By COLlive reporter
The Shuk in Crown Heights will never be the same again.
The now defunct supermarket on E New York Avenue once known for its bare, almost warehouse like aesthetic, relatively good prices and loans given to customers, is being turned into a high-class all encompassing megamart.
Ever since Crown Heights entrepreneur Itzik Benabo added the store to his food and real estate empire, extensive renovations were being made in the building that is surrounded by apartment buildings and small homes.
A tour given to a COLlive reporter inside the large store – which was not officially renamed yet – revealed an overall makeover costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Exterior walls were replaced with glass windows which will give passers-by a glimpse into the elegant decor, bright interior and the wide aisles which will direct customers to a fully serviced deli and bakery.
Yet, one of Benabo’s most lavish investments in the store will not be seen by the public eye. The second floor was converted to a state-of-the-art catering kitchen with all new appliances and equipment, including walk-in commercial fridges and freezers.
A source told COLlive Benabo is conducting interviews for the position of chef.
This won’t be the first makeover Benabo is giving to a local business. His Kol Tuv grocery on Kingston Avenue and Montgomery Street was one of the first to open late hours, Empire Kosher on Empire Boulevard offered parking and cleanliness (albeit somewhat pricey) and a better menu at Kingston Pizza.
But, some expressed worry over his strong hold in business in the neighborhood and closing two stores in prime locations on Kingston Avenue. Kingston Plaza Market was never opened and is used for storage, while the Albany Bakery branch on Kingston Avenue was shut this past month.
I think it is wonderful…BH we can afford it and if you can’t no one is twisting your arm! At my stage in life I would rather pay more and get a nice sore to shop in! p.s. Would anyone like to see an Amazing Savings here in CH? We sure would, it would save me a trip to Williamsburg.
Yes he does have a monopoly, but does that mean he’ll take advantage of us?
don’t just write whatever comes to your mind; think first.
He’s helping us… I don’t know him, but i know that for sure.
good job
Stores in this ‘hood need to accomodate the fact that most shoppers today drive. Stores that don’t have parking, especially grocery stores where the owner wants you to spend LOTS of time in the store, shelling out LOTS of money, will need to provide LOTS of parking!!
Right now Empire Kosher has the most extensive selection of foods in Crown Heights. Rumor has it, however, that EK will close upon the expiration of the current lease. then where to go without breaking the bank?
instead of a pomegranite we need a KOLLEL type store with reasonable prices not OVER prices
Be the best that you can be
Most People in CH are not rich or using food stamps and this monopoly is downright SCARY!!!
u always have whiners – come on chevra this is only good. Anything added or grown in the hood is good!!
Parking is across the street on the corner no? Its an empty lot I believe he has that or something?
yes we need to be able to have more businesses but what about struggling families. they cannot afford even the basics. what do we need a state of the art place? who is it catereing to? the young and the deep pocketed. what ever happened to chessed in crown heights. i am not against making business but cant we have a Kollel store?
itzik rocks! good luck in everything, hes the nicest man on earth
IM EXCITED, IT’LL REALLY TRULEY RAISE THE VALUE/MARKET OF HOMES/COMMUNITY
we need kollel store price here !!
mom of 6
Do you have any idea how much Tzedakah this man gives. I personally run a chinese auction and without batting an eye he donated a $500 gift certificate and I’m not the only one. He helps tons of people but privately, so all of you badmouthing him don’t know about it.
Don’t be so quick to judge, he does wonderful Chesed with his money.
Btw, I have compared prices and there are items in his store ie: fish, which is actually CHEAPER by him.
poor you!
I don’t know Itzik Benabou personally and you’re going to say from reading my comments that I must be related to him cuz I’m standing up for him… etc. But I have no such luck. I just want to try to put things into perspective a little: Number 1: I work in a business in Crown Heights too catering to the Crown Heights community members – and I can honestly say that there are a number of Crown Heightsers who are realy nasty to deal with. You know the saying: “Bishvili Nivra HaOlam”? How would you act if you had… Read more »
itzit your a nice guy so please leave some business for someone else mum and pop stores are a good thing so have good luck with the stores you have already but do not over do it and there not enough business to go around and employ some of us thank you
what is this new store opeing at the associated on nostrand and empire (with room for 50 cars)?
rumors have it that they are opening a gourmet glatt at the other associate on nostrand
oh my – can’t wait – we also live south of empire blvd as to hundred of chabad families plus a ton of yuppies.
He will do super – anything like pomegarante will fly – those looking for lower priced places their are more than a handful around including the kollel store – so just stop whining!
so all the people who wouldn’t been seen dead in the shuk now wont be seen anywhere else!
you are 100% correct but keep in mind a huge % of crown heights pay with food stamps so they dont care about the price and a decent % have $$$ so they dont care about the price, its the middle class people who end up suffering but do not have a strong enough voice to change anything
It’s well and fine to have a high end beautiful, comfortable to shop in grocery store, but really, I too find the thought of a monopoly scary. And consider that not everyone can afford to have a car to drive to another neighborhood with cheaper prices, or other options for what food stuffs don’t necessarily need a Jewish store (i.e. produce) we’re looking at those who cannot afford to buy outside the neighborhood paying the higher in neighborhood prices. I think that Empire Kosher is not a cheap shop for necessities and have not heard anyone voice otherwise. Opinions are… Read more »
I remember needing credit one week to do my shabbos shopping. I asked for credit and was given it, I paid it up by the next week. I knew I could ask…. I once asked in Empire and was told no… I can’t blame business owners for not extending credit, but there are times when regular customers just need a few days to pay up…
I love Pomegranate, think it’s a great store, for people who can afford a little more…. NOT for the average Crown Heightser barely making ends meet…. I wish him luck…
if he doesnt have the same prices as the kolel store ect. hes in trouble….there is another lot for sale in ch…perhaps the kollel store will purchase it…then it will be too late…i hear a rumor friedmans is looking to move into ch…
i agree with u but the thing u said about ch being a poor community i dont yes there r some people who dont have money but that doesnt mean the whole neighborhood is poor
Why another grocery store so close to Empire Kosher? He should have made it into a Costo-esque bulk purchase store. That’s what we really need.
I think people should calm down. First of all, the Loshon Hora in this comment section is abhorable. Second, if you are not (yet) able to afford a store with higher priced items, you do not have to shop there. There ARE plenty of lower priced options that both deliver from out of the Shchuna and are IN town. Next, I would guess that as he opens a store with high prices and high quality experience this will make Empire Kosher (and Kol Tuv) the defacto “cheaper” stores. Yes, if he was looking to attract the families who can’t afford… Read more »
I cant wait for it to be open .I see it is finished
where is the parking going to be?
This is a POOR community. People go to the Kolel store not for fancy floors & chefs with hats cutting your venison, but to put affordably priced food on their table. I went in Pomegranate once – big whoop. $7 for one tiny lamb chop…is that normal? I seriously doubt Ben-Abou’s sanity. He has a monopoly in Crown Heights yet he continually forces prices up so we have no choice but to shop out of the neighborhood. How does that help him? Another thing: how many frum people does he have working for him? Most of them aren’t unzerer, so… Read more »
This is plain scary. It’s very nice that a Jew is making money, but this man literally has a monopoly on crown heights food stores. A monopoly is never a good thing- prices can soar unchecked, and the owner has no incentive to make good quality foodstuffs. Competition is healthy- it is one of the reasons that the guild system of the medieval age was abolished.
I LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET I HOPE THEY OPEN SOON
Why has the world succumbed to shopping in designer super markets?
pomegranate is an “upscale” fortune,not for most crown heighters
hashem’s love is obvious no matter what a person’s matzav is
when is he planning on buying 770 and expanding it too?
hes a nice guy, but i feel bad he will lose his pants, as it is he put almost a million dollars into this store, plus he paid high rent all this time while its not open, and catering is not easy, but i wish him success and hopefully there is enough business to go around
its nice to have a expensive store but its time for the kolle store or friendmans to make a move and open a supermarket with normal prices in CH
crown heights needs a kolel store not a high-class upscale megamart like Pomegranate
What do we need a kollel store for? i thought everyone here is rich… driving fancy cars, wearing fancy clothes and living in section 8 and getting food stamps…
Nice, I’ll shop there ba”h, especially when his lease at Empire Kosher expires and doesn’t get renewed.
If Hashem loves him, which is pretty obvious, then so do i.
What exactly are we looking foward to?
not expensive? are you dreaming? read the article “high class” is the code word for VERY EXPENSIVE
if only we could have a kollel store here! sigh!
kingston ave should be called Itzik avenue
That’s awesome! Especially for people living on Maple st!
but it can never beat pome if the meat is from the local butches
soon benabo own every thing
glad someone is finally writing about this but some basic questions have not been answered including the biggest one, WHEN IS IT GOING TO OPEN??
nice! but it shouldn’t be expensive!! make it stunning!! 🙂
what about parking???????
Will there be parking??
when is it opening i thought it was sposed to open up last yr sometime?