GET THE LATEST NEWS EVERY DAY AT QNS.COM
Aug. 23-29, 2019 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
ALSO COVERING AUBURNDALE, COLLEGE POINT, DOUGLASTON, GLEN OAKS, FLORAL PARK
• LITTLE NECK LEDGER
• WHITESTONE TIMES
Flushing frets new liquor mega-mart
Small businesses banding together to battle expansion of regional retailer
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Employers at Marpat Wines and
Liquors store in Flushing are fearing
the worst — the possible shutdown
of their business and jobs if Total
Wine & More, a fast-growing chain of
nearly 200 stores, sets up shop across
the street.
Marpat Wines and Liquors, located at
3112 Farrington St., has been operating
in the community for 53 years selling
the best selection of wines and liquors
from around the world, and owner
Frank Mortagua is preparing to fight
back against the superstore to keep his
business open, he says.
“I can’t sleep. This is like a
nightmare,” Mortagua said. “It’s an
injustice to take my family-owned
business, not only mine, but all of the
local liquor stores out of business. We try
to make a buck … that’s their intention,
to take everyone out of business.”
Mortagua, among others in the
community, received a letter on Aug. 19
from entrepreneur, Michelle Trone, who
has filed an application to open the wine
and spirits store in the College Point
area at the space previously occupied by
Toys R Us, located at 30-02 Whitestone
Expressway, next to Party City. Trone is
requesting all signed letters in support
of her application to be returned by
Sept. 7.
“I am excited to bring this unique
and wonderful experience to Queens,”
Trone said in the letter. “As you may
know, a Total Wine & More store
offers an incredible selection of over
8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits and 2,500
beers, all at the most competitive
(From l. to r.) Employers Nicholas Alma, Joey Demarco, and Frank Mortagua, owner of Marpat Wines and Liquors, are banding together
with other local businesses to prevent the opening of a new Total Wine & More store in the area. Photo by Carlotta Mohamed/QNS
prices possible.”
“To make shopping convenient,
right next to the wine and spirits store,
there will also be an incredible beer
and food store — offering local and
global beers, as well as delicious and
unique New York foods and gifts. I am
particularly proud we will be offering
the largest and best selection of New
York-made beers, wines and spirits,”
Trone said.
Known as the “Walmart of liquor”
Total Wine & Liquor were denied a
liquor license to open a 21,000-squarefoot
store near White Plains in a decision
last December that followed opposition
letters from 25 state lawmakers and a
three-hour hearing, in which the New
York State Liquor Authority ruled that
“Westchester is already oversaturated
with liquor shops,” the NY Post
reported.
“The stores from Long Island and
Westchester there banded together and
they fought it. They didn’t get their
license, and now they’re coming here,”
said Joey Demarco, who has been
working at Marpat Wines and Liquors
for 16 years. “Them coming here, we’ll
be ground zero; we won’t be able to
last. I’m sure other stores in Flushing,
all other areas such as Corona and
Whitestone will feel it. It would not only
affect small businesses, but also the
sales people for the distributors would
be greatly affected by the number of
stores that could potentially close.”
Demarco said they have contacted
eight other liquor stores thus far and
will have their first meeting in the
first week of September. They’re also
planning on getting a lawyer.
For Nicholas Alma, 25, who is a
full-time worker at Marpat Wines
and Liquors, this is his only job at the
moment, and he is ready “to take it with
the punches and roll with them.”
“I’m pretty sad about it, just
counting my days,” Alma said. “If I
lose this job, it would hurt because it’s
going back to square one looking for
another job. It’s great for them, but not
for us. They’ll probably take over all
of Queens.”
Vol. 85 No. 34 60 56 total pages
GREAT TIME TO SWITCH TO AT&T WIRELESS-BAYSIDE
BUY ONE
GET ONE FREE
(see store for details)
SPECIALS
iphone 8 64GB-$10/mo
iphone 6S 32GB - $1/30mos.
Samsung A6 - $5/mo
38-27 BELL BLVD.BAYSIDE ( NEXT TO AVLI ) • (718) 819-8883
/QNS.COM