SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

This journalist over at Sheepshead Bites asked me if I would like to be featured in the Shopping Cart Series. Just as I was nodding my head, the door closed in on me. So, too bad I couldn’t stay in focus.

You may have seen me at the Sheepshead Bay Gourmet Market kitchen, located a few doors down from the dining area at 1518 Avenue Z, as I get traipsed back and forth from the kitchen to the garbage dumping area. The porters, here, pile me high with garbage bags and flattened cardboard boxes. It’s not that I’m blaming them, because I’m sure they’re just doing as they’re told.

I’ve wanted to make a run for it, but figured it’s just better for me to follow their example and do as I’m told. It’s what I need to do if I want to stay alive. Because, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from working in the food preparation area, it’s that I must stay clear of chefs holding cleavers.

I can only imagine the pressure of having to prepare that much tasty hot and cold food for sale by-the-pound six days a week. Any of us would wanna slash the tires (wheels) of a subversive cart looking to run away.

There’s a lot of hustle-and-bustle going on at the landmarked Lundy’s building, as Cherry Hill workers prepare for their grand opening event. Sure, it’s coming more than four months after their actual opening, but the gourmet market has been embroiled in controversy and was keeping a low profile.

Well, say goodbye to those days. Though still squabbling with the Department of Buildings over a stop work order that continues to keep the restaurant portion shut, the owners have decided to shed the meekness and are preparing for quite the launch tonight. We saw workers stocking shelves, preparing tasting tables, and tying balloons all about. But in addition to free food and a come-one-come-all invite to the neighbors, tonight’s seating area will sport a VIP section, complete with a secret celebrity guest. David Isaev, Cherry Hill’s owner, was tight-lipped about who it was, but did note, “He’s coming all the way from Hollywood.” We’re hoping it’s Shawne Merriman, so we can thank him for doing what we’ve all wanted to do to the icon of L.A.’s talentless hackery.

When: 6 p.m. tonight
Where: Lundy’s, duh! — 1901 Emmons Avenue (corner of Ocean Avenue)
Free food and seating for all.

[View with PicLens]

This is what happens when a little corner store tries to accommodate to burgeoning development and compete with supermarkets.

On delivery day at the Discount Dairy Farm, located at 2730 Ocean Avenue, boxes of inventory are waiting to be taken down into the basement. It will probably be hours before they are all counted and stored.

Sheepshead Bay has quite a few major grocery stores, so we’re not too sure about why a small convenience store would try to fill that niche — while at the same time cluttering the sidewalks with deliveries.

Next door, the Sultan Halal Meat & Grocery store is being renovated to accommodate a similar store with a different owner. So, for at least a few weeks, we’re spared from those deliveries.

Shortly after our post this afternoon stating that Cherry Hill Market at Lundy’s was fully stocked, though still closed, the restaurant/market – or market/restaurant – opened for business.

We stopped by this evening and found samples spread out on a table for all to try. The cash registers were cha-chinging as the first customers filed through with their purchases. Food servers at the sample table told us the establishment officially opened for business around 4pm or 5pm. Staff also informed us that this was not the “grand opening”. Instead it was a “soft opening” – a smart move given the heated controversy surrounding the store.

Speaking of which, we weren’t able to ask the owner, David Isaev, about the stop work order, but the document on the building’s front door makes it seem as if the store’s management believes that the situation has been resolved.

Meanwhile, at the Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic Association meeting, board members were puzzled as to the status of the establishment, and hinted at the possibility of challenging Cherry Hill’s decision to open.

We’re still uncertain as to the status of the stop work order and the legality of the opening. We expect more information tomorrow.

The doors of the famed Lundy’s building were locked and the sentry posted at the front entrance in recent days was nowhere to be found. But, what was to be found?

Through the smudged window where curiosity-seekers had put their faces up to the glass to see what was going on inside, we could see all sorts of groceries and goods.

Fresh flowers on the tiered platform. Nuts in plastic bags. Chocolates. Refrigerator full of what looked like Sabra Mediterranean products. Cheerios and boxes of cereal stacked high. Oh, and yes, the baskets. Who can forget those thousands of dust collecting baskets hanging upside down from the ceiling?

There are no grand opening signs — but, there is a signed Letter of Completion issued to George Guttmann (of 2300 E 13 St) on April 4, 2009 by the Borough Commissioner of Brooklyn, though.

Maybe at tonight’s meeting, we’ll hear more about when the store will be open.

Or, maybe not. Accurate information about the store has been very hard to get. So hard, in fact, it’s beginning to look like management is not really “opening up” to the community at all.

If anyone knows when the store will open for business, please let us know.

An informal conversation with a man in a white chef’s suit on a smoking break outside of Cherry Hill Restaurant and Market led us to believe that the place is opening for business on Monday, May 4, 2009. This means that the stop work orders and zoning issues are getting too complicated for us to follow.

The signs posted in the window indicate that they are still hiring for the long-awaited jobs, but numerous calls to the number listed tell us otherwise. No one was available to tell us any information about the jobs, so we can’t tell you how much the positions are paying or if there are any benefits and a union. So, if these jobs meets your requirement and you don’t mind getting caught in the endless call-back-laters, go ahead and call (718) 616-1902.

The lack of transparency about the hiring process makes us think that the jobs are starting at close to minimum wage and hiring is happening from ‘within’. At the “open” house meeting in March, management said that not even the florist position is paying close to $20 an hour.

So for all those people who say that Cherry Hill will infuse Sheepshead Bay with jobs — there you have it. Maybe those of you who are eagerly awaiting the influx of economy-boosting paychecks, will fill us in as to why we’re crossing our fingers.

Summary of what happened at the SB/PB meeting that was held in the Landmark Lundy’s building on Ocean Ave & Emmons Ave and hosted by new tenant, Cherry Hill Market last night, March 3, 2009:

Building and Construction Manager, Anthony Kelley, spoke in defense of the Cherry Hill Market project. He answered questions and debunked myths that his project has gone against the allowable limits for landmarked buildings.

He stated that the only violation he is aware of that his construction crew went against, is the one prohibiting the removal of the outside signs. He admitted that he was not aware of that particular rule at the time, but the intention was not to remove the signs permanently, anyway. The signs were removed in order to be repainted and will be put back up shortly.

Owner, David Isaev, and his market manager did not speak at the meeting about the nature and purpose of the market, but Builder, Kelley, mentioned that the market will also have a restaurant. Although he did not mention the names of the chefs, he said that two who worked in New York restaurants had been hired to work at Cherry Hill — pointing to the menus they have already developed.

Members of the board explained more about the actual facts regarding the landmark rules, saying that there are currently five outstanding permit problems. Gene Berardelli invited everyone to read the actual paperwork he held in his hands, reiterating that of the five violations, two are related to neon signs and were in effect since the 1990’s. He went on to explain that the other three violations involving various issues with a sidewalk cafe and railings that are still in effect, were from changes which the owner and previous tenant had made.

Kelley said that even though these permit violations have nothing to do with them, since they inherited the problems, they will deal with them according to the law. When asked why the landlord has not dealt with the building violations, he said, “He doesn’t care”, while carefully avoiding the question about why he continued working even when there was a work-stop order issued.

It appears that certain parts of the outside of the building have been altered, through no fault of the new lessee. This means that there have been changes to the landmark building’s facade and although it will look great on the outside and the inside — thanks to the new tenant — it still won’t be exactly as it was in its heyday.

The inside of the building has been done in grand style with, amongst many things, carved wooden shelving, gorgeous chandeliers, and spectacular marble floors. You can see pictures of what some of the $7 million was spent on at GerritsenBeach.net, who snagged a pre-meeting, sneak preview.

Representatives sent by NYS State Senators Carl Kruger and Marty Golden read, to us, each respective Senator’s point of view. Golden supports the Cherry Hill Market’s business efforts, while Kruger’s view bolsters community-minded projects. Councilman Lew Fidler short speech focused on the community.

Steve Barrison of the Bay Improvement Group made some key points about preserving the special interest of Sheepshead Bay with relation to its origins as a fishing community focused around the bay and was one of the only people who mentioned the words “marine”, “bait”, “tackle”, and “fishing”. His comments highlighted the little-mentioned fact that this retail food establishment may be directly against zoning laws set by the city planners, in 1973, when they designated a 20-block tract of land space as a Special Sheepshead Bay District.

There was much talk, overall, about the facade of the building, the landmark status, preserving the building itself, the grandeur of the current construction, the amount of money invested, and the prospect for this new business venture and its economic outlook for the investors.

The rest of the meeting dealt with various subjects: SBPB is now a 501 (c) (3); issues regarding Voorhies Ave and the Brooklyn Yacht Club and fences; raw sewage entering the creek; clogged catch basins; future of the Golden Gate Motel with the possibilities of more condos or a Marriott Hotel; assurance that motels in Sheepshead Bay are not being used as “welfare” housing, but has been used for Red Cross housing of temporary homeless; grants and grantwriting is in progress for the Brigham Park Project (to enable greater environmental stewardship, better bioswale, possible help from Wachovia Foundation and EPF grant); and, issues with the lack of visible waterfront due to overbuilding.

The final word for the meeting ended with someone talking about what is best for the community and what will generate jobs.

This was the (somewhat) objective account of the meeting. For another point of view, you might try Russian TV Network (RTN), since they were on hand with media coverage.

Maybe, sometime later, I can tell you what I really saw and heard. But, for now, I’ll say this: There were huge icicles on the outside of the Lundy’s building (someone, call the LPC) and these “gourmands” didn’t even bother to welcome us with a cup of coffee and a beignet! They could have arranged for some refreshment with Sheepshead Bay Gourmet Market. But, noooo.