I don't know what to say. As someone who appreciates some of the low sale prices Associated has, as someone who shops there every day it seems, I regret that Associated has lost.
The news is on the Town & Village website:
https://town-village.com/2017/05/23/morton-williams-stuy-town-associated-space/
Yeah, some of our residents will be happy, as will Blackstone and Rick and Company, but this is not good news for us tenants who have seen this city "blossom," with prices to match. Perhaps it doesn't matter to you. Fine. Life goes on.
Another part of New York City will be gone.
A Morton Williams will take over. Expect major renovation, closure, and an opening with special sale items to get us interested. And then expect, after a little while, the prices to go up.
Hip hip hooray for Dan the Man😡
ReplyDeleteBet the Times won't run an article on this....
Dan the Man, a wholly owned subsidiary of the REBNY!
ReplyDeleteOptimistic as ever, not all change is bad. It's a super market
ReplyDeleteFuck 'em! This is going to be more expensive and, unless they give them more space, it will be just as tight and difficult to negotiate as Associated is. Getting around Associated is a test of patience and very time-consuming, but at least they have good prices and the cashiers and managers are really nice people. Morton Williams will just be an over-priced version of Associated.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the betting that the time when the renovations and inevitable closing will be during the cold, bad-weather months when it is not pleasant or safe to go out if you are a senior or a disabled person.
Fuck this landlord and fuck Garodnick. Slimeballs!
>>Optimistic as ever, not all change is bad. It's a super market<<
ReplyDeleteWhy not shop at Gracefully then? Just take out the CC. Again, doesn't make a difference to some tenants. They are not bothered by the high-prices.
Gracefully is a nasty place. They made an elderly African-American gentleman (and he really IS a gentleman) to leave because he was (in their view) taking too long to make up his mind. The bozo who ordered this army veteran to leave couldn't even speak English. I wouldn't go to Gracefully if it was the last store for miles. I'd rather travel or shop online than go to that overpriced, racist dump.
ReplyDeleteNot sorry to see Associated go. Can never get what I want there. Been waiting for an item 2 weeks. Dirty store with boxes jamming the aisles, very little stock.
ReplyDeleteI spend around $1,200+ per month at Associated because I like organic, high quality stuff and I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it. I'm not willing to shop at Morton Williams if their staff and managers are not up to the quality of the people at Associated. Can always go to Gristedes for attitude and coldness. I tend to stock up on non-perishable or long-lived sale items because Associated has great sales and could probably go without shopping for coffee, paper products and cleaning products for several months. I love Associated and it is the most convenient store around here, especially for seniors.
ReplyDeleteI hate Blackstone. Bloodsuckers. No wonder the Saudis love them; they are heartless and avaricious.
As per my post at the TA and Tenants FB pages:
ReplyDelete"I thought that they may be the new owners so I have been doing "recon" shopping on them. Their sale items have good prices but the # of items on sale is at least 50% less than Associated. In general, their regular (not on sale) items are priced higher than Associates but not super high (Gristedes-example, $1.00 versus $1.50) that Gristedes has. Overall, IMO, could have been a worse choice, we will see.
I have been a big supporter of Associated, going against the grain, on both FB pages, of the new demo (in general )who wanted a Trader Joe’s (NOT a full service supermarket).That being said, STR, not sure where you are coming from re price increases post the opening. MW, like Associated, has weekly sales, the hard copy was enclosed with the hard copy of the T&V. See PDF link. Their non-sale prices, will be the same, post their opening, as their 23rd street store. Regular prices will be higher than Associated, not as high as Gristedes or the Union Square Food Emporium. I have also been shopping at C-Town on Ave C lately, good sales and regular prices but their produce is a horror show. Anyway, during the remodel transition, seniors will get hit, per usual.
http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/5c9d72_ec89f9e07cde4b06ad6f52f6139a4d32.pdf
I will check both. Oddly, or just in time!, I have been seeking out other stores and comparing prices. So far, I found I can save money, but there may be a time element involved, too. (The further a store is....)
ReplyDeleteA comment from the T & V article:
ReplyDelete>>Nicely done, Dan. You absolutely should have gotten involved in helping us to retain our Associated. Shame on you. Morton Williams’ price points are substantially higher than Associated’s and while it’s a bit closer to my home than Associated is, my budget demands that I shop there instead. They have also been outstanding and supportive members of this community since they got here. Bad on Blackstone for leaving them swinging in the wind for all these months (nearly a year), with no reasons or answers to them at all. The store has been asking for ANY information on their future with regularity and gotten no response. If this is indicative of how Blackstone does business for their residents, we’re all in for a world of hurt. They give lip service, and little else, to their residents (and press agent). A pox on them and all of their businesses. Guess Mr. Schwartzman’s planning another big party and needs to squeeze the proletariat for the extra rubles. Yes, I know that’s Russian currency… so are their (oligarch) business partners. A shonda!<<
I'll do all my shopping in bulk in LI now . Morton Williams is way too expensive. The elderly are going to take a big hit on this one. These owners DO NOT CARE ABOUT US! Way to go Dan,
ReplyDeleteyou loser! And YOU TOO, TA!!
I hate this place. Always something negative going on here.
ReplyDeleteRick and company continue to destroy this place. I'll just cut back too. All the things I enjoy continue to be taken away from me, because of these greedy landlords. They are not tenant friendly whatsoever. Soo much for my cake, beer, apple juice, oj etc for being on sale.
ReplyDeleteWe are really continued to slowly being ripped off. Nothing is fair anymore, and we all are running out of options. There is no one here that can help us and represent us. What's the point of even living on this planet anymore. I'm soo depressed. Can't wait for that asteriod to hit. At least, THAT won't be as painful.
The prices at Morton Williams in Manhattan are the same as in the Bronx. We are going to get socked. There is nowhere we can go now to get a good sale. Maybe I should look for an apartment somewhere on Avenue "D", near the projects on the FDR area. At least the food prices are a little cheaper, although I might not make it home safe on most nights!
ReplyDeleteGracefully = Rude people
ReplyDeleteMorton Williams = Too expensive
Blackstone = GO TO HELL!
This is the end, beautiful friend
ReplyDeleteThis is the end, my only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes, again
>>We are really continued to slowly being ripped off. Nothing is fair anymore, and we all are running out of options. There is no one here that can help us and represent us. What's the point of even living on this planet anymore. I'm soo depressed. Can't wait for that asteriod to hit. At least, THAT won't be as painful.<<
ReplyDeleteIf it's any consolation, you are in the same boat as a lot of us. Yes, there are those who can afford it all and more, but some of us--no. Either we are on fixed incomes or what we pay to everyone is getting so expensive that existence can seem precarious. That said, don't let the bastards win. And I think we know who these bastards are. I will be checking out all stores, and may even go to Trader Joe's, even though the time spent to get there and back (not to mention the extra carrying weight) is going to be different than just heading around a corner or two. You may laugh, but bananas (which they say are very good for you) are 19 cents a pound at Trader Joe's, last I checked. Even at 50 cents a pound, they are cheaper than the stores around here. Yes, some "spending" money will be less, but that's the way it is. We can still have a good life and hopefully good health, the latter which money can't buy.
I usually buy if it's on sale at Associated. Perdue, apple juice, pasta, etc. Does Morton Williams have the same type of sales--and a lot of them?
ReplyDeleteMeals on Wheels. There are some people in this community that need and use them. And some can just take out the credit card and not give money a thought.
ReplyDeleteC-Town here I come.
ReplyDeleteScrew the blood sucking greedy Sty Managment.
Good Riddance
ReplyDeleteCheck out C Town. Looks like the same prices as Associated. Check out their weekly circular on line. Morton Williams for the most part will be too expensive. This "boat" is starting to get really crowded. Have a nice day people.
ReplyDelete"Does Morton Williams have the same type of sales--and a lot of them?"
ReplyDeleteAs I posted:
"Their sale items have good prices but the # of items on sale is at least 50% less than Associated. "
"MW, like Associated, has weekly sales, the hard copy was enclosed with the hard copy of the T&V. See PDF link."
http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/5c9d72_ec89f9e07cde4b06ad6f52f6139a4d32.pdf
BTW, the TA did originate a petition to keep Associated.
https://town-village.com/2015/11/19/blackstone-to-keep-affordable-supermarket-in-st/
But this petition was just spitting in the wind because the proposed SBJSA will not be allowed to come to a vote in the CC. Dan Garodnick, like a few other CC members, mimics the REBNY talking point that the law would be unconstitutional. This is simply not true; the proposed has been legally vetted for some time now (30 years!). I am on the record in the past on this issue at the TA FB page.
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruben-diaz/it%E2%80%99s-time-pass-small-business-jobs-survival-act
So going forward, all candidates for Garodnick's seat must be asked if they support the SBJSA. If not, or if they don’t actively support it be taken to a CC vote, it's a deal breaker. Here’s a candidate, who does support the SBJSA. Like me, he is the only poster at this blog who uses his real name, Barry Shapiro. Here is his candidate link plus his position vid link re small businesses.
https://www.shap4council.com/
https://vimeo.com/216317135
>>"MW, like Associated, has weekly sales, the hard copy was enclosed with the hard copy of the T&V. See PDF link."<<
ReplyDeleteI did check it out, but not all of it. Thanks, Edmund.
I think I did shop for a while at the Morton Williams on 23 St. I vowed not to go there after buying one of their sandwiches, but the selection was larger. At least on 23rd St.
ReplyDeleteThe space at Associated is much smaller.
>>Here’s a candidate, who does support the SBJSA. Like me, he is the only poster at this blog who uses his real name, Barry Shapiro. Here is his candidate link plus his position vid link re small businesses.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.shap4council.com/
https://vimeo.com/216317135<<
To repeat!
Yeah, it is Yelp, but...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/morton-williams-new-york-7
Also it reminds me of their "help"....
>>I vowed not to go there after buying one of their sandwiches,<<
ReplyDeleteIt's coming back to me. I got so angry that I called by phone and bitched, with saliva spewing out of my mouth. Boy, was I angry!
They just couldn't cut a deal with them right? Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteDuring Hurricane Sandy we drove upstate for a few days after just to be able to take a hot shower and remember what it was like with electricity. On the way home we stopped at a supermarket and were shocked at how much lower all the prices were--30-50% less than Morton Williams, and lots of value sized items which they don't carry. We loaded up the trunk and saved a ton of money. Now we shop for many items online at jet.com and Amazon -- things like paper products, coffee and peanut butter are much cheaper-- even though we would rather shop at local stores. Fresh items are cheaper at Fairway and Trader Joe's, or the corner fruit stands. We used to use Fresh Direct and might go back to them. The 23rd St. Morton Williams just redid their whole store layout and mixed in their natural and organic foods with the regular items, and they also eliminated many of the better priced and larger sizes on regular items, so now prices are even higher. Also their milk, yogurt and cheese tends to spoil since they have a giant island of steam table food in the back, along with all the bread which have a shorter shelf life from the heat exposure. I have made literally dozens of spoiled milk purchases there, and have told the manager many times why their mile is spoiling, but they refuse to move the dairy or the steam tables, claiming it makes them too much money (they claim to make $50k a week in steam table sales alone) So now I buy milk at Duane Reade which keeps theirs properly refrigerated.
ReplyDeleteSTR, what was wrong with the sandwich you bought at MW on 23rd? Did it have a dead mouse in it?
ReplyDeleteI like Associated's own brand of products and frozen vegetables, seltzer, etc. ("Super A") because they are just as good as the name brands and half the price. I wonder what will happen with them when all the Associateds are forced to close? Their store brand is probably made by the same manufacturers who produce the name brand stuff. I will miss "Super A".
ReplyDeleteAlthough the space is small, Associated exasperates the situation by piling boxes and stands in the aisles.. Hopefully a new owner will not follow their example. Very often when they have sales, they put out a flavor or type that doesn't sell. Good riddance, Associated.
ReplyDeleteManagement probably regards Associated as a "downmarket" grocery store, not appropriate for this toney, luxury neighborhood. The think that Morton Williams is more high class and will fit in better with the new and improved property and tenancy.
ReplyDeleteManagement doesn't see the dog shit and piss and the litter and scrubby landscaping and abundant scattered litter. Management sees the property as being the way it looks in their heavily photoshopped ads and billboards at the leasing office. All the beautiful young people who management features in its ads (stock models straight from Central Casting) are the kind of people who are too good for an Associated Supermarket. They need a more expensive, classy-sounding place to flash their American Express cards.
We have to remember that the way Management views and sells this property is not the way it really is. If they saw it without their rose-tinted glasses they would not be able to lie to themselves or to us.
mort williams is much more money and the manager is nasty. AS are most of the employees.
ReplyDelete>>Good riddance, Associated.<<
ReplyDeleteWe shall see.
>>STR, what was wrong with the sandwich you bought at MW on 23rd? Did it have a dead mouse in it?<<
ReplyDeleteClose to. But it was inedible. From memory, the meat was tough and not chewable.
A word about the SBJSA.
ReplyDeleteCandidates have supported this in the past while running for office, then once elected have mostly fallen silent about it. I've read that Speaker Mark-Viverito is keeping it from being brought to a vote.
I'm sure several candidates will support the SBJSA during election. The challenge to the voters is to discern who will actually follow through and make a strong, loud effort to get a vote. Important for voters to consider that there are big money and big real estate-landlord interests at play in this.
Mark-Viverito is a slime ball. Remember the whopping raise she awarded herself and the rest of the bunch of crooks?
ReplyDeleteWhere is the TA on all of this. Not a word from them.
ReplyDeleteThe TA is a cheap extension of Blackstone. Just forget the TA even exists because, in reality, it doesn't! Ignore their demands for pledges too because they have a deal with Management and we will all get socked with whatever the MCI increases will be. The TA has never used its "legal fund" to help a tenant who was being abused by the landlord. They had nothing to do with the Roberts case and they have done absolutely nothing for several tenants who were driven out of their long time homes as soon as TS took over. Elderly tenants who were living here for decades and were totally in compliance with their leases and had no other homes and were not subletting, were thrown out on specious grounds and didn't have the money to defend themselves. The TA did fuck-all.
ReplyDeleteOne tenant who is a severely handicapped lady, who has been here since birth, was being harassed and bullied by TS and neighbors and the NYT (which has a special fund for very deserving cases) came to her rescue, paid her rent that she had got a bit behind with as a result of illness, and ensured that she could keep her home. The TA did FUCK ALL and I mean FUCK ALL.
The TA is as tenant-friendly as Blackstone is a reincarnation of Mother Theresa.
I've been an occasional customer at the Morton Williams on 23rd Street for many years now. I have not had a bad experience there nor did I find it to be a pain in the wallet to shop there. I go there for holiday hams and turkeys, as well as Bell & Evans chickens. Their produce is a bit more expensive than Associated but much better quality and selection. I too have a sentimental feeling toward the owner and employees of Associated and do hope many of them will be able to stay on if they wish. At the end of the day I am happy for MW to go in there and for the place to be updated. I hope the new supermarket will have wider aisles and a butcher.
ReplyDeleteOne of the Senior cashiers told me that BLACKSTONE didn't really negotiate at all.
ReplyDeleteIt was something like take it or leave it. What Slime.
I asked one of the cashiers in Associated when she thought they would be closing. She said August or September. Time to stock up on non-perishables as much as space and budged will allow. The renovations will probably last well into the cold months. Can always schlep over to whole food for fresh food and frozen, but will be ordering heavy stuff (detergent, coffee, canned goods, paper products) from Walmart. May not even need MW if I get used to that.
ReplyDeleteThe cashier also told me that MW is keeping them on to review them. Big deal. I didn't ask her, but I suspect that the employees of Associated will be out of work during the Holiday season. Fuck Blackstone. Greedy avaricious scum.
Is anyone else sick of T&V constantly pushing the Dan commercial tax reform bill? It does absolutely nothing to preserve small businesses across the city. This bill is pointless if owners can't afford the rent or they don't get renewed.
ReplyDeleteThis is good news even if you don't plan to shop there: Trader Joe's signed a lease 2 months ago to take the retail space in the condos that are being built on 14th St where the old Post Office used to be, so they will be right acoss the street from Morton Williams. That will hopefully provide some competition to help keep prices down, because my experience with Morton Williams is that -- except for their sale terms -- they are a lot more expensive than most other supermarkets. The deal was just announced, so I doubt Morton Williams even knew they would have a major competitor who sells at much lower prices right across the street. I wonder if they will try to back out of the deal now?
ReplyDelete" ...was being harassed and bullied by TS and neighbors and the NYT (which has a special fund for very deserving cases) came to her rescue, paid her rent that she had got a bit behind with as a result of illness, and ensured that she could keep her home."
ReplyDeleteLet me clarify my sloppily-written post: TS was harassing and bullying the poor lady. It was her neighbors and the NYT who came to her aid. Wouldn't want anybody to think her neighbors were bullying her. Au Contraire!
@2:15 PM, serves MW right. They obviously did not do their due diligence and neither did Blackstone. I love it when something comes back to bite the money-grubbers in the ass.
ReplyDeleteAccording to someone on the TA fb, MW bailed today when it heard that TJ was going in! Ha ha ha ha ha. Serves 'em right. I just hope that they renew Associated's lease because there's a lot of stuff that Associated sells that TJ doesn't and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteDuh
ReplyDeletehttp://nypost.com/2017/04/15/new-yorks-bribes-to-businesses-are-the-worst-in-the-nation/
Pols give millions to the richest corporations and no support to small businesses.
>>According to someone on the TA fb, MW bailed today when it heard that TJ was going in! Ha ha ha ha ha. Serves 'em right. I just hope that they renew Associated's lease because there's a lot of stuff that Associated sells that TJ doesn't and vice versa.<<
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I heard of Morton Williams leaving. Is there any other source aside from the TA Facebook?
There is little doubt that Morton Williams will try to back out of this deal if they have not already. Look at many of their other locations, they hate competition The lease is supposedly not been even signed yet, and now they know that Trader Joe's will be steps away, making Morton Williams Everyday High Pricing even more obvious. Why invest in a new store renovation and sign a lease with exhorbtant rent when you have to compete with a Trader Joe's? They were counting on Stuy Town residents NOT trecking over to Trader Joe's during the 50% of the days when it's snowing, raining, too hot or too cold. Now their business plan is shot to hell. If MW pulls out, Stuy Town is at risk of not having any grocery store unless Associated is given a fair deal. It's time for StuyTownls new overlords to do the right thing and give Associated a new lease.
ReplyDelete>>It's time for StuyTown's new overlords to do the right thing and give Associated a new lease.<<
ReplyDeleteAgreed, but I don't have to tell you what I, and others, think of Blackstone now.
If they don't renew Associated's lease they'll probably put a Chase fucking Bank in the space or another DR or Walgreens. I will boycott any business other than Associated. Associated is the one and only tenant business I ever shop at. Will go off the plantation for anything other than what I can get at Associated.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe that people are getting so bent out of shape over the loss of Associated. They had no competition for years and let the store go to pot. Dirty store, they hide popular brands downstairs and try to push the unpopular flavors and types, obstructed aisles, poor stock. True, it is convenient for seniors, but they took advantage over the fact that they had no competition and never improved the store and they have been in that location for many years. I do not find the managers that pleasant either, especially one of them. Will get familiar with Trader Joe now.
ReplyDelete>>Can't believe that people are getting so bent out of shape over the loss of Associated. They had no competition for years and let the store go to pot. Dirty store, they hide popular brands downstairs and try to push the unpopular flavors and types, obstructed aisles, poor stock. True, it is convenient for seniors, but they took advantage over the fact that they had no competition and never improved the store and they have been in that location for many years. I do not find the managers that pleasant either, especially one of them. Will get familiar with Trader Joe now.<<
ReplyDeleteI will go where the lowest prices are of the same items. As for Associated. Poor stock? Not my experience. For instance Perdue chicken cutlets, sealed so they are not from "the butcher," are frequently on sale at 3.99. Go to other stores in the neighborhood and tell me the price. Same with certain other popular brands. Yes, I find that their fruit and vegetables are higher priced than I would want, but then I don't buy that produce at their store unless they have a sale. Lots of sales, but no "poor stock" that I want.
I guess it depends what you are shopping for. I have waited a couple of weeks for certain diet beverages, mini muffins and the yogurt selection is very poor. Also limited array of sugar free jello. The fruits that I have bought there are hit and miss, sometimes OK but other times lousy. I generally can get what I want at Gristedes which of course is more expensive, but at least I can get what I want when I want it.
ReplyDelete@7:29 PM: Maybe the items that you cannot find in Associated are not very popular with most people. A lot of people don't drink diet beverages or foods because the ingredient in them has been proven to be rather toxic. I think it's called aspartemane (sp?). On the other hand, Associated has quite a lot of organic greens and vegetables, and even frozen greens. I bought some frozen organic kale there the other day. I've noticed that those items sell out pretty fast. It could be that with the younger, more health-conscious demo they are stocking up on the items they get the most demand for. I don't like their meat because I don't think it is particularly good quality, but I'm not much of a meat eater, so I don't buy it. When it comes to household goods, especially paper products and detergent and dishwash liquid, they absolutely cannot be beat for price and choice. Plus, they have great sales on certain food items like butter, coffee and frozen vegetables. They also have a good selection of "exotic" foods, e.g., Tasty Bite indian foods.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Associated.
According to the Manager, Morton Williams has pulled out of their deal once they were told Trader Joes would be opening across the street. Also told Assoc. would be open until December.
ReplyDeleteHope they'll stay.
9:20 PM, you wouldn't LOVE Associated if you'd ever got sick from eating their out-of-date meat like I did. They have bacon and sometimes other stuff like meatballs, etc. at the back of the store that is out of date and they don't even care.
ReplyDeleteTell me, and I'll try to be there that day or the next morning.
ReplyDelete