Opponents of Walgreens' plan to move into the Key Food location in Windsor Terrace filled all of the 200 chairs that had been set up for them, and another 100 to 150 people stood on the sides and lined the walls. Every one of them was there to express deep displeasure over a chain drugstore replacing the neighborhood's sole supermarket.
Dozens of people lined up to speak while the rest applauded and cheered them on. Walgreens' District Director Hien Nguyen got an earful as people told him "Windsor Terrace is a small town" and "Walgreens is too big for Windsor Terrace." Another pointedly asked "What was Walgreens thinking??" Comments were also made about the poor quality of Walgreens' merchandise.
Others talked about the economic threat Walgreens would pose to the local pharmacies, the proximity of the neighborhood to the already-existing Walgreens on Church Avenue and CVS, and how difficult it would be for elderly people to fill their grocery needs without a supermarket nearby. Even if Walgreens decides to carry a substantial amount of fresh food, a delivery service would only be available for medication.
People also expressed concern about the Key Food employees who will be losing their jobs. Praise was lavished on them for their friendliness and helpfulness, and several people suggested that Walgreens hire all of them for unionized jobs.
That won't happen for three reasons:
- Key Food has fifty employees. Walgreens will only be hiring twenty-five to thirty people.
- "Walgreens feels very strongly that labor unions do not serve the best interests of our individual employees or the company as a whole." (Our Philosophy)
- Walgreens is projected to open in March 2013. Key Food employees would be jobless for nine months by then.
Mr. Nguyen said that Walgreens is planning to take possession of the store in July but that it might not happen until August. The space will be renovated, but Walgreens will utilize the same footprint as Key Food and won't build additional floors.
The co-owners of Key Food weren't able to raise the money needed to meet the terms of the majority owner, the eighty- or eighty-two-year-old Sheldon Geller. Walgreens was.
The elected representatives who co-hosted the meeting--Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblymember Jim Brennan, and City Councilmember Brad Lander--did not have knowledge beforehand that Walgreens was going to move into that spot. Businesses are under no obligation to tell anyone--a community board, a councilmember, or anyone else--that they're closing or opening, unless a zoning variance is needed, which isn't the case here.
Several possible community actions emerged from the meeting:
- Prior to Walgreens opening, the community will give its input into how Walgreens should tailor the store to make up for the loss of Key Food (sell fresh fruit and vegetables and other fresh foods).
- When Walgreens opens, boycott it so that it'll close.
- Prevent Walgreens from opening. Mr. Nguyen didn't know if the deal between Key Food and Walgreens has been closed (contract signed, money paid), but he will find out. The answer could determine the next step for the community and its elected representatives, including the possibility of legal action.
Councilmember Lander will speak with the New York City Economic Development Corporation about bringing FRESH to Windsor Terrace. "the City has established the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program. FRESH provides zoning and financial incentives to promote the establishment and retention of neighborhood grocery stores in underserved communities."
"The FRESH program is open to grocery store operators renovating existing retail space or developers seeking to construct or renovate retail space that will be leased by a full-line grocery store operator."
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