Fairway Market Files for Bankruptcy After All, Selling Some Stores in $70M Deal

Fairway Now Says It Will Sell Up to Five of Its Stores for $70 Million

After taking New Yorkers on an hours-long rollercoaster ride yesterday, beloved grocery store chain Fairway announced that it is filing for bankruptcy after all. The tri-state grocer with a local cult following is in talks to sell five of its stores to Village Supermarket Inc., owner of suburban supermarket ShopRite. The $70-million deal, while still in the works, may draw in buyers for the remaining nine Fairway stores in the tri-state area, Bloomberg reports.

Fairway’s announcement of bankruptcy follows an emotional day for New Yorkers, beginning with a report from the Post that suggested Fairway would be selling all 14 of its tri-state locations. The company responded to that article — and to mounting concerns on Twitter — with a reassurance that it had no intention to file for bankruptcy or close all of its stores. Likely due to the company’s financial downturn in recent years and crushing $174 million in debt, Fairway’s stance appears to have shifted overnight.

Brooklyn Deli Forced to Close After Racking Up More than $66,000 in Fines

Sheriff’s officers changed the lock on Big Boy Deli in Brooklyn yesterday, forcibly closing the store after it accumulated thousands of dollars in unpaid fines over the last six years. The neighborhood bodega, located on the corners of Myrtle Avenue and Broadway, was found guilty of 18 civil violations by the Sheriffs Office and Department of Consumer Affairs the Post reports, including importing untaxed cigarettes and selling loosies.

The deli, which has long been a neighborhood go-to for cheap packs of cigarettes and hot food, would save money by importing cartons of cigarettes from Virginia, where the excise tax is 30 cents per pack, compared to $5.85 a pack in New York City. That fairly common practice combined with other fines resulted in over $66,000 of damages, according to amNY.

In other news

— Būmu, the newish izakaya-style restaurant from former Momofuku chef Joaquin Baca, launches late night service in the West Village tonight. The new menu, available Thursday to Saturday from 10:00 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., centers on Japanese-inspired small plates including cucumber seaweed salad, shrimp ramen in lobster broth, and fried chicken with sambal dipping sauce.

— Neighborhood bodega Park Deli has closed after failing an inspection from the New York City Department of Health. Remember: This is the same Greenpoint deli and grill that almost closed back in 2017 due to rent increases but was saved by a production company who agreed to subsidize its rent. Now it’s shuttered until further notice.

— Tariffs on French cheeses, sparkling wines, and, notably, Le Creuset cookware are tabled for now, according to a Tweet from French President Macron. Aside from responding with the word “Excellent” over Twitter, President Trump has not officially confirmed that the tariffs are off.

— The oregano that Brooks Headley uses in Superiority Burger’s Friday night focaccia is now available online, with bunches going for $5.95 each.

— If you need some motivation heading into the home stretch of dry January, these restaurant workers are replacing post-work drinks with post-work running clubs.

— Kava bars are gaining steam as an alcohol-free alternative in Manhattan.

— Not in this kitchen: