Brooklyn Heights Gristedes Ravaged by Fire

Yesterday afternoon, a fire broke out at the Gristedes at Henry and Clark Streets in Brooklyn Heights. All shoppers and employees were evacuated and there were no reported injuries. According to Brooklyn Heights Blog, there was an electrical malfunction in the deli section. McBrooklyn found out from a police officer, "what the fire didn't get, the water from the Fire Department did" (the basement is flooded).

There's also a large apartment building attached to the supermarket; it does not seem like that building was affected. And as BHB commenters complained about the overall state of Gristedes, one wrote:

"As someone who lives above what I call “Grishitties”, I’m thrilled to see that store is gone. In fact, I was shopping there last night and could not believe how ludicrous the prices were. I’m not sure if anyone shopped there this past week, but grishitties tried to get rid of bad meat and produce at staggeringly low prices. I don’t even touch the bakery goods.

On the other hand, I do feel bad for them because they just finished making a few renovations and I had hopes that one day it wouldn’t be as nasty and overpriced in that store."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 2, 2008 8:21 AM

Comments [rss]

dabrooklynkid

I was in there the night before and some of the shelves seemed suspiciously barren.

The quality of the products was so poor, and the prices so high, I've long been convinced that this place was all mobbed up. I hated that store. Even the employees were awful.

I'm sure it was a "successful" fire.

Goomba

This was probably some real estate scam fire. Them mamalukes have the stuggots to pull this sorta arson off.

Snoopy

Typical dumb cop comment. Of course water would flood the basement. How else would FDNY put out the fire, call 911 and hope for some cops in a patrol car put out the fire with portable fans?

Tim N.

No casualties? The rats have set up a morgue at the St Anne's school gym and I just walked by there... the line is around the block. Get your reporting straight.

GOP

Just go to peas and pickles. Grosstedes doesn't have any more rats.

maevemealone

That store sucks and the produce was pretty much a joke. Better off buying frozen veggies... BUT it's the closest grocery store for the area (w/o hiking up to key food) so I'm bummed. I could get dinner, wine and movie rental all on opposite corners and be done. There are a lot of eldery people in the surrounding high rises so they'll be pretty put out by this.