2 times • APRIL 14, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Anthony Giudice The former mob-owned Casablanca restaurant in Maspeth is up for sale. Former mob-owned Casablanca restaurant in Maspeth ‘hits’ the market By Anthony Giudice agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com/@A_GiudiceReport Here’s looking at you, kid: a real estate deal you can’t refuse. The former Casablanca restaurant in Maspeth, once owned and operated by the boss of a major New York crime family, is currently up for sale. The site, located at 62-15 60th Lane, boasts a 5,250-square-foot building on 1,800 square feet of land. According to DY Realty Services‘ listing, the property includes a usable basement, a full sprinkler system, an overhead drive-in door and great signage visibility. Although it is currently used as a warehouse for distributing manufacturing products, it was once a popular neighborhood restaurant belonging to Joseph Massino, who was at one point the head of the infamous Bonnano crime family. Massino made headlines in 2011 by testifying in federal court against his former associate, Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, after the former restaurant owner’s conviction in July 2004 for seven murders, including the killing of three rival Bonnano family captains in 1981. It was reported that Massino agreed to help federal prosecutors in order to avoid the death penalty for his own crimes. The location would be ideal for a warehouse or restaurant with easy access to public transportation, such as the Q38, Q39, Q54 and the QM24 and 25, as well as the Long Island Expressway. For more information about the listing, contact Brian Jaffe at 718-729-7474 or visit the dyrealty. com. Prolific thief hits a dozen businesses in Queens: cops By Robert Pozarycki rpozarycki@ridgewoodtimes.com/@robbpoz From gas stations to fast food joints, this alleged crook robbed them all — including one gas station twice in the same day and stores down the block from each other in only minutes, police reported. Police announced on Friday that they had apprehended August Watkins, 30, in connection with the April 3 robbery of the Subway restaurant located at 25-34 Jackson Ave. He was located at his residence on 48th Street in Woodside. Additional charges are pending the results of the ongoing investigation into a robbery pattern in which 13 other businesses were held up at gunpoint in an area stretching from Long Island City to Ozone Park, as well as two related heists in northern Brooklyn. In each instance, authorities said, the gunman allegedly entered the establishment and simulated having a gun in his possession. He then proceeded to remove all the cash from the register before fleeing in an unknown direction. Police said there were no injuries reported in any of the incidents. The most recent stickup took place on Tuesday night, April 5, when the bandit struck the Subway restaurant at 43-19 Queens Blvd. in Sunnyside. Authorities said the armed suspect allegedly struck the same Middle Village gas station — the BP at 60-90 Eliot Ave. — twice on March 28, hitting it first at 1:58 a.m. and then returning for a refill at 1:25 p.m. The other locations connected to the robbery pattern are as follows: • the N&K Smart Mart at 79-23 Northern Blvd. in Jackson Heights at 6:40 a.m. on March 26; • The Stephen Deli at 61-25 Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park at 1:40 a.m. on March 29; • the 7-Eleven convenience store at 65-07 Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park at 1:57 a.m. on March 29; • the Ozone Convenience Store at 137-20 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park at 2:25 p.m. on March 30; • the Mobil gas station at 68-09 Queens Blvd. in Woodside at 3:40 a.m. on March 31; • the Subway restaurant at 102-06 Atlantic Ave. in Ozone Park at 8 a.m. on March 31; • the Rite Aid pharmacy at 58-01 Queens Blvd. in Woodside at 6:05 a.m. on April 1; • the 24 Food Mart at 110-35 Horace Harding Expressway in Corona at 12:35 p.m. on April 1; • the 99 Cent Paradise store at 42-06 Greenpoint Ave. in Sunnyside at 1:25 p.m. on April 2; and • the Choice Liquors store at 43-42 48th St. in Sunnyside at 1:32 p.m. on April 2. The suspect allegedly also robbed a Dunkin Donuts in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on March 31 and a Williamsburg, Brooklyn, cigar shop on April 3. School bus strikes a woman in Maspeth By Anthony Giudice agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport A pedestrian has been taken to the hospital after being hit by a school bus on Grand Avenue in Maspeth, police said. According to police, the 32-year-old woman was crossing east to west near the intersection of Grand Avenue and 74th Street at 9:22 a.m. on April 11 when she was struck by a mini yellow school bus. The bus driver remained at the scene. The 104th Precinct and EMS units responded to the location. Paramedics rushed the victim to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition, police said. No charges have been filed yet, and an investigation is ongoing. Photo courtesy Facebook/John Merritt Cops block off the intersection at 74th Street and Grand Avenue in Maspeth after a woman was hit by a school bus.
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