Bring. It. On.

Good news! According to MSNBC, the average supermarket presents “over 50,000 different items for sale.” That’s a lot of shelf space and our new WesternBEEF promises to be anything but average.

A study by the Mayor’s Food Policy Task force revealed that poorer neighborhoods are prone to diet related diseases like heart disease, obesity and diabetes because “pork rinds and Hostess cupcakes are more available than fresh produce.”

The study also found that with “82,000 residents and 12 supermarkets, the South Bronx has 22,000 more people than the Upper West Side—but less than half as many groceries.”

In response, the city has established the FOOD RETAIL EXPANSION to SUPPORT HEALTH program, “FRESH”, to encourage "the establishment and retention of neighborhood grocery stores in underserved communities in Northern Manhattan, the South Bronx, Central Brooklyn and Jamaica, Queens."

“Many people in low-income neighborhoods are spending their food budget at discount stores or pharmacies where there is no fresh produce,” said Amanda Burden, the city’s planning director. “In our study, a significant percentage of them reported that in the day before our survey, they had not eaten fresh fruit or vegetables. Not one.”

As a result of this program, our WESTERN BEEF along Morris Avenue is developing a new facility thousands of square feet larger than the existing market.

The building permit allows for the creation of “3 separate retail spaces”.

According to its webpage, this expansion “will enable the company to create an ideal showcase for its brand and provide space for new departments, such as a bakery with a brick oven and a full service deli."

Brick oven bakery?? DELI??? Be still my foolish heart.

This is the service hook up to the watermain along Morris Avenue:

And these are the wastelines that will drain it all away:

Western Beef will also install energy efficient equipment and HVAC systems, and use energy efficient building materials to reduce energy consumption.” Notice the high-insulation ceiling panels being installed:

And in exchange, the Western Beef will benefit from a reduction of land taxes, building taxes and mortgage recording taxes while enjoying an increase of sales tax exemptions, additional development rights, a reduction in required parking and energy efficiency credits.

ClockTowerTenant foodies rejoice! 

The existing WesternBEEF is crazy overcrowded.

Bring. It. On.