Open Thread Wednesday

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Steven

    I was told by a journalist friend of mine covering the Trump rally a couple weeks ago that Ivan Arguello (Key Foods owner) was there in a red cap. A bit shocking and not sure I want to give him more business.

  • Randy

    Enrico and Ivan are already about as inhospitable as it comes. Suppose this is yet another feather in their caps.

  • meschwar

    Is he a corporate owner of the key food brand, or just our local store?

  • Andrew Porter

    Frankly, what other food choices are there? Gristede’s is owned by a very outspoken Republican who ran for Mayor.

    There’s an interview with Arguello from 2017 here:

    https://www.fiveacrefarms.com/a-conversation-with-ivan-arguello/

  • Cranberry Beret

    Sushi Lin on Clark Street opened yesterday. Looks like this is their 3rd NYC location

  • Andrew Porter

    Smog city: staying indoors today, already cancelled planned visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden because of the smoke, which I can smell even inside my apartment.

    Several years ago I took a train to Spokane for a convention. We started calling the place “Smokane” because of nearby forest fires. Pollution was 287 on a 1-300 scale.

    Here’s a photo I took there, directly into the sun (and no, not run through Photoshop or any other enhancing software). My advice: stay inside, use an N95 mask if you have to go out:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d4dd1d33603791047782b312200f1f06cb1740e0cac645f141295dda45008a7f.jpg

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    My understanding is that Key Food is a franchise and that he is the owner of the store on Montague.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    Correction. Having read the inteview with Mr. Arguello linked in Andrew Porter’s comment below, I see that Key Food is descriobed as a “cooperative.” If so, Mr. Arguello may be a part owner of the cooperative as well as owner of the store on Montague.

  • Red Leader

    So excited to try it. (although my favorite will always be Sushi Gallery :)

  • TeddyNYC

    At the moment the air quality index is around 400 which is classified as hazardous.

  • TeddyNYC

    Are we in the clear with the Key Food on Atlantic Ave.?

  • Jorale-man

    I don’t know about the ownership model but the Trumpism is on-brand with some recent comments I read from the owner. After a recent shoplifting incident he went on a mini-rant about bail laws to the Brooklyn Eagle – even though there was no evidence that the shoplifter had been released from jail improperly. It just sounded like a Fox News / New York Post talking point being repeated.

  • Bornhere

    The Key Food “unpleasantness” is historic, going back decades. If you’re a Heights old-timer, you might remember some of the staff (Claudia was exceptional, and more recently, there was Ali, the best of all delivery people); but, since the lockdown, I admit I’ve become a Fresh Direct fan. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/nyregion/thecity/07key.html

  • AnonyMom

    Wegman’s and Trader Joe’s!

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Steven, I guess you are going to have to shop at D’Agostino on Henry. Their controlling interest is owned by a gentleman named John Catsimatidis.

    Our politics are going insane. We are destroying ourselves inwardly. Looking at the boycotts of Bud Light and Target is shameful.

  • Kit

    Did Dag return to the Heights? Years before I moved, Dag had closed its Henry St. store and it became a CVS.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7nPOzGeyaw Arch Stanton

    Huh? D’Agostinos closed like 20 years ago.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7nPOzGeyaw Arch Stanton

    Who cares? When I need food I’m getting it from the most convenient, economical source. I don’t give a hoot about the store owner’s views, I just won’t engage them in conversation.

    If you don’t want to “support” any contrasting political views with your money, you are going to have a tough time feeding, clothing and sheltering yourself.

    Do you really think the loss of your business or a small handful of boycotters is going to change their views?

    Would you want to potentially loose some of your business based on your political affiliation?

    Its a slippery slope!

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    My wife has found better prices for some items at Fresh Start, the “gourmet” market on Montague between Clinton and Court.

  • Andrew Porter

    Three words: Time machine. Bohack’s.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Arch, I remember going to Dag’s on Henry and paying for my groceries by bidding on Priceline.com. Seems like ages ago.

    Surely Andrew you have that photo of Bohack’s that pops up periodically.

  • Karl Junkersfeld
  • RickP

    I did all my shopping at that Bohack back then. I didn’t remember the sign, so that was fun to see. thx.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7nPOzGeyaw Arch Stanton

    I remember when D’Agostino’s opened. I remember Bohack’s too, and Peter Reeves on Montague, anyone remember that store?

  • Jorale-man

    Likewise, I started using Fresh Direct in 2020 and haven’t given up. I’ve occasionally gone back to Key Foods in recent months and found the grumpy vibe (with a few exceptions) and dated ambience are still there.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Peter Reeves, the grocery across the street just to the west of the old Spector Drugs, correct?

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    http://brooklynheightsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/fotoflexer_photo131.jpg

    This was a picture posted years ago by Melanie Hope Greenberg many years ago.

  • Andrew Porter

    Books Are Magic posted this photo on Facebook: If it’s too smoggy outside, you can always enjoy a beach day inside:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fce03e10ff83bcec13126a352e1d8070ff124fdcd0cf29a7ba8280338e8d5b50.jpg

  • carlotina129@gmail.com

    Aren’t they entitled to their views?

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7nPOzGeyaw Arch Stanton

    Yes that’s exactly my point. Everyone is entitled to their views and shouldn’t be punished for it, as long as they don’t violate the law.