Fairway Hiring for April Ribbon-Cutting

flyers
~~Schuerman~~Matthew Grace chimed in on The Real Estate last week with this post featuring a photo of the bulletin board at popular local spot Baked. With the April opening date starting to loom large, Fairway is still looking for a few good men and women. At hourly pay rates of $7.75 to $9.00, however, TRE reckons Fairway workers will bring down a whopping $14,000 to $19,000 a year. "Is this supposed to lift Red Hook out of its economic malaise?" the blog asks. But, wait, don't forget about the supermarket's guarantee that every worker gets a 25 cent raise every three months. Oh, now they'll be able to afford a loft in the neighborhood.
Fairway Opens Soon [The Real Estate]
Now Hiring! [Red Hook Jobs]

Comments

It couldn't have been me who posted that. My math skills are not that good. Give credit to my colleague Matthew Grace. Besides, his last name is easier to spell than mine.

Posted by: Matthew Schuerman at February 21, 2006 11:45 AM

Certainly not, but it will make fresh produce and quality foodstuffs steadily available in the area, which is sorely needed. As oppossed to, say, cheap knockdown scandinavian furniture.

Posted by: combustiblegirl at February 21, 2006 12:14 PM

Of course what you folks are forgetting is that a significant part of Red Hook is taken up by housing projects that aren't due to gentrify anytime soon, and where the unemployment rate is quite a bit higher than it is in, say, Park Slope or Carroll Gardens. In addition to having the advantage of the yuppie-priced fresh foodstuffs in the neighborhood, it also brings in jobs to an isolated and quite poor section of the city (as will the "cheap knockdown Scandinavian furniture"). The low pay is a real shame, and workers should probably try to organize to do better, but in any case it's a whole lot better than the alternative for many people in Red Hook.

Posted by: Woodside Al at February 21, 2006 12:48 PM

So what's better - a vacant building or a new food market in a neighborhood with little shopping opportunities and jobs well above miniumum wage?

What are you suggesting? That someone should open a GM factory there and pay $42/hour?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 21, 2006 12:50 PM

Ironic and sad that the people who you think will be flocking to these jobs of bringing "fresh produce and quality foodstuffs" to Red Hook probably won't be able to afford to buy them on the salaries offered. Prosciutto and heirloom tomatoes on a sourdough baguette, anyone?

Not to say that either of these markets are a bad thing, and they will be able to provide a few jobs, but let's be realistic about their ability to lift Red Hook out of poverty. Many of the people who need jobs the most will not even be eligible or able to be employed by either Fairway or Ikea. Too bad.

Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at February 21, 2006 1:01 PM

> What are you suggesting? That someone should open a GM factory there and pay $42/hour?

This is where economically-ignornant proponents of "living wages" and other harmful policy inevitably display blank stares.

If the minimum wage is such a good idea, then why not raise it to $100/hr?

The fact is that the wages for those clerical jobs are not SUPPOSED to provide for a family of four. They're merely for those looking to supplement a household's income, or for a young person looking for a "foot in the door".

Nobody is forcing anyone to work there.

Posted by: Gary at February 21, 2006 1:14 PM

that is so obnoxious! do you have any idea how hard it is for young, unskilled workers to find any employment in brooklyn these days? bringing decent, stable jobs to the area, even if they are low-paying "service" jobs, is a huge benefit to these neighborhoods (even park slope and carroll gardens, for that matter).

Posted by: anon at February 21, 2006 1:41 PM

I don't know what the prices will be like at Fairway, but my guess is that for the basics, the prices and the quality will probably be better than the current stores in the area. The highest prices are often in the poorest areas where people have fewer choices and limited transportation. Sure, the prociutto may be out of reach, but the flour, zuchini and bananas won't be.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 21, 2006 2:54 PM

Where in Red Hook will the Fairways be located?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 21, 2006 2:56 PM

I find it hard to believe that the prices at Fairway will be any more expensive than what is now available outside Red Hook, i.e., Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Cobble Hill, the Heights. The prices in our nabes are outrageous to begin with, so at the very least, Fairway will, in all likelihood, be competitive. Unfair to the poor in Red Hook? Of course. Just as it is unfair to those who have lived in our "pricier" nabes for decades and now find themselves struggling to survive on minimal incomes...whether retired or still working.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 21, 2006 3:25 PM

"Where in Red Hook will the Fairways be located?"

The end of Van Brunt Street--across from the space where BWAC has art shows in the Spreing. Summer, and Fall.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 21, 2006 6:58 PM

if the service at this new fairway is going to be anything like the service at home depot or lowe's, i'll remain happy giving my business to the local mom & pop stores...

Posted by: sba at February 21, 2006 8:11 PM

yes but the food will be way deliciouser than that which can be purchased at neighbor hood eateries such as IKEa or met-foods; there fore, even if it costs more to obtain a bagget with prociuto or salad bar with arugolla why cant the poor and dissadvantaged (such as they who live in the bad red hook houses) merely purchase a smaller portion?? perhaps it would be healthier for them in the long run anyway's! Further more they will have exposal to pro-duce and vegetbles they might not other wise have acces to such as burduck root and jerusilem artichoaks. Perhaps if they find it tasty they will become intersted in pursuing cuisenes like these for a career which will enable them to move up in the world (for example to own a nicer apartment, sports car, black berry PDA &tc)? Hence forth, i feel it will be benificial to needy and rich folks a'like.

Posted by: walnuts at February 21, 2006 9:06 PM

walnuts: serious or a joke? hopefully a joke or some tutoring is badly needed on your part.

Posted by: anon at February 21, 2006 11:06 PM

Has anyone actually shopped at Fairway before? Yes, they have lots of luxury goods. But the regular prices are very reasonable - much less than Met, Key Food, Pathmark. The produce prices are great and the quality high. As for the $ per hour - how many fast food restaurants are there in NYC that pay minimum wage? They are paying 40% above what they HAVE to pay their employees. I think they should be commended for that.

Posted by: Lambretta76 at March 14, 2006 12:28 PM

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February 21, 2006

Fairway Hiring for April Ribbon-Cutting

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