Protest at the Shuttered Trade Fair, Which Will Open as Key Food in January

The employees of the Jackson Heights Trade Fair lost their jobs unexpectedly last week when the grocery store shuttered without warning; the Trade Fair will be replaced by a Key Food. Today DNAinfo reports that the Key Food will open next month, but the new owner isn’t sure if he’ll hire all 50 of the Trade Fair workers back. Labor leaders and former Trade Fair workers are protesting in front of the supermarket and a large blow-up rat showed up in front of the store this week. The above photo of protesters at the shuttered store last week comes from Daniel Dromm’s Twitter. More than 150 people have signed a petition that states “The residents of Jackson Heights do not stand for businesses that break the law and disregard their workers. We the undersigned will not shop at the new Key Food.”

As for the new Key Food, there will be new shelves and freezers, as well as a renovated front checkout system. As the new owner told DNAinfo, “This is going to be a Key Food. This is not going to be a Trade Fair. Key Food has a different strategy to it’s stores.”

Shuttered Trade Fair Set to Reopen in January as Key Food, Owner Says [DNAinfo]
Trade Fair Shuttered Abruptly Yesterday in Jackson Heights [Q’Stoner]