Cherry Hill Market threw an early July Fourth party last week, celebrating both America’s independence and its own freedom from a long-standing legal threat that could have put the market out of business.
The Sheepshead Bay gourmet market hosted a pre-Independence Day celebration on June 25, giving the local immigrant community a chance to give thanks to their adopted country.
“We as immigrants and children of immigrants are thankful that we live in a free society in the greatest country in the world,” said Samuel Nitka, one of Cherry Hill’s owners. “We’ve been given all these wonderful chances in this great country, and we just wanted to say thank you to this community.”
That community’s support was vital to the store’s victory in securing a Council vote to allow it to remain in business at its current location in the landmarked Lundy’s building, where it opened illegally in 2009, in violation of the Special Sheepshead Bay Waterfront District zoning, which doesn’t allow for a supermarket.
After years of slowly winning over residents and gaining the support of local civic leaders, Cherry Hill’s owners successfully pushed for a text amendment legitimizing its location for the next 10 years. The Council voted in favor of the change on May 27.
About 175 people — including members of Community Board 15, local clergy, elected officials, and veterans from several American wars — attended the June 25 event, enjoying ethnic delicacies and sharing memories about their shared American experiences.
Nitka, the son of Holocaust survivors from Poland, said that Cherry Hill would like to do twice-yearly events honoring local veterans. He said the store is honored to employ veterans, and offers a discount to anyone who has served.
“Any member from the military can walk in and show their military ID and get a discount,” he said. “We don’t know any other way to say thank you.”
Sheepshead Bay native Jim Markson, a Vietnam veteran and author of “Vietnam & Beyond: Veteran Reflections” presented an autographed copy of his book to the store’s majority owner, David Isaev. He was pleased with the market’s support for military personnel.
“I think it is fantastic,” Markson said. “You want to put a smile on a veteran’s face? Tell him thank you and give him a discount to shop at your store.”
