DailyHeights

Cash only. And bring a lot of cash. A quick stop in Natural Land/Sea Land can easily go overbudget. But how much is too much? On a recent Chowhound Outer Boroughs thread there was some griping that they “often overcharge for even the cheapest products … They know they offer the best produce and groceries in the area and they abuse it.”

I may be wrong, but I think the price of these nuts just went up by $1 a pound… And just out of frame (click here for full image) you can see they are charging $12 for what looks like a pound of hazelnut-flavored coffee. Growing up, I was always told they’re called convenience stores, so you’re paying for the convenience. But too many times I walk away from the register, shaking my head…

“The thing is, the Haifa proprietor seemed pleased on 9/11. that was enuf for us, ok.”

Well, that settles it, then.

“Did you not, in fact, on the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, whistle a jaunty, non-Western melody while pushing a broom past a case full of expired dairy products? Answer the question, sir!”

[Flatbush Ave. Bodega “Under Ban for Anti-Americanism”]

In this Chowhound Outer Boroughs thread about the former Peralta’s supermarket becoming a restaurant, area woman jen kalb dropped the bombshell–without further explanation–that the Flatbush Ave. bodega known as Haifa Halal is “under ban for anti-americanism, not to mention past-date dairy products.”

What could be anti-American about this modest family operation? DAILYHEIGHTS contributor Quig pointed out recently that selling postdated merchandise is a long-standing American tradition.

On the other hand, I’m sure the U.S. Processed Food Coalition is not happy with Haifa’s decision to dedicate nearly 14 feet of shelf space to Al Wadi-Al Akhdar products from Beirut, Lebanon. The occupation includes chickpea-dip-in-a-can, which costs only $1.00 and is currently under scrutiny as a potential Hummus of Mass Deliciousness).

But is there any actual freedom-hating going on here? Is it a misunderstanding? A reaction to Haifa’s shoddy, thin plastic bags that can’t even withstand 380 grams of Lebanese hommos tahina? Is it a widespread ban, or more limited in scope–say, limited to a few PH residents who, out of patriotism, are now walking an extra block or so to get milk for their coffee?

DH sought further explanation over at Chowhound, but there was no reply. As Matt Drudge would say, Developing…

Haifa Food Market, Inc. | 263 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11217. 718-783-3346.

SEE ALSO: Former Peralta’s to Become Restaurant? [DAILYHEIGHTS]

"11217" writes: "City Lighting has a sign up that says Closed for
Renovations. Why would you renovate a place that is so new? Looks closed
to me."

UPDATE 10:02 am: Out running errands, DH caught this crew "renovating" all of CL’s furniture into this moving van. Are they going to reopen? "No, just closed forever," one of the moving guys said. "I don’t know why."

UPDATE 1:50 pm: "Friend of a friend" confirmation from Stargirl: "They weren’t making enough money. Sad."