City shuts down popular Flushing mall over COVID violations
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The famous food court inside Flushing’s New World Mall. Photo via nycgo.com
By David Brand
New York City’s Department of Buildings shut down the New World Mall in Flushing Wednesday after observing a series of COVID-related violations inside the four-story food market and shopping center.
The DOB said officials on Tuesday observed overcrowding in various mall common areas, which must remain closed to comply with the city’s public health regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under city rules, individual stores in malls are allowed to open if they have an exterior entrance that leads directly outside.
“Limiting crowded in enclosed spaces in our city is a critical measure in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and protecting the health of our fellow New Yorkers,” said DOB spokesperson Andrew Rudansky. “We closed the mall after we found that the owners were putting the public at risk by ignoring New York’s state and local health regulations for indoor shopping malls.”
Other violations occurred July 15 and July 29, according to summonses reviewed by the Eagle.
The owners of the popular mall, located at 136-20 Roosevelt Avenue, have submitted a proposal to reopen safely, according to the city. The DOB is currently reviewing the proposal.
New World Mall owners did not respond to requests for comment.
“At this time I don’t have any information,” said the person who answered the phone at the New World Mall office Thursday morning. He identified himself as a bookkeeper.
The New World Mall in Flushing. Photo via nycgo.com
New World Mall is famous for its bustling Asian food court, a pilgrimage site for gourmands from around the world. The mall also features the supermarket JMart, which is stocked with ingredients commonly used in various regions of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and other parts of Asia.
The DOB said the vacate order applies to JMart, but the document attached to the building says the grocery store is exempt. Mall visitors who contacted the Eagle said JMart was filled with customers Thursday morning.
“It’s an essential business,” said the person who answered the phone at the JMart.
In February, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson visited New World Mall to promote business in Flushing amid anti-Asian racism related to the coronavirus. At the time, the illness was prevalent in parts of China but had not yet devastated New York City communities.
“This is a remarkable community,” Johnson said at the time. “We love Flushing, we love the busy streets — it’s one of my favorite communities in Queens. Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue is now the third busiest intersection in the entire city of New York and we want to keep it that way.”
