NEW YORK — Fairway Market announced that it is committed to rebuilding the iconic grocery chain's store in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy. In a statement, Herb Ruetsch, chief executive officer of Fairway Market, said, "Hurricane Sandy has profoundly impacted each and every one of us. Most notably, our Red Hook store sustained a significant amount of damage which necessitated a temporary closure of the location. We want to assure you that we are 100% committed to reopening the store so that all of you can continue to have the safe and wonderful shopping experience you've come to expect and love about Fairway Market."
In the immediate aftermath of this terrible disaster, Ruetsch said, "our first and foremost priority was to ensure the safety and well-being of all our employees. Many of them live in or near Red Hook, in Staten Island and the surrounding areas and the past few days for them have been especially devastating."
At the same time, though, "we did not want to forsake our city and our hardest hit communities throughout the region. You are our neighbors, our friends, our colleagues, our families. We needed and wanted to be there for all of you. You are what help makes Fairway Market 'like no other market' and it is our privilege to be able give back to you in a time of such need."
That is why since last Tuesday morning, Fairway Market has been donating 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. The company has been working hand-in-hand with the offices of the Mayor, City Council, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and other elected officials to ensure that the food, meals and merchandise are going where they are most needed.
Fairway Market also worked around the clock to get its other 10 stores open and operational and is receiving deliveries of food and merchandise on an ongoing basis to ensure that "our shelves are full stocked for you, our customers," Ruetsch said.
As for the Red Hook store, it will remain closed until a total cleanup and renovation are complete. Already in the planning stages is a full scale restaurant on the second floor of the historic building overlooking the Statue of Liberty, with a delicious, innovated menu masterminded and prepared by “Rockstar” Chef Mitchell London. But Ruetsch stressed that, "We are working diligently to place those employees who are able to work in other Fairway Market locations. We are focused on retaining all of our highly trained employees so that we can reopen smoothly and provide the level of service for which we have become famous. And like all New Yorkers, we are resilient and we will be back hopefully within three months. In the meantime, we invite you to visit our other locations."
Fairway Market is keeping customers up-to-date on the progress through its website, www.fairwaymarket.com. Directions to its other locations are also on the website.
Fairway Market offers an exceptional combination of traditional, organic and specialty foodstuffs at great prices. Each of the 11 tri-state locations is a fusion of the best specialty stores, organic markets and traditional supermarkets with the services of the neighborhood corner butcher, baker, cheese shop, and fishmonger and the freshness and variety of the farmer's market – all under one roof.
Fairway Market
Fairway Market is a high-growth food retailer offering customers a differentiated one-stop shopping experience "Like No Other Market". Fairway has established itself as a leading food retailing destination in the Greater New York City metropolitan area, with stores that emphasis an extensive selection of fresh, natural and organic products, prepared foods and hard-to-find specialty and gourmet offerings, along with a full assortment of conventional groceries. Fairway is headquartered in New York, New York. See www.fairwaymarket.com.
Source: Fairway Market