King Kullen in Hewlett will close its doors for good on May 21 after it was unable to negotiate a new lease, marking the end of a 45-year presence for shoppers in the community.
Located at 1765 Peninsula Blvd., the supermarket has long been a neighborhood fixture, offering groceries, prepared foods and a familiar gathering place for generations of residents. Closing the store is expected to leave a noticeable gap for many who relied on its convenience and connection to the community.
In an April 20 statement, a company spokesperson said the decision was tied to lease challenges.
“The decision to close was made after lease options expired and we were unable to reach favorable lease renewal terms,” the statement read. “King Kullen is honored to have served the Hewlett community for 45 years.”
Still, the impact on the community is expected to be significant. For many residents, the store’s central location made it a reliable and accessible option for everyday needs. Shoppers will now have to travel a bit farther, with the nearest King Kullen located in neighboring Valley Stream.
Residents of Lynbrook and East Rockaway took to Facebook to express their feelings about King Kullen’s closing.
Jennifer Croce Kennedy said she’s sad it’s closing, since it’s a five-minute walk from her house.
“I would go shopping for my 90-year-old mom,” Kennedy said. “I hope another grocery store takes its place. We will end up going to Foodtown in Hewlett or the Rockville Centre King Kullen.”
Carol Ann Sustad-Renz, a former employee and Lynbrook resident, said she went there all the time.
“I worked there in the 80s, it was a great store,” she said. “I am sad for all the workers.”
Dennis Gilroy, a Woodmere resident and longtime Hewlett Fire Department member, said he shops at the Peninsula Boulevard supermarket up to three times a week.
“It’s convenient and it’s a great grocery store,” Gilroy said. “I don’t know why they’re leaving. I’ve been shopping here since it was called the Big Apple.”
Gilroy commended the shop for its convenience and the courtesy he receives from its workers.
“When I heard they were closing, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “They have the best cold cutters, the know-how to cut the meat, and they know what they’re doing. Everybody here is family and has been here their whole lives.”
The nearest supermarket is Foodtown, at 1368 Peninsula Blvd. in the Peninsula Shopping Center in Hewlett.
“We have King Kullen and Foodtown. That’s all our choices,” Gilroy said. “I don’t go to Gourmet Glatt or Trader Joe’s.”
Beyond convenience, longtime shoppers said King Kullen’s closing represents the loss of a familiar neighborhood fixture. Over the years, it has been more than just a place to buy groceries — it’s where neighbors run into one another, employees know customers by name and routines are built around weekly visits.
Yvette Para, of Rosedale, a meat wrapper at King Kullen for 32 years, said she will miss the store’s music playlist that changes every holiday season.
“It really made the holidays nice,” Para said. “That’s what I liked most about the company I worked for.”
She started working for King Kullen in 1994 at age 26, when the store was around 15 years old.
“I never had a problem with the company,” she added. “Some people tried to make it hard for me, but the company never bothered me. It was hard working in a male-dominated field, as it was mostly the people I worked with who caused problems.”
Para said she’s happy not all King Kullen locations are closing, because she’s looking forward to continuing to work for the company.
“Please stay open until I retire,” Para said.
As part of her daily commute to work, Para feeds the birds by the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream. She once saved a duck named “King,” who was hurt near King Kullen, and called the Nassau County SPCA, which rescued him and placed him in a sanctuary.
“I’ll miss my Hewlett King Kullen family,” Para said. “I’m looking forward to working in another location.”
Following the closure, King Kullen will operate 24 remaining locations, along with four Wild by Nature stores across Long Island. But for many in Hewlett, the end of their local store marks the close of a chapter — one defined by decades of service, familiarity and community connection.
