These photos, taken from inside the nearby Waldbaum’s store at 2149 Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn, show the types of conditions shoppers should be happy to encounter. The pictures provide a stark contrast with what can be seen at the Howard Beach location; beautifully displayed well stocked produce and meat displays. At far right a typical isle in the Brooklyn store––meticulously stocked product lines shelves from top to bottom with a gleaming floor beneath. Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
Over the past few months this newspaper has been following developments in and around the Waldbaum’s supermarket on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach after a number of concerns were raised with regard to many major issues in the store.
Residents complained first about the lack of merchandise, outdated and spoiled meat, produce and dairy, employee indifference, a lack of cleanliness, security problems, garbage buildup, unsecured shopping carts and finally drug paraphernalia spilling onto the streets alongside the parking lot.
The corporate office has failed to respond to a number of inquiries made by The Forum, all of which were documented by dated, stamped email.
It was back in February when we first published an email commitment by the corporate office to bring the store up to the highest possible standards. Well, it’s been nearly three months and still there is still no sign that those corporate promises will ever be fulfilled. Minor improvements have been tackled by the store with reference to garbage containment on the property after they installed slats in
Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
the pre-existing fence.
Beyond that there seems to be a slight improvement in stocking the shelves with more product in some instances, and somewhat of an effort to keep rotten food off the shelf. We have still been able to buy outdated and spoiled foods, the shopping cart saga continues, you can’t leave the store without being repeatedly accosted with someone who wants to carry your groceries or sell you a CD or DVD, but these just represent a small part of the problem.
Speculation from a business perspective is that the store continues to earn money for the company, despite the outdated, in some cases antiquated, equipment and fixtures in the store, so why would the company spend money on improvements if volume is not certain to go up. What remains to be seen is if corporate has any intention of updating the store to give the consumers the most for their money and shopping experience.
Within recent weeks however, teams of supervisors have been observed at the store apparently analyzing the problems with the location and hopefully working on a redesign plan to update and improve conditions at the supermarket.
Time and time again we have offered proof positive of conditions at the store that are way below the standards of what Howard Beach residents should rightfully expect from their supermarket. The Forum was advised that a trip to the nearby Canarsie Waldbaum’s store might shed some light on how other neighborhoods are served by the supermarket chain operated by The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company.
Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
What we found at that location was both amazing and infuriating. The cliché tells us that pictures are worth a thousand words and this case is no exception. The following photos were taken on Sunday afternoon at Waldbaum’s at 2149 Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn. About 12 minutes away, nestled in a shopping center is the kind of Waldbaum’s store which should find its way to Cross Bay Boulevard.
The things you will not find obvious in these photos is the staff who went out of their way to be accommodating both in service at the deli and meat counters, answering questions about the location of items and ringing and packing up at the register. After shopping there was a totally unimpeded and pleasant trip back to the car to load up.
Bottom line Howard Beach, this store offers a prime example of what Waldbaum’s offers our nearby Brooklyn neighbors. We think it’s high time Howard Beach residents get the respect we deserve from the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company.The question remains: is there anything left for shoppers to do, beside an outright boycott of the store?
The Forum welcomes your comments, thoughts and opinions on this very serious matter. Weigh in on Waldbaum’s. Email forumsouth@gmail.com or let us know how you feel on Facebook.
