Bodega saves Mott Haven fridge
Fridge and pantry moved just mere blocks away from original location
BY JASON COHEN
Just two weeks ago, the
newly launched Mott Haven
fridge received unexpected
news that it was no longer
welcome at its home outside
Chicky’s Mini-Market.
However, after over a week
of stalled negotiations, Mott
Haven Fridge organizers
Charlotte Alvarez and Daniel
Zauderer received a phone
call from a local volunteer,
coincidentally the niece of
the manager of neighboring
Brito Deli Grocery. Thanks
to this family connection,
the fridge only moved 30 feet
from its original location and
is now in front of a vacant lot
owned by Brito.
On Dec. 5, amidst the
rain and nasty weather, Alvarez,
Zauderer and volunteers
met outside Chicky’s
on 141st Street and St. Anns
Avenue to move the fridge
and pantry.
“We couldn’t be more
thrilled to stay so close to
our original home, and we
know that our amazing volunteer’s
uncle will not regret
his decision to save our treasured
community resource,”
they said in a statement.
“This move is a blessing in
disguise. Not only do we get
to stay on the same block,
but we also have the opportunity
to beautify a neglected
sidewalk in New York’s
‘forgotten borough.”
Alvarez told the Bronx
Times the original owners
were welcoming but there
were always issues. Once they
wanted the fridge to move the
organizers questioned where
the fridge could go.
BRONX TIMES R 20 EPORTER, DECEMBER 11-17, 2020 BTR
She explained that if it
went too far from its current
location they would
lose their volunteers and
be far from where she and
Zauderer teach.
“A lot of our parents are really
instrumental to keeping
it running,” she explained.
“This takes a lot of work, but
you are always rewarded and
reminded why.”
Immediately after moving
the fridge and pantry, a
team of volunteers cleaned
out the area, which was full
of crumbling sidewalk and
heaps of garbage. Organizers
hope to fi nd a local Bronx
artist to paint a mural on the
wall behind the fridge in the
near future.
They also set up a Go-
FundMe fundraiser for its
winter restock, where donors
have raised $30,000.
Abella Brito, who teaches
at Young Leaders Elementary,
468 E. 140th St., saw
on social media the impact
the fridge was having on
the community. When she
heard it might be evicted,
she reached her out to her
uncle, Anubis Brito, who
said he was willing to let
them use his storefront.
Brito noted she was surprised
Chicky’s wanted the
fridge to move.
“I’m glad that we were
able to fi nd a solution,”
she said.
Nearby resident Carlos,
known as “Macho,” has
brought food to the fridge
on numerous occasions and
was caught off guard when
he heard Chicky’s wanted
it gone.
“With everything going
on, like crime, killing,
drugs, you’re worried
about electricity,” he said. “I
thought they Chicky’s were
part of it.”
Volunteers help move the Mott Haven community fridge and pantry. Photos by Jason Cohen
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