Costco in NYC, Fresh Direct's new online store & Wednesday Morning One Liners...

The proposal to bring Costco to the Upper West side just got some more steam, Mayor Bloomberg has endorsed the plan.

Here's yesterday's Costco NY SUN article.

To mark its sixth anniversary of service, online grocer FreshDirect has formed a partnership with Union Square Wines & Spirits to launch the USQ Wine Store. The new online venture offers a selection of over 200 fine wines and specialty liquors easily browsed with innovative web features.

Wild Edibles, the seafood wholesaler and retailer at the center of a battle with labor organizers over alleged violations of workers’ rights, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals here yesterday reversed a lower court’s decision that allowed Whole Foods to acquire Wild Oats, but it was not clear what the net impact of the ruling would be since the two chains have become well-integrated during the past year.
Read more of this story

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. this week is taking the next step in its effort to provide in-home tech support for customers by offering the services of computer "geeks" through 20 of its Sam's Club outlets.

Prosecutors will appoint two officers to monitor a 1,500-member union that represents operators of cranes and heavy construction equipment.

Hillary is about to make a few appearances for Obama.

The Real Deal reports:

Big-box spaces available, but no tenants in sight

Retail spaces of 20,000 square feet and up are rising in supply, but big-box stores aren't looking to move in. Large spaces at 224 and 250 West 57th Street have been vacant since late last year, and another space at 300 West 57th Street has been on the market for more than two years. Shopping complexes like East River Plaza and the Rego Park Mall II are also planning to open up. Landlords are considering breaking up the spaces into smaller units.

More at: [Crain's]

From Yesterday

A year-long campaign by workers’ advocacy group to put pressure on seafood purveyor Wild Edibles to settle a dispute over alleged labor law violations appears to be paying off.

75% of 69 surveyed stores in Westchester are over-charging for Milk, including Gristedes.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that the Hyde Park Amish Market is officially going out of business

Here’s the full article in today’s Journal.

Amish Market’s new Long Island City store will be called the ‘Food Cellar’

One more blog regarding the Food Cellar.

Tesco’s Fresh & Easy chain is planning to incorporate local and community elements into its design for the first time at a store it plans to open here later this year, according to reports.
Read more of this story

Brian String was re-elected as president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 152, one of the largest unions in southern New Jersey, after capturing about 85 percent of the votes in an election Friday. String earned 3,755 votes against rival Ken Marr, who received 611 votes, union officials said Monday.

0D

Building Blocks Conference gets some blog action.

According to Eliot Brown at the Observer, Extell Development may be looking to put a 150,000 sq, ft Costco into its Riverside Boulevard complex: "Extell Development is in talks with discount bulk retailer Costco to occupy a large underground store as part of a new 3.3 million-square-foot development of mostly residential buildings on the Upper West Side.

Politics

In this morning's Crain's Insider, UFCW Local 1500's Pat Purcell comes to the defense of Shelly Silver. Here's the item:

The Perils of Insurgency

Insurgent candidate Paul Newell’s claim that Shelly Silver overstated his efforts to keep a local Pathmark open a drew a harsh response from the union representing store workers. “The workers at Pathmark have never met Newell and have no idea who he is,” says Pat Purcell of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500. “Silver was the linchpin in keeping that store open and our members employed. His opponent’s cheap, political shot is disgraceful.” Newell says that he has been working with other community groups.

Clinton Lauds Housing Pact For Starrett CitySenator Clinton, accompanied by a small army of elected officials, rallied at Starrett City in Brooklyn yesterday to celebrate an agreement that will preserve its "affordable" housing.

Other

UAlbany off party school list

Pop a bottle of champagne: The University at Albany got off the list of America's top party schools. In 1998 and 2004, the Princeton Review college guide annoyed many on campus by ranking UAlbany first on its honor roll of the country's most booze- and drug-addled campuses.