By COLlive reporter
An already growing chain of grocery stores in Brooklyn will be expanding even more this week, with the possible purchase of another supermarket.
COLlive has learned that Itzik Benabou, an Israeli-born grocery entrepreneur in Crown Heights, has signed a contract to buy The Shuk Inc. at 589 E New York Ave.
The Shuk is a discount grocery store that resembles a warehouse, compared to Kahan’s Superette or the Benabou-owned Kol Tuv on Kingston Ave. and Empire Kosher on Empire Blvd.
“The Shuk is being sold for less than a million,” a source involved in the sale told COLlive.
The source added that Benabou will be making few changes to The Shuk.
“Some like this kind of large and convenient store. Most things will remain the way they are today, so he can buy for cheap and sell for cheap.”
Benabou, a regular advertiser on COLlive, confirmed the sale but refused to elaborate on the matter. “All I can say is that we are in negotiations to purchase the store,” he said.
Shloime Ifergan, owner of Shuk Inc., did not return a phone call for comment. The store manager, Shay, confirmed to COLlive: “Shlomi is selling.”
“THE ITZIK EMPIRE”
When it comes to grocery competition in the neighborhood, home to a large Chabad-Lubavitch community, a rumored quote is attributed to the Rebbe that ‘there is enough livelihood for everybody.’
When Benabou opened Empire Kosher in 2008, local entertainer Mendy Pellin said “Walmart hits Crown Heights in the form of Empire Kosher.”
Pellin said “The Itzik Battle” is likely to affect Albany Bakery, Owen’s Bakery, Mr. Greens, Sushi stores, the Kolel Store in Boro Park and “the guy that sells sandwiches outside 770.”
“How will (small store owners) stand up to the giant colorful shopping cart? Is there more to Itzik’s red-head lieutenant than meets the eye? The Itzik Empire is on everyone’s radar now,” Pellin concluded.
how about buying wal mart really its a good idea ,make it in crown heights
to almost everybody that commented, learnenglish.com
Pay back choives! Help others pay their debts and we will all be better off
i always shop at kahans i think he is the best store in ch
Lets be Honest ,Look around Crown Heights and you tell me who has the nicest and convenient super market .I would welcome the idea of another one just like that> 🙂
Idont know but i do like shopping @ emire kosher
the shuk is not clean@ all and just the thoughts that rats and mice and loads of other rodents are there just turns me off. i rather buye by some one who is clean and plesent and get GREAT SEVICE.
You can use food stamps in some stores in CH. Look around, we have alot of older stores stuggeling to make ends meet. Why can’t we support them. Customer Service is very important. Go back to those whom you used to shop by before Itzick took over.
Empire kosher is the best thing that happenned to CH food in 3 decades. I wouldn’t shop any place else. Its clean and neat. Organized and all is freah and the prices are OK. Ok maybe just wider aisles…but its fun bumping into evevryone you know 😉
Itzik is a great guy and we wish him all the best in this new venture.
Hatzlacha!
I am so surprized about the comments regarding the sale of the shuk, I am a chusid from BP that sells in CH every day and knowing the ins and outs of the business and the sale of the shuk its trully amazing to see the nagatives and the bashfullnes that is going on in CH regarding empire purchasing the shuk. The only way this can be looked at, is that the shuk is lucky to have empire kosher involved in completing a postive business venture. Yussi from BP
DO WE REALLY WANT MOSHIACH NOW??????
i use to shop all over shuk, kollel, kol tuv, kahan’s but since i shopped once at EMPIRE KOSHER i stayed a loyal customer . i like the service , cleanliness, enviroament,
when i was pregnant the manager always made sure that he or someone else unloads my shopping cart no other store would do that . EMPIRE KOSHER KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
why are all these jealous people in ch bashing itzik ?
itzik worked hard all these years to get where he is now .
Btw have you ever watched how many chasanim & shluchim
come to kol tuv every sunday to see itzik for donations and he gives it bederech kovet with a smile.
so stop bashing someone that helps our community
IM A REGULAR SHOPPER AT EMPIRE KOSHER SINCE THEY OPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO MY SISTER IN LAW SHLEPT ME TO THE KOLLEL STORE I COMPARED MY KOLLEL BILL TO MY EMPIRE KOSHER BILL EMPIRE KOSHER PRICES ARE VERY COMPARABLE TO KOLLEL
COULDN’T FOOL ME!!!!! obviously Iziks reletive(maybe wife) or maybe even itzik himself( if he knows how to type in English ,that is) wrote comment 8!!!! its written so ‘bias’ly in such a obvious way that im surprised they weren’t embarrassed to post it!
Shlomie and Miri Infergan were an asset to this community. Only Hashem knows the maasim tovim b’seter that this wonderful couple has performed in their eidel, understated way. (Now I’ve gone and ruined it, eh?) May Hashem reward them b’gur b’harchava as they go on to the next step in their lives. I for one, feel that I am losing members of my family. Penina Metal
look at the above comments…..
make a weekly CAR-POOL to KRM- kolell store, and shop over there. they deliver your packages to your door in CROWN HEIGHTS, so you don’t have to schlep your packages back with you in your car-pool. you could also place your oder with KRM-Kolell store by PHONE or FAX, when 300 people of crown heights will start doing this, than the people will do a PRACTICAL SOLUTION to avoid the DICTATORSHIP of a MONOPOLY. after all we are not living in COMMUNIST RUSSIA, once you try it, and see how much money you saved, you will realize that IT IS… Read more »
and then he will buy kahans, kleins, ebers, mr. greens, and what next?
If the bakery fish store and butcher got together and figured away to work under the same roof, they would be able to have accomplished this long ago. But they were greedy, and it is their fault. When you have a cashier for all items, it is a lot cheaper than having a cashier for two slices of fish. Or a pound of cold cuts.
In CH we have POOR people who shop around & buy what’s on sale. It has nothing to do with stinginess, it has everything to do with plain economics: large families, low income, & NEED TO FEED OUR KIDS!!! Don’t you have any heart? As for Benabou buying up every store & creating his own “Empire”…can’t somebody stop him? It seems immoral to me. Meanwhile, I will continue to shop @ the Kolel store. MUCH cheaper & it pays to shlep for a large family or before a Yom tov or special occasion. They will deliver for a couple of… Read more »
Anyone saying Empire kosher has better prices then the shuk or kollel store or kahns is out of their mind!! you must be crazy or you must be itzik himself!! go into empire kosher any day and compare any item with any store in NYC if you find it for more i will pay for it and its your free!!
not saying mendys is the best but its the best in CH def better then the shuk! and almost half the price!
You must be Mendy’s owner, I tasted many sushi in many places, I wouldn’t call mendy’s shushi, shushi I would give it another name but it wouldn’t be posted, go try shushik at 16 and 43rd street in boro park THE BEST ever! hearty apatite
I have to say that for me, no place to park at the Shuk was the major reason that I switched to Empire. I also found that the prices at Empire were actually cheaper than the Shuk on most items and that prices here ARE comprable to Boro Park. To #22, I take offense at being called “stingy” because yes, I did shop the sales. I also pay my bills all of the time ka”h. That’s one of the ways that you, too could save money and it’s called being smart and economical. Trust me, if everyone paid their bills… Read more »
i’m jobless, i definitely agree with you. all the stores in crownheights seem to want cheap labor, thanks to them i can’t find a decent job.
If itzik takes over the Shuk, they should change the name from Shuk to Shnuk.
who will accept food stamps? Itzik dosnttake them he think we are all rich and can afford his crazy prices
i guess you havent tried mendys
to 46 and 55, i hope you are seriously considering repaying Shlomie the $$$$$ o owe him Just becase he is selling the store doesnt obsolve you from any outstanding monies owed to him.
IT NOT TRUE. The guys at shuk, are very nice to customers, and gave easy credit to people in need, they were the PIONEERS in developing the SOUTH BORDER of crown heights, c’monn give credit where its due, its easy to just blame them, do you think you would do much better in their situation? think again!!! you say “When you dont run a business properly this is what happens”’ Big Talker, if you put in all your money and all your effort in providing a much needed service, in a much needed AREA, and sudenly someone opens a block… Read more »
i dont like monopely but im happy itzik is taking it over he is a nice guy & i owe the shuk $ to. Im shure he will make that place look nice like empire kosher
i think shmilik is the best I buy there only bec of him if he goes to work in the new shuk im going to shop there
We knew years ago this day would come. The shuk has no one to blame but themselves for not surviving. They had bad service, unattractive store, and the employess are not nice to the customers. When you dont run a business properly this is what happens
Why can’t the groceries in Crown Heights hire more Jewish workers? With buying a store for close to a million dollars, he should be able to hire workers for good salaries and benefits. Giving a Jew a job is the best tzedakah.
we now have someone who knows how to run a market taking over… perfect. BTW, Emire prices are fine and it’s a clean, organized, pleasant experience. Parking, normal workers, etc.
oy vey. no competition is bad for the consumer. some points – check what the register rings. 10% of the time it doesn’t match what you it is supposed to be. even if the mistake is unintentional, the mistake should be brought to the attention of the cleark, etc. they might want to make you feel silly for a “small” error, but – 1. small error x 100 = big $ for the owner. 2. THEY made the mistake, why should you pay? a word to the monopoly owner – I like your entrepeneurial spirit but don’t treat your cutomer… Read more »
why not give a compliment when due>>>Itzik Benabou changed the way c.h. shops >>>lets face it>>>>>open till 1.am >>>>>>who ever heard about this? till itzik came along>>yasher koach!!! also he spent hundreds of thousands of dollaer to buy and remodel that big store on kingston….and was ready to open >>>>> when after rethnking it …and was asked of him ,,,,,,not to open it becauce of maaseh gevul to house of glatt and the bakery across the street>>>>he decided not to open it >>>in fact its sitting totally remodeld and vacant!! my hat goes off to such aperson >>>>>>itzik- YOUR A… Read more »
Not too long ago I purchased some milk products onSALE only to find out that thre merchendise was not fresh.
Lesson? Always check the date.
i used to shop @ the kolell store & dont go aney more i go to empire after trying the shuk . I got my delivery after 10:30 pm because its not maneged well when iasked shlomi abouet hirering better staf he said ” the peapole in c.h. dont deserve it they all baonced checks on me & come to me only when thier food stamps run out ” . I went to empire kosher when they opened up it was full evrey one wran away from shuk & we call our self loyel people i am very happey in… Read more »
I AM ALSO VERY VERY SAD THAT THE SHUK IS CLOSING. I HAVE DONE MY WEEKLY SHOPPING BY THEM SINCE THEY HAVE OPENED. ITS TRUE ITS NOT AS NICE AS EMPIRE BUT IT DOESNT BOTHER ME, THEY HAVE A MUCH BIGGER SELECTION OF ITEMS, CHEAPER VEGTABLES (AND YES THEY TASTE MOST TIME GOOD) AND THE AISLES ARE MUCH WIDER/BIGGER, YOU CAN PASS WITH 2 CARTS (BY EMPIRE YOU CANNOT! I HAVE TRIED). !!!!! I DO BELEIVE THAT IT’S PARTLY BECAUSE THAT PEOPLE DID NOT PAY THEIR BALANCE. I AM ONE OF THEM UNFORTUNATLY, I HAD TO BUY FOOD EVEN WHEN… Read more »
I ONLY shop at the shuk! They are the NICEST people!! what a shame!! Monopoly is NOT good for us here!! 🙁 doesnt he have enough shops to manage already! between his stores and his brothers store… Kahans u bettter watch out! I hope he wont make u guys an offer or else we are really in trouble!!!
No one has sushi like Empire Kosher. not one other place in CH can compare.
I love Empire Kosher. They are nice, fast service and just a general great shopping experience.
And they have great Challah!!
We always shop at the kollel store in BP. ITs a weekly trip.
We save so much, its crazy not to go.
I dont think this will have any affect on prices. How could it?
anyways prices in Crown heights are higher than Boro Park – that’s something we are used to.
So how will this be any different?
I shopped at the shuk for years and then one day decided to try Empire kosher. I never went back.
the store is clean, organized, and the employees and owners are so nice and friendly.
Why would i shop in a dirty, smelly place where they treat you like garbage???
I’m glad Itzik is buying. thank g-d – he can make a decent shop out of it.
i agree to # 19 the speciales are much better then the kollel store thanks to empire kosher i save $ evry week as normal peapole we just dont like when some one else does good but i still don’t like monopoly knowing itzik & dovie they want the buiesnes in crown heights so they wont raise the prices otherwise we will all go back to koll
Because of us cheap customers the shuk closed down I used to work in c. h. evryone only buyes sale itemes & wants to pay later . now i work in boropark & i see the customers there are totaly diffrent
no one is nicer and makes their customer feel at home but the shuk. we will miss u greatly and have to go out of CH to shop bec empire kosher is not the nicest place to shop bec of his attitude. all he has to do is change his attitude. TRY IT
i shop at kahan’s they are always so nice to thair customers and thair prices are resonalble
i love th shop by the shuk ,he had fair sales ,the servies was excelent ,the vagtables and fruits much tsheeper by the shuk and the people are runing the shuk are nice people .please if this is the story the the shuk will be by……dont raise the prices ,you dont want people to go out from crown heits to look for acheeper prices ,i hope so….
I want to just tell you something, folks: My dear friends. Itzik Benabou is one heck of a guy. somebody whom I have nothing but admiration for, an incredible abmitious and aggressive businessman, one we havent seen like for years around here. he’s done thing in Crown Heights that nobody has done here for years, and I think he should be be a role model for anyone who wants to do any business or anyone who has aspirations for anything. Having said that, however, I have to warn you folks, dear friends, with the strongest of warnings: if there is… Read more »
That is correct most stores have a $20 non sale purchase with sale items but their prices on non-sale items are normal!! Empire kosher and kol tuv their non sale items are double everyone else so you end up spending more with their sale then the kollel store without the sale items!!
that is very true and therefore i hope this isn’t true…but it is….
u r so right
btwn itzik and the stores and obama with health insurance…our country is slowly turning communist…what are we gonna to???
Oh no!!! I ONLY shop in the SHUK, as I like to support NICE people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve shopped at them all (KRM, Friedman’s, Paperific) and they all have a minimum purchase for sale items. $20 may be a little higher than the others but if you are shopping for your family for shabbos having a $20 order is not an issue.
how can you let anonymous people bad mouth someones parnasa
Empire Kosher & kol Tuv are a rip off i agree with the others he makes a sale and you must pay $20 non sale items!! what kind of sale is that? and when you take a product to checkout the price goes up!! when you go shopping at empire kosher the price on the shelf is not the price you pay but who checks!! that how they make their cash!! drive to the kollel store and there is free delivery to CH and you will save hundreds of dollars!! whenever im there there ar epleanty of lubavitchers there from… Read more »
i asked one of the workers at empire kosher and they told me its true
if there’s no shuk , itzik will make any prices he wants
“If you don’t continue to grow, you shrink or disappear.. that is the market these days,” he (Itzik Benabo) added, standing in front of his large grocery store called “Kol Tuv” on Kingston Ave.
He bought over 8 stores on the block where he started the little grocery store, and he has continually chopped down walls to grow.
in c.h. we have stingy folks who go around to every store just get whats on sale! thans why the shuk closed down!!!!!
this is old news…everybody knows about this… they sold it already….
Even is he has cheap stuff we still need competition
give me a break!
i just checked, see this weeks sales and judge for yourself:
http://www.uniquead.com/empirekosher/specials.pdf
100% right, monopoly is what everyonre ran away from, maybe
lets go back to comunist russia 50 years ago? they all believed in MONOPOLY and ONLY MONOPOLY,
if we people consider ourselves SMART we should BAN MONOPOLY. and never let it raise its ugly head.
I guess I’m really uncool!
There are other prospective buyers in consideration, including Friedmans Grocery from Boro Park
I think it will only affect Crown Heights? The kollel store is much cheaper and it’s not like we draw Boro Parkers to Crown Heights. I really feel sorry for people without cars who are forced to buy groceries in Crown Heights. The prices will go up and people will have no choice but to pay or not have certain items in their diet. In my opinion you need competition. It is healthy for the community!!
Uh oh. So much for being able to shop locally for a fair price.
The picture is of Shay, not Shloime.
Can we support both locations or will one be closed?
Whatever happened to the Kosher Plaza store a/k/a Itik’s warehouse – a terrible eyesore on Kingston Avenue? Is that the future for the Shuk?
this guy keeps on going in competition with himself
BS
Crown Heights doesn’t have any sushi… People like to call it sushi but it doesn’t taste like sushi… Sorry buddy! Go somewhere good in the City…
why keep the same ugly store? i can’t come close the garbage stinks so bad
change it and maybe we’ll come shop
I love Empire Kosher. I only shop there and i used to go to far places including the Kollel store Empire have the best challah and baked goods (Yoeli is very helpful) Best sushi in Crown Heights and that’s a fact And the place in clean, not over-crowded They have parking And they have many sales (don’t let other fool you: we compared their sales with the Shuk, and Empire was cheaper by a few dollars sometimes) The only think i would want is more variety And Itzik would be fool to higher prices, and he’s not! he’s a businessman… Read more »
is it worth the Shlep??
Don’t want to see Shloime, Shay and all the staff go. It was a breath of fresh air to come into your store and be helped and greeted so nicely. Any chance you’ll change your mind? Hope so!
Now there is no more competition so inevitably the prices will go up in all the CH stores that are owned by one guy… ANOTHER WORDS IS SUCKS!!!
itzik makes you feel like you are getting bargains by making a purchase of 20.00 non sale items, hoping you will buy your whole shabbos by him. that is not sale. now that he has the “monopoly” he can ask 40.00 non-sale items. i have a sneaky suspicion taht there will be more people going to the good ‘ole kollel store which is the cheapest around- and that’s a proven. i believe in supporting the shechuna but not if i am being taken advanteage of.sorry!
as much as i have a negative feeling towards the itzik dude, i do want to say though that i love shopping at empire kosher, it has a nice clean feeling an the prices are right, the shuk however is one GROSS place, you feel as though a mouse is gonna jump out at you from under the aisles.. so i do hope that when itzik does take it over he will update the appearance and cleanliness as well! lots of luck!
if you cant beat em eat em