WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 3, 2022 3
Rego Park community raises funds for burglarized kosher shop
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Haig Schneiderman, the owner of Knish Nosh
in Rego Park, is thankful that no one was hurt
while his shop was burglarized in the middle
of the night on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and grateful for the
community’s outpouring support and generosity
as the shop looks to bounce back from the incident.
“What matters is that everyone is safe,” Schneiderman
said.
Schneiderman runs the long-standing Jewish kosher
shop, located at 98-104 Queens Blvd., with Chef
Ana Vasilescu, making standard and cocktail-size
knishes, latkes, pastries and more.
At around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23, Schneiderman
says he received a phone call from police offi
cers at the NYPD 112th Precinct about the incident.
According to police, an unknown individual broke
the store’s front door and window with a concrete
cinder block and entered the premises. The person
stole a cash register containing approximately $100,
police said.
It’s the second time this year someone has attempted
to break into the shop, Schneiderman said.
“One guy was caught on camera. He came in front
of the window and looked inside, then he disappeared
and went around the side where they found
the cinder blocks,” Schneiderman said. “They came
back, and boom, they came in and grabbed the register
and went out the door.”
Following the incident, Schneiderman replaced
the broken glass door and window the next day. However,
it took him a while to purchase a new register,
he said.
“I couldn’t fi nd registers anywhere, but I got lucky
going to a Brooklyn register company, and found one
there,” Schneiderman said.
In terms of safety, Schneiderman keeps pepper
spray behind the counter and always locks the back
door gate. He is also planning to install a gated door
in front of the store.
Michael Perlman, who is the founder of the Rego-
Forest Preservation Council, created a fundraiser
on Facebook to support Schneiderman.
Currently, Perlman has raised $1,300. He hopes
to hit $2,000.
“It’s a beautiful feeling of community and it shows
how many people cherish Knish Nosh. They always
give back to the neighborhood and certain people
who contacted me aren’t even customers. They just
felt passionate about supporting the cause,” Perlman
said.
Vasilescu thanked the community for their outpouring
support and generosity.
“When people heard what happened, they came
out and helped. I thank everyone and god bless them
all,” Vasilescu said.
Knish Nosh has an extensive history in the community.
It was established in 1952 by its original
owners, and Schneiderman, who has frequented the
shop since 1976, purchased the spot in 2003.
The bakery is known for its delicious variety of
knishes, as well as soups, salads and dishes such as
stuff ed cabbage and corned beef.
“Our customers are regulars that have come in
over the years. It goes back to generations and now
we have the kids coming in,” Schneiderman said.
“We’re alive, well and focused.”
Knish Nosh, located at 98-104 Queens Blvd. in
Rego Park. Photo by Carlotta Mohamed
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