Bell Park Manor Terrace residents’ worries over losing their only supermarket were quelled Friday after the owners of Food Dynasty and the landlord for the Hillside Avenue property agreed on a new 20−year lease, state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D−Little Neck) and Glen Oaks Village President Bob Friedrich said.
“I am so pleased that we have retained the supermarket,” Weprin said in a statement. “Our community cannot afford to lose the supermarket, which serves seniors as well as families with young children. Without this store, they would have had nowhere to shop for food in the neighborhood.”
Residents of Bell Park Manor Terrace — a Queens Village co−op — rallied with Weprin, Friedrich and state Sen. Frank Padavan (R−Bellerose) earlier this month to keep the supermarket open.
Friedrich said he is convinced the rally led to the agreement on a 20−year lease.
“I believe the strong show of support from the community resonated loudly with both parties and helped bring a successful resolution to the lease negotiations,” he said in an e−mail.
The previous lease was set to expire Saturday.
—Howard Koplowitz
