By Alex Christodoulides
I.O.G., which took over the space at the corner of 195th Street and 69th Avenue from Associated Supermarket in the Fresh Meadows development in January, renovated the space, expanded the fruit and vegetable selection, added to the existing seafood choices and revamped the product list throughout the store.The Asian market offers more exotic seafood – sea cucumber, live lobster, dozens of kinds of fresh fish – and produce than its predecessor, plus frozen dim sum specialties, many types and preparations of tofu, cases of refrigerated noodles and other delicacies the neighborhood's Chinese, Korean and Japanese residents previously had to seek out in Flushing.Community leaders lined up for a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the supermarket Friday morning to welcome the store and its new owner, Tisno Hasan.State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) wished Hasan prosperity.”This is an excellent opportunity for folks to get to know I.O.G. May the island get bigger,” she said. “I hope you prosper and do well.”Jack Friedman, executive vice president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, applauded the new addition to the borough's economic fabric.”What's good for business is good for Queens,” he said.After the ribbon-cutting, a troupe from Manhattan's White Crane Kung-Fu school donned a pair of lion costumes and danced through the parking lot and store to bless the location and chase away evil spirits. The lion dancers made a circuit of the store, passing produce, seafood, dry goods, frozen foods and the cash registers to bring luck and prosperity.Reach reporter Alex Christodoulides by e-mail at achristodoulides@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
