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Red Hook Fairway Damaged By Sandy Won't Reopen Until Sometime In 2013
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 9, 2012
Modified Nov 9, 2012
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John Del Signore / Gothamist
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 9, 2012
Modified Nov 9, 2012
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More bad news for Red Hook residents reeling from Hurricane Sandy's heavy blow: The beloved Fairway supermarket will not reopen for at least two or three months, according to the Brooklyn Borough President's office. The Fairway sustained heavy flood damage from the storm, and owners will now take this opportunity to undergo "a total cleanup and renovation." It's a tough break for those who live in the heart of charming Red Hook, because nothing else in the neighborhood comes close to Fairway's quality or diversity. (C-Town, anyone?) However, there is a silver lining.
When the Fairway finally reopens, it will feature a "full scale" restaurant on the second floor overlooking Buttermilk Channel, with a view of the Statue of Liberty. According to a statement from BP Marty Markowitz, the currently unnamed restaurant will serve a "delicious, innovative menu masterminded and prepared by 'rock star' Chef Mitchel London." Asked for more about the current definition of "rock star" and the long delay in reopening, Fairway issued this statement:
We are working diligently and tirelessly to ensure that we are up and running as soon as possible with a state of the art store with improved customer friendly layout. Stay tunes to our Youtube channel/Facebook and Twitter as we will be chronicling our progress with videos and pictures. We have many loyal fans and amazingly talented employees all of whom are anxiously awaiting our grand re-opening.
In the meantime, Fairway has hired InStar Services—the so-called "National Disaster Team"—to throw out all their perishables and clean up the mess Sandy left behind. On Sunday, workers in Hazmat suits could be seen throwing out a seemingly endless amount of Fairway products into dumpsters behind the store. Everything that could be saved was donated to City Harvest and other charity groups.
And today Markowitz is on the edge of Red Hook to welcome a truckload of 30,000 pounds of desperately needed food, water, and other supplies donated by Fairway. Since the hurricane, the company has been working with the BP and all its vendors to donate truckloads of food, water and other staples to local food banks, emergency relief shelters, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the areas in and around the city. Just don't go dumpster diving on their property, please.
Tagged
Fairway
hurricane sandy
marty markowitz
red hook
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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