Bay Ridge is hoping that the pen is mightier than the store.
Irate Ridgites are petitioning against the closing of the Key Food on Third Avenue and 95th Street, which is slated to close and become a Walgreens pharmacy in June.
“We don’t need a pharmacy — we need a grocery store,” said 93rd Street resident Denise Loli, who along with other protesters has gathered more than 1,000 signatures. “That property has been a grocery store for over 50 years and it should stay a grocery store.”
But elected officials say that if the store has been sold, no number of signatures could force a grocery to move into the site.
“Our role is very limited, but we’re trying to intercede if the property hasn’t been sold,” said John Quaglione, spokesman for state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge). “If it has been sold, then it’s a commercial business replacing a commercial business on a commercials strip — there really isn’t anything that we can do about it.”
Key Food officials did not respond to calls for comment.
