thought.

Anonymous said...

This is a nabe already in limbo.

Now it's non-Asian food supply
has been cut off.

We hear that the Garden Jewish Center is up for sale too.

It looks like there's about to be
a major ethnic shift within the next decade in Mitchel-Linden.

Time marches on.