Fairway Market says it has a holiday gift for residents of Kips Bay, Murray Hill, Gramercy, Union Square and many other midtown area New York neighborhoods. The newest Fairway Market will open at 550 Second Ave., off 30th Street, on Friday.
The 40,119-s.f. store, in the Kips Bay Shopping Center, is being staffed by many of the employees from Fairway Market’s Red Hook location that was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. In the aftermath of the historic superstorm, which forced the temporary closing of the Red Hook store, Fairway Market committed to ensuring that the employees there would not lose their jobs. It offered temporary placement at Fairway Market’s other locations and provided ongoing free shuttle service so that these employees could get to their new assignments.
The Kips Bay store is the fourth Manhattan Fairway Market and 12th store for the company. Over the past six years, Fairway Market has opened nine new grocery store locations and three wines and spirits locations, creating more than 3,500 new jobs.
“The holidays are all about giving, and in this regard we’re proud on two fronts. We’re giving residents of midtown and downtown the unparalleled shopping experience that is the hallmark of Fairway Market. And we’re giving our Red Hook store employees and their families some cheer amid the chaos that has defined their lives over the past two months,” said Charles Santoro, chairman of Fairway Market and co-founder and managing director of Sterling Investment Partners, a Westport, Conn., middle market private equity firm that owns a majority stake in Fairway Market.
“People have been asking for years for us to come to midtown so that they too can enjoy just how unique and special we are,” said Howie Glickberg, vice chairman of development and grandson of Fairway Market’s founder. “Our people are the best, from our butchers and bakers to our cheese mongers, produce and seafood experts. They all share a passion for what they do and we’re very pleased to be able to share this passion now with even more New Yorkers.”
“We look forward to providing one-stop shopping at its best and, as we do through all our stores, to making an impact in the Kips Bay community through our giving back to the causes and organizations that make a difference in the lives of our neighbors,” said Herb Ruetsch, CEO of Fairway Market.
Once inside the 2,500-s.f. entryway of the Kips Bay location, shoppers will find two glass enclosed elevators and two extra wide escalators that will whisk them to the lower level with its 16- to 20-foot high ceilings. There they will find an exceptional combination of traditional, organic and specialty foodstuffs at great every day prices.
