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Fair Waldbaum's staying put — for now
But may be sold in near future, company says
Waldbaum’s in East Meadow, at 1530 Front St., will remain temporarily unaffected after its owner and operator, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 19.
In a news release, A&P, which also owns Pathmark supermarkets, said it owned 296 stores and planned to close 25 soon “due to lack of interest and significant ongoing store operating losses.”
A spokeswoman for A&P said that all assets and store sales will be conducted through a court-ordered sale process, subject to court approval. “The sale process will take months to complete,” said Dana Regan.
Another company spokeswoman told the Herald that the East Meadow Waldbaum’s could be sold in the near future. “Yes, there is a chance that Waldbaum’s will be sold,” said Joanne Fischetti in an email. “Beyond that, we’re not going to speculate.”
Mitchell Allen, the president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, said it would be a huge blow to the local community if the Waldbaum’s closes without being sold to another supermarket franchise. He noted that the Chamber, as well as the East Meadow Kiwanis Club, conducts many fundraisers at the supermarket. “We do a lot of fundraising there,” said Allen. “We’d like to see it stay.”
A press release on the company’s website said the vast majority of its stores are operating normally and will remain fully stocked. Nearby A&P stores that are slated to close include a Waldbaum’s in Oceanside and a Pathmark in Baldwin. A&P also said it will sell two Waldbaum’s stores, in Baldwin and Long Beach, and two Pathmark stores, in Seaford and Franklin Square, to Stop & Shop.
