OMG for AARP!

By Parker

During a quick stop at Twin Value on Thursday night, I watched as the new weekly special posters were hung in the windows.

Now, despite the fact that everyone eats, most supermarkets work on slim profit margins. So, when I saw one poster offering seniors a 50% discount on Wednesday’s, I was certain it was a typographical error.

Last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the underground economy a 50% senior citizen discount might create.  Would non-seniors offer their elderly neighbors money to shop for them on Wednesdays, like the teenager outside a 7-11 offering money to strangers to buy them beer?  Would the white-haired ladies sitting on the benches outside Portofino yell, “hey, sonny, give me 20 and I’ll save you 50” to potential clients?  A 50% senior discount would shift the Forest Hills power structure.  Your kind elderly neighbor would have a much easier time convincing you to, “sit and have another cup of tea while we look at these pictures of my grandchildren”, when she’s threatening to withhold that sweet, steep senior discount.

This morning, camera in hand, I was ready to take a picture of the poster that would surely bring chaos to Forest Hills on Wednesdays.  Unfortunately, someone noticed the mistake and hastily reduced the discount by 45% – talk about a quick downturn in the local economy!

At least the cantaloupes are still on sale.

Farmer’s Market Faltering

I saw on Queens Central that a visitor to the Farmer’s Market on Metropolitan Ave. this past Saturday found only one vendor there. They said they wondered if it will even survive through to November, after which it is supposed to pack up shop until it returns in the Spring.

If it does not survive it is sad, but understandable. The location just isn’t the best for a Farmer’s Market. These markets have been big hits in the city because they bring fresh local produce to many people who don’t have access to it — in other words, those of us urbanites who don’t own cars. Now, it seems to me Forest Hills is divided into the part that includes more of the car-less (in the area surrounding Queens Blvd.) and then there is the area where the majority is car-reliant (those surrounding Metropolitan Ave.) Now, where is the best place for a Farmer’s Market? Closer to Queens Blvd. it would seem.

Someone once mentioned having the Farmer’s Market in Station Square – once again, a fantastic idea. And of course like all of them these days, one that is not being done for who knows what reasons.

So as for the Farmer’s Market suffering from dwindling business, I am not that surprised given that it’s a schlep for us pedestrian urbanites to walk to, while there isn’t that much of a demand for it among the car owners who are right near it.

The fact that the person who went there saw only one vendor definitely spells bad news – obviously the others are giving up on the location. But, keep in mind, that the business there also isn’t being helped by the opening of the Twin Value this past Friday, and the fact that it is the middle of August vacation season. Heck, even the lines at Natural this past weekend seemed to be much shorter than normal. So I guess we will see how it goes, but an easy way to fix this would be to move the Farmer’s Market to a location near Queens Blvd.

Twin Value Marketplace Photos

Here are some photos from my visit to Twin Value this morning:

Twin Value Marketplace – Early Review

I paid a visit to the new supermarket on Queens Blvd. this morning. Bottom line: they are going for a value grocery experience, as the name would suggest. The new store will compete with the nearby Key Food and other similar chains, not the likes of Natural or other organic grocers in our neighborhood, and certainly nothing like an upscale market. The place looks great, no surprise there. But it is nothing special if you are looking for a unique supermarket experience. I noticed several of the products say Associated and Key Food on the labels. So, overall, a nice addition to the neighborhood supermarket experience in terms of cleanliness and an enjoyable shopping experience, but that is to be expected given that it is brand new. If you live far away from the store, I really don’t see why you would make the extra trip unless the offerings you have near you are so dilapidated that you are desperate for a better supermarket experience. I will post photos in a little bit.

Twin Value Supermarket – Getting Ready

They are getting ready for tomorrow’s Opening Day at the long-awaited new supermarket on Queens Blvd.

Twin Value’s Hours

Twin Value Marketplace Opens Next Week

My top-notch sources report the new supermarket will open next Friday.

A Night in the Hills

Just a couple of nighttime shots from the hood:

A close up of the new, yet-to-open Twin Value Marketplace on Queens Blvd. near Ascan. Boy those signs are bright!

I snapped this shot of the food spread at the "Detachment" movie shoot on 72nd Ave. When I tried to take pictures of the film crew I was politely asked not to... so I obliged.

New Supermarket – Some Quick Thoughts

Just some quick comments about the new Twin Value Marketplace:

1. I like the look of the sign they put up. It’s appearance is inviting and refreshing (see my previous post for a photo if you haven’t already). Quite a change for what is a mostly rather dreary Queens Blvd.
2. It should be interesting, if what I am hearing is true and Key Food owns this new supermarket,  to see just how the company will differentiate this new format from its namesake store just a few blocks away on 71st Road.