Pace of Change Revs Up on Boston Post Road

by Judy Silberstein

SIGN OF CHANGE: The Food Emporium is closed; an Equinox fitness center is coming in.

(July 15, 2004) Along the Boston Post Road in the Town of Mamaroneck, there is an unusually high level of commercial coming and going underway this summer. On Thursday, July 15, large construction machines and crews of workers were active at the site of a former restaurant, last known as Ming's. Christoper Kovi, site manager with A. Pappajohn Company, the general contractor, was overseeing the development of two buildings, one for Duane Reade Pharmacy, due to open in November, the other for a Webster Bank that will open in December. The projects are on schedule, despite a two week delay to hammer out an unexpected rock ledge.

On the street, members of Local #11 of the Empire State Regional Council of Capenters were protesting the lack of local union labor at the site. Bringing in non-union workers from other states is "taking food out of our mouths," said one picketer. Mr. Kovi described the site as an "open shop," any sub-contractor could submit a bid, whether the workers were members of a labor union or not.

Next door, the abandoned building once home to a Castro Convertible, is expected to be turned into a Commerce Bank. Another abandoned building across the road and down the block toward Larchmont is set to contain another bank. North Fork Bank will be coming into the corner where a 1-800-FLOWERS franchise was the last tenant.

At the Village Square Shopping Center, the window of an empty store announced the imminent arrival of The Drop Shop, a consignment shop for individuals seeking to sell merchandise through the online auctioneer eBay.

One block from the Ming's construction site, towards the Village of Mamaroneck, workers were taking down the sign at the Food Emporium that closed on July 10. An Equinox Fitness Club is due to replace the grocery store. Across from there is another construction site, where an addition to the Mamaroneck High School grows taller and more substantial each day.

Joe Sousa, foreman for Perform Concrete surrveys the site for the Duane Reade being built at the location of the former Ming's Restaurant on the Post Rd.

Workers with Perform Concrete prepare the area for the Webster's Bank going in at the same site. These workers are not part of a union.

Union members pace the sidewalk outside the construction site where none of the workers are with a union. Picketers expect to be outside the site all day long for a week.