East Meadow Pathmark to Close

Another major business will be closing its doors in East Meadow.

Pathmark, which has been on Front Street for 35 years, will shutter on May 4, according to Craig Peters, the general manager of the store.

"It is being done because of business decisions," he said. "The company decided to shut it down."

Nearby business owners were shocked to hear that the market will close.

"It's horrible," Jody an employee at Bagel Biz said. "This is known as the Pathmark Marshalls Center. "It's like this all over Long Island. Anytime you go to a mall it is filled with vacancies."

Other businesses that are located inside the Pathmark building, such as a barber shop and a card store, may suffer due to it closing.

John Delassandro, owner of Elite Cards and Gifts, said that he may have to shut down his business when Pathmark closes.

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"I have been here nine years and I get my business from Pathmark customers," he said. "I will not survive without Pathmark and unless they put another supermarket there I am done."

Pathmark first opened in East Meadow on Oct. 8, 1978. The store currently employs 110 people.

"Most of the employees will be moved to other stores," Peters said.

In less than six months, big businesses such as Zorns and Hooters have closed in East Meadow.

Delassandro said that it is more than a poor economy that are causing storefronts to shutter.

"I believe that it is due to competition and the rents being so high," he said. "It's rough."

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