Nov, 19, By Christian Murray (2009)
Welcome Mart, a grocery store located on the corner of Queens Blvd and 44th Street, has shut down.
On Thursday, the doors were shuttered and the windows were covered in newspaper. Meanwhile, five employees were informed that they had lost their jobs.
The owner had been trying to sell the business for more than a year. Six months ago it was on the market for $185,000.
The owner had trouble paying the “high” rent, according to neighboring store owners. Many businesses are complaining that rents are rising too quickly during this tough economy.
According to a well-placed source, the site is likely to be split in two, with one side becoming a Subway and the other a bodega. However, this information was not confirmed.
This is the store in better times