As one business opens its doors, another bids adieu

As one well-known Malverne fixture closes its doors, another, six blocks away on Hempstead Avenue, is back in business. The new Associated Supermarket is slated to open its doors by mid-March, just weeks after the owner of the Cork ‘N Board restaurant, which was a fixture on Hempstead Avenue for about 30 years, announced his departure from the village.

While news of the closing restaurant left some residents devastated, the announcement of the new supermarket came as a relief to those who were concerned about the future of the property, which had been vacated by the previous Associated owner in November.

“Very happy about this,” said Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald. “[The new owners] seem to have a very positive outlook and want to work with the residents of this community.”

Carlos Pichardo, along with his son and nephew, felt a connection to Malverne from the start, when they first checked out the vacant supermarket, at 344 Hempstead Ave., in January, on the advice of an Associated owner in Long Beach. “We liked the town from the moment we walked in,” Carlos Pichardo Jr. told the Herald. “When we walked into the store, we saw some potential in it, so it was a combination of how the town looked and the potential we see in the store.”

And they are looking forward to starting a business there, even though they know it will be a considerable challenge. The elder Pichardo, 53, has been in the supermarket business for 20 years. He owns an Associated store in Brooklyn, where his son and nephew, Noel Collado, are managers, as they will be in the Malverne store. Both men — ages 30 and 23 — have been working in the family business since they were teens, but they acknowledge that the Malverne store will be a challenge to operate, primarily because it will take significant time and effort to earn residents’ trust.

The previous Associated owner stayed only about a year before closing the store. It was the first time in decades that Malverne was without a supermarket, and it was a “blow to the whole village,” according to Henry Stampfel, president of the Malverne Merchants and Professional Association.

Poor customer service led to the previous owner’s failure, according to Pichardo Jr., who found that out by talking to residents and merchants. He and Collado have been introducing themselves to community members and developing a rapport they believe will help them win customers over.

“Getting to know the people, bringing in the products they’re looking for, giving them good service, paying attention to what their problems are when they come into the store,” Pichardo Jr. said of their approach. “If you see a customer walk out with nothing in their hands, you ask them, ‘Did you find what you were looking for? If you didn’t, what were you looking for?’ People want to be taken care of. They want to come in the store and know that they’re going to get what they’re looking for.”

The new owners also plan to offer phone ordering and pickup service. They are considering offering organic products and natural food, and even catering.
But customers will have to make an effort to work with the new owners, according to Stampfel, who owns the Malverne Cinema. “We all have to support them, and I’m just hoping the residents recognize that,” he said.

Pichardo and Collado said that about 80 percent of the store’s employees will be local residents, which will help create a “town supermarket” atmosphere.

Last Call at Cork ‘N Board
Thomas Brigagliano has spent the last two weeks recharging his psychological batteries. Since he closed his bar and restaurant, Cork ‘N Board, on Feb. 20, Brigagliano has been working only 40 hours a week instead of the usual 80 to 100.

What took 30 years to build — a business that was trusted and beloved enough to become a key community fixture — was gone in the blink of an eye. “[The landlord] raised our rent, and in these economic times, it’s just a little more than what we felt we could have paid,” Brigagliano said. “We enjoyed and we had a lot of fun serving the community for 30 years, and we’re going to miss everybody for sure. … We treated people more like family than customers.”

Brigagliano, who lives in West Hempstead, began working at Cork ‘N Board in 1981. In his mid-20s he became a partner, and took over the business from its original owner in 1995. Through the years, he has become close with local families. Hosting baby showers, baptisms, birthdays, communions and wedding showers at his restaurant, he has watched children grow up, get married and start families of their own.

Cork ‘N Board has seen its share of retirement parties, installation dinners (particularly for the Malverne Merchants and Professional Association), meet-and-greet events (like those for the Civic Association and the Historical Society) and casual get-togethers.

“Tommy was always very accommodating to us,” said Stampfel. “He was a great guy. He was always helpful. … Tom has been here for so many years, it’s like losing a close friend.”

Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald is also sad to see the restaurant go. “It’s a part of the community — actively involved with the community,” she said. “So, yes, it’s going to be missed by everybody.”

Brigagliano has similar sentiments. “I always say we’re going to miss our family — the Cork ‘N Board family,” he said. “We did a lot, we helped out the community when we could. … We tried to put a friendly restaurant in town, the prices were reasonable and we tried to take care of the people in the community.”

Although Brigagliano does not have any plans to open another restaurant, he said he would consider returning to Malverne if the right opportunity came along, because leaving the community won’t be easy for the father of two. “There was a big bond between a lot of the customers that came in,” he said. “We’ve made a lot of friendships, and a lot of the customers have made friendships with other customers. Every Friday night you knew there were going to be certain people there, and they became friendly with each other. It brought people together.”
What will become of the now vacant Hempstead Avenue property is still not known.