Businesses come and go, and some predicted the demise of the SHUK the minute Kol Tuv opened Empire Kosher? After all, can our community actually support two large kosher supermarkets? (I believe it can, but that depends on you, read on…)
As a close personal friend of Shloimie for over 20 years, I have been following this issue long before it became a “sensation” and certainly before the beautiful stories posted by various individuals,
We find ourselves in the three weeks, and as such, comments posted with regards to why people ask for credit, who gives them the right, who is a bigger ball tzedokah, etc, all have no place, nor virtue in this discussion.
Op-Ed: What we can all Learn from the Shuk Story
Who would have believed the selling of the SHUK would make such headlines?
Businesses come and go, and some predicted the demise of the SHUK the minute Kol Tuv opened Empire Kosher? After all, can our community actually support two large kosher supermarkets? (I believe it can, but that depends on you, read on…)
As a close personal friend of Shloimie for over 20 years, I have been following this issue long before it became a “sensation” and certainly before the beautiful stories posted by various individuals,
We find ourselves in the three weeks, and as such, comments posted with regards to why people ask for credit, who gives them the right, who is a bigger ball tzedokah, etc, all have no place, nor virtue in this discussion.
The stories written about the Chesed doled out by the SHUK on a daily basis have not even scratched the surface! Nor will I write them all, as I know Shloimie and Miri would not approve of it.
Allow me to just to cite a few examples. Three years ago, my uncle, Rabbi Shlomo Matusof OBM, passed away. Shloimie did not know him personally, except that he saw him come in to our Sephardic Shul below Levi Yitzchok a few times when he could not climb the steps. As a Sephardi of Moroccan origin, Shloimie felt it was his duty to help the family of the Rebbe’s first Shliach (and to Morocco no less), during the week of Shiva. Let me make it perfectly clear. No one asked for help. But Shloimie called me over and said, “Go and buy whatever they need and fill up the house with food, and don’t be cheap and don’t ask questions”. I must have taken food that day for at least $250 or more. When I did not come the next day to take more food, he called and asked why. I answered that I had already taken so much and that he did more than necessary, and his response, don’t be cheap on my Tzedokah. I want you to take food every day for the entire week.
I came into the store one night after hours and saw him personally preparing loads of salads, so I naturally congratulated him on the actual opening of the long anticipated deli department. To my surprise, he said. No, I still have problems with the Hashgocho etc, but I am doing this for a client who is making a bris tomorrow morning… Do I need to spell out that he offered the entire meal as a gift!!!
Surely Hashem is not punishing him for giving more Tzedokah than he was able to. Surely he is not being forced to close for extending credit to so many destitute people. If so, then why is it that he finds himself in such a tight corner?
I am reminded of when I worked for a certain Chabad institution many years ago who ran up a rather sizeable account at one of the local food wholesalers. Finally, the owner could not extend credit and longer and he sadly informed the Moisad that henceforth, he would only accept orders with a valid check. No problem, he was promised, we understand where you’re coming from.
One week went by, another, and the weeks turned into months, and not one cash order was made. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that they merely went to his competitors and purchased there at higher prices and even paid cash for their items!
And here my friends and neighbors, lays the problem. We don’t question anyone when they ask for credit as to why they don’t get food stamps, chesed vouchers, or simply learn to live within a budget. Obviously that would make life a lot easier for them and the store owners.
But once you run up a bill, and the owner calls to say he can not afford to extend credit any longer, does that deserve that you abandon him and now shop at his competition or in Boro Park for cash? Don’t you owe him Hakaras Hatov for being so nice and patient for as long as he able to carry you?
Many years ago, still in the days of the “shtetl” a young merchant of tobacco and fine spirits was known for his chesed. People would come to his house at all times and would be treated to a nice warm meal, along with a few drinks and a few puffs if so inclined. One day, a regular visitor to the home of this Baal Chesed comes to the shop and decides to treat himself to a drink and a rather expensive cigar. Excuse me, the owner says, “you must pay for this first” But stammers the “customer”, you give me free drinks and cigarettes at your home all the time…
Why yes, answers the owner, but if I don’t charge here in the store, I may not even have a home to invite you to, let alone to treat you. Here you must pay; charity will be given at home.
Yet, Shloimie and Miri, gave freely with no questions asked.
I hope that Shloimie reconsiders and finds a way to hold his business.
I pity the almanos and orphans they helped on a regular basis, the kolel yungeleit who received discounts, the Shluchim who were waived on past the cashiers, etc. Harbei Shluchim Yeish Lamakom, and hopefully all those families he has helped on a daily and weekly basis will somehow discover new angels in their lives.
Because in today’s tough times, other store owners may be afraid of extending credit, let alone give away food free of charge, for fear ob becoming the next victims of the current economy.
So what can be learned, and what can be done to save the chesed store from closing?
For one, let all those who owe money step forward on their own accord and approach Shloimie, either with a payment plan, head checks, or at least a guarantee of renewing their allegiance to his store with some form of paying the same way they are currently finding ways to pay at the other shops.
Let all those who have been helped by him in the past stop by and at least shop there from time to time.
And finally, let’s all stop bashing each other and spewing hatred all over the internet.
Where he lives, who he hires and how he pays his bills are his private decisions. Should his store close, it will be a loss for the entire neighborhood.
And last but not least. There are many other fine stores here in our neighborhood that equally deserves our support. Each one in his/her own right. And stories could be written on them all as to their chesed.
With over 2,500 families’ ba”h living in Crown Heights, and with an average total grocery bills of over $1,500 per family, there is enough money to support two superstores. In fact, an annual budget of $50,000,000 in groceries can support the SHUK, Kliens, Empire Kosher/Kol Touv, Kosher Town, Kahan’s, Raskins, Mr. Green, Benz’s, Albany Bakery, Kingston Bake Shop, and all other stores of all kinds in our Schunah. We expect all these stores to support our Mosdos and families, let us give them our full support.
To all those who are sure to write back that prices are cheaper outside, I am confident any of our stores will be more than happy to offer 5 or 10% discounts, possibly even higher, if we pay them in cash and bring them our business.
This Op-Ed reflects the views of its author. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CrownHeights.info nor of its Editors.
A reader that wishes to make his or her voice heard on any topic of their desire is welcome to submit his or her Op-Ed to News@CrownHeights.info.
BS D
yes i agree
no one wants SHUK to close it is such a nice and friendly store
shopper in CH
Beautiful! And yes, I started thinking & I had a feeling that I owed about $50, so I called today & they told me I was right. I dropped off a check a couple of hours later.
I feel very bad that I had forgotten until now (once I started reading about the store) & I have to say, they (obviously!) never harassed me or even called me to pay it. Contrast this with a local food store (not Empire!!) who called me once that I owed about $20 from a very large order when I didn’t have enough cash & they were so disgusting you’d have thought I owed $20,000!!!
A former storeowner once called me screaming blue murder that my kid who had bought snack was short 5 cents from THAT MORNING & why hadn’t I brought it in!! (he wasn’t home from school yet & I didn’t know!!)
People…pay your choivers to the Shuk. We need people like them in CH. As I said to my husband, if chas v’sholom they do go out of business it won’t be because I didn’t pay my balance. I feel very bad for being late in settling this account. I appreciate the respect they have always shown to me & other customers.
CH Resident and Regular SHUK customer
I fully agree with this well written article.
We are “regulars” even though in payments things are not so regular unfortunately. Yet, we are ALWAYS treated with courtesy and respect.
I can’t thank Shlome enough and pray that he finds a way to reconsider. My family would have no place like it to turn to…
Hakaros Hatov
Such a breath of fresh air to hear such special stories. I wish them hatzlacha and happiness in either keeping the store or seeing the gift in wherever Hashem takes them next.
Business Owner
It is good to be kind, but there is a way to do that and be business-like at the same time. A friendly reminder by phone call or by mail, on a regular basis, to the many who owed them money would have helped them stay in business. How can they continue their kindness when they go out of business. You can be kind, but you have to be smart, too. Being smart, in this case, could have enabled them to continue doing good work. By being disorganized and unbusinesslike…..they can do nothing now. How does that help anyone in this case?
asdf
Please ask Shloime how much he needs to keep the store going, perhaps someone can help him cover it, seeing how much we all want the store to remain.
Lazer Avtzon to BUSINESS OWNER
TO BUSINESS OWNER
Hindsight is 20/20 and I am sure he and many other people will learn business lessons from some of the mistakes we as humans make.
The point of my article was that those of who benefited from his extended credits, favors or Tzedokah, all make an effort to pay him or at least offer encouragement and show some form of solidarity so that he can hopefully find a way to stay open with the added benefit that he would have learnt from his mistakes as well.
Thank You! But....
This was a very good article, up until the last paragraph:
“To all those who are sure to write back that prices are cheaper outside, I am confident any of our stores will be more than happy to offer 5 or 10% discounts, possibly even higher, if we pay them in cash and bring them our business.”
What’s cash got to do with discounts? So they can defraud the government by not paying taxes? I’m fed up of so called ‘frum’ people who don’t think twice about carrying out fraud.
It’s nothing to do about paying cash. The stores in CH can easily offer prices like the Kollel Store – they just don’t want to!
CHESED is NEEDED NOW
years ago that building that the shuk occupied now.
was on a contract to sale but the buyer did not have the funds to close the deal .
one of the gvirim from our nighborhood wrote to the rebbe that a member of anash wants to buy the building but he dose not have the fund so he wants to buy the building.
do you know thw answere from the rebbe ?
SO YOU HELP HIM BUY THE BUILDING.
now its time to help shloimie and miri to keap the shuk and expend.
zion bemishpot tipodeh veshoviho bitzdoko
Another business owner
As a fellow business owner, i have gone through years with thousands upon thousands of dollars due to my company, (excluding charity that we give or over discount sales) A lot of it was simple bills that went unpaid, or that people pushed of the payments, or refused to pay, or they simply did not have the money, “As was mentioned in the story, there were times that I found out they went shopping else where and that really upset me. The situation was so bad that I was unable to keep my family bills paid with out arguing at home about money.
But I have to say a few years ago we restructured our co and we presently require full payment, it has allowed us to do a better job, because we can keep our business afloat, we can pay out bills on time, we can give much more charity.
Bottom line your stories are very touching and true, Business owner you make perfect sense, BUT is this the reason the SHUK is selling or is it a simple business choice???
another business owner
Thank You! But…. wrote:
As a buiness owner i can assure you, a store that has more capital such as the the kolel, Kmart, pathmark, shop tite, costco, wallmart, (obviously not all in the same catagory, but with the same principals,) can offer things for less then the mama, papa store, and maybe even the shuk if they are not making as much sales.
Zack
I haven’t been personally helped by Shloimy (I’m a bochur), but I see that many other people have been helped by him as seen from their nice comments. It would be nice if some of those people would make an online fund to keep the Shuk open. All it takes is a website that takes credit cards.
If you’d really like to show appreciation, that’s how you should do it.
Lazer Avtzon to THANK YOU BUT
To Thank YOU BUT…
My intention was not that they pay cash which is not recorded, but that they buy (cash and carry), whether check, credit card, cash or chesed dollars, anything except buying on credit, especially to those who have no intention of ever paying….
If you read the article carefully, that should have come through clear enough
To Thank YOU BUT...
The reason that store owners give discounts for cash is because when you pay by credit card, the store owner has to pay a percentage, so he is losing on that. But cash usually means cash or check.
a shliach
To Thank YOU BUT…
the reason cash is cheaper, is not because anyone is scamming the government, but because they save the credit card fees (which can be up to 5% (amex)
SOLIDARITY WITH THE SHUK
One thing is clear: The Shuk is a huge asset to our community. I think we should all stand in solidarity with the Shuk by doing our shopping groceries with them for the next few weeks.
How can we forget history? It was the SHUK who revolutionized the pricing. It was a complete monopoly before the Shuk opened. It was the Shuk who built the first impressive grocery store in CH.
Maye the Shuk did some mistakes. Yet, there is nothing more low than a person who is Kofer Tovah.
Lets show our Hakoras Hatov!
Lazer Avtzon to the other business owner
To the other business owners
1) You were fortunate to be able to retructure and demand full payment and do a better job, and as I answered before, I am sure the chesed would continue as before, however, he would be much more careful in extending so much credit. Unfortunately we are not talking about thousands and thousands bur rather several hundred thousand etc.
2) Pathmark, Wallmart, Costco etc might offer lower prices but what are they giving you and your community back? If if you personally get nothing in return, the fact that local businesses give out so much charity ultimately benefits the rest of the community as well since we are all accountable one for each other (AREIVIM). Need I remind everyone of the story of the famous town miser who died and suddenly the local Rov found himself beseiged with requests from families he had never heard from previously, etc until he figured that the MISER was actually the largest philanthropist in town….???
Finally, please read what I wrote at the very beginning, this is not about judging what his mistakes or misfortunes are or were, but rather our obligation as a community to recognize the good this person and store did for our community and to try to save it rather than cry regrets later, and in particular, for all those who owe money or hakoras hatov to come forward sooner rather than later.
thanks
Thanks for your article!
You mean there is a chance Shloime may stay open. It would be a terrible loss to the community if he didn’t. I enjoy shopping there because of him and Miri. They provided service with a smile. besides the competition is in our favor.
Caring resident
I will shop there again if he cleans his act and doesnt have garbage and food lying around outside that has an aweful stench. So thats another customer back if he can do that simple thing!!It seems he has done some real nice things for some people so if he can make his neigbors feel respected we will return again and respect him too.
CH visitor
$1500 for groceries, is this per month? The average frum family has approx 10 people to feed every day. At even $5 per day per person, that would be $50 per day or $350 per week. This would not cover diapers, paper goods, cleaning products, personal care products, etc but it sounds as though this is a monthly amount for a large family who is trying to budget their money. Add in yomtovim and such a family spends over $20,000 per year at the grocery store.
It appears from what I am reading here that:
#1)Small store prices are higher because they don’t buy from the wholesaler in large quanitites and
#2)They must raise the price to cover what they give away as chessed unless the store owner wants to totally absorb the cost.
This puts some consumers in a bind. They must spend more money in some cases so that other families don’t have to. What if they cannot afford to buy disposable diapers at the small grocery store rate? What if they need to buy staples in bulk quantities to feed their large families?
Unfortunately, the word “economizing” has become a bad word in the frum vocabulary. We are being told not to expect anyone to economize, especially if they are low-income! They are told to expect that stores should allow them unending credit for whatever they wish. This raises prices which drives the paying customer out the door. He doesn’t mind paying a bit extra so that others can eat but he doesn’t want to pay a lot extra so that non-payers can fill their carts with high-end goods.
Kosher beef is now $8 or $9 per pound, depending on the cut. This is a luxury item that people can stretch, eat occasionally or do without for most of the year. The cash and carry folks might be budgeting this luxury that the credit folks are taking home in cartloads and then defaulting. While I do shop at CH stores as much as possible (when I am in CH), I can understand the frustration for the paying customer who does not have much extra cash, is budgeting his or her money, and just feels that the rest of the world should be as careful.
CH Resident
To Shlomie,
You have always been polite helpful and respectful to your costmers
your prices vare affordable and honestly,that is what made me a regular costomer.I personally did not have a bill,but I realize what a hugh chesed it is to people to extend that courtesy.Maybe gmachim,donors ext. can come together to help pay off debts owed to Shuk.Dont judge people,I remeber what it was like to dread having to go shopping years ago when we were struggling.Please dont let Empire become a monopoly,I dont want to have to shlep to Boro Park to shop again,Empires prices cant compare to Shuk
ShneurZ
To all the business owners posting who have THEIR take on how business ‘should have been carried out’ at the shuk:
I have no idea what kind of business you are in, but…
Business policies are secondary when the issue at-hand is someone’s CHILDREN getting FED!!!!!!!!!!
To the ‘business owners’ who imply that if the Shuk was more stingy in their charitable ventures, he wouldn’t have a problem and could give more tzedaka. YOU are totally off the mark.
The Shuk is obviously NOT a business, but entirely a NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE VENTURE supporting the poor of YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!!
AGAIN: The SHUK is for all intents and purposes a NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE INSTITUTION providing basic life needs to the poor of YOUR COMMUNITY, and offering others to partake by patronizing their location. Dont let that stop you from ‘partaking’ by giving a donation to support the CHARITABLE VENTURE that is the Shuk. Especially you business owners who claim your success from limited charity.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL
for a CHOSID there is no such thing as too much tzedaka!!!!!
-All the best
danny
I agree with shopping in CH but stores like kol tuv and empire kosher will not give one penny off paid with cash or not rich or poort so when it hurts our pockets we must shop at the cheapest store which is outside of CH
TO ASDF
TO ASDF
who wrote
Please ask Shloime how much he needs to keep the store going, perhaps someone can help him cover it, seeing how much we all want the store to remain.
He needs everyone who owes the SHUK money for items they took to pay their bills in full, even if with head checks, and this will be more than enough for him to pay his suppliers plus invest some more money into the Shuk to make it even more pleasant to shop etc.
If a group of baalei batim came together and covered the $400,000 + that customers owed and then went individually to the customers to collect that money, that would save the SHUK
From his Underground Bunker in CH
You all need to chill out and those that don’t have money need to get a job. If you don’t pay your phone, gas, electric bill those will get shut off. Wanna eat pay for it. This is business. Their is welfare also that I pay for you so Thank me now. I never went into Shop-Rite or Pathmark, or even Walbaums and said I cant afford it please give me credit. They would say swipe your credit card! PUH-Lease! If you need food to feed your kids using the Shuk as a Non-profit excuse well then you should give up that $200 Kapota, or $200 Borsalino, And the $1,000’s you spend on Seforim. You use religion as a facade without thinking about the well-being of your own kids and then blame rich people for not giving ENOUGH tzedakah to pay for your kids to eat bisli. It takes one to talk but for you not to work or blame others for your poverty is pretty low for a Chossid. Keep voting Democrat and stay poor and you will continue to be angry and 2nd class for the rest of your life. Otherwise consider that Government Regulation on top of Obamanation is what is leading this downturn. Makes me sick an entire community votes for Democrat Congressman and Senators and even has fundraisers for them when people are starving and have no jobs. Yea great way to invoke change we can believe in.
asdf
To all the business owners posting who have THEIR take on how business ‘should have been carried out’ at the shuk:
I have no idea what kind of business you are in, but…
Business policies are secondary when the issue at-hand is someone’s CHILDREN getting FED!!!!!!!!!!
To the ‘business owners’ who imply that if the Shuk was more stingy in their charitable ventures, he wouldn’t have a problem and could give more tzedaka. YOU are totally off the mark.
The Shuk is obviously NOT a business, but entirely a NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE VENTURE supporting the poor of YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!!
AGAIN: The SHUK is for all intents and purposes a NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE INSTITUTION providing basic life needs to the poor of YOUR COMMUNITY, and offering others to partake by patronizing their location. Dont let that stop you from ‘partaking’ by giving a donation to support the CHARITABLE VENTURE that is the Shuk. Especially you business owners who claim your success from limited charity.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL
for a CHOSID there is no such thing as too much tzedaka!!!!!
—-
great post
He needs everyone who owes the SHUK money for items they took to pay their bills in full, even if with head checks, and this will be more than enough for him to pay his suppliers plus invest some more money into the Shuk to make it even more pleasant to shop etc.
If a group of baalei batim came together and covered the $400,000 + that customers owed and then went individually to the customers to collect that money, that would save the SHUK
—-
I personally have no choives at the shuk, and I’m sure that after reading the previous articles, no one who can pay has any more choives either.
CH visitor again
ASDF, isn’t there a difference between a loan (selling on credit) and a gift? Those who bought on credit were supposed to pay for their purchase eventually. It appears that numerous people who were understood to be paying customers, defaulted. While there may be no concept of giving “too much tzedukah” if something is sold on credit, that is not supposed to be tzedukah. B’di eved, he might be able to call it that but it set out to be a sale and not a donation.
People who donate to save the shuk are helping the poor of the community as well as to save a yid’s parnassa but the problem occurred as a result of those who were supposed to be paying customers, defaulting.
entitlement mentality has to go
People unfortunately seem to have a culture of entitlement that says “give me first, and I’ll find a way of paying for it later”. To me it seems that store owners have no reason to allow people to buy on credit. If you don’t have cash on you when you’re shopping, that’s what credit cards are for. If you can’t afford to pay for the item at all, then what makes you think you have to buy it?
I refuse to believe that everything people bought on credit were absolute necessities that they couldn’t have gone without. If you are running on a tight budget, then buy less or less expensive items! You don’t have to have the best of the best. This is a clear halacha brought down in Shulchan Aruch, where it is made clear that it is better to make do with the minimum for shabbos than to accept tzedakah. I was appalled when I read the op-ed the other day on this website where the author wrote about how the Shuk owner gave him food for tzedakah when he was financially struggling, and that Shabbos he even had guests over. What gives you the right to take tzedakah money and use it for more than your own personal needs? Especially when by doing so you are causing the shuk prices to go up for paying customers, potentially driving them away to cheaper stores in BP etc, thus helping to cause the problem that is now in effect.
Those people who are defaulting on their debts and those people who abuse the kindness of baalei chesed are causing a great loss to the CH community.
Get your act together people, and get off the “entitlement” wagon!
Sorry to sound harsh, but I think that is the reality.
Eli
What I am about to say below has nothing to do with those few people who are really in need and unable to work. It is a real “mitzvah” to help those who are in need. But there is a big segment of people who are not willing to do their best to support themselves and their families and these people are encouraged to live their live style!
The big problem is twofold:
1.People do not feel shame when they ask for money.
What is wrong with you people? Go get an education and
then a good job. Then you will be able to give to others.
“BEzrat Hashem”!
Since when is this OK to use money of other people for
your own needs? Shame on you!
2.Business owners/baalei chesed are incoraging those
people who are using they money by giving them a lot
without thinking straight. If you do not know for sure
if a person is in real need, then take your time to
find out his/her situation or give them a little.
By giving a lot to the people who are used to “free ride”
you are destroying them! This is not a “Chesed”, but its
exact opposite!.
asdfasdf
ASDF, isn’t there a difference between a loan (selling on credit) and a gift? Those who bought on credit were supposed to pay for their purchase eventually. It appears that numerous people who were understood to be paying customers, defaulted. While there may be no concept of giving “too much tzedukah” if something is sold on credit, that is not supposed to be tzedukah. B’di eved, he might be able to call it that but it set out to be a sale and not a donation.
People who donate to save the shuk are helping the poor of the community as well as to save a yid’s parnassa but the problem occurred as a result of those who were supposed to be paying customers, defaulting.
——————–
Youre right.
Penina Metal
It’s the end of an era…..I will miss Shloime’s welcoming smile and the feeling that all of his customers are “Somebody’s” (to paraphrase the OP-Ed written by an individual calling himself a “Nobody”)
As a born and bred ‘out-of-towner,“ Shloime gave his store a small-town friendly feeling, something sorely missing from most business establishments here in Crown Heights.
Win or lose, being a successful entrepeneur or not, no one should lose sight of the fact that only our maasim tovim are what we can take with us after 180!
Shloimie and Miri you are a success in my book, any day.
Please, please keep in touch with your ”family” in Crown Heights!
The Extended Metal family, world-wide!
Mainseh mit Kokosh
Unfortunately, when the Labor Dept. gets hold of someone they don’t let go until they have destroyed them. Workers not on payroll? Illegal workers? This is what closes a business. And then they throw in the IRS, put liens on your stores and homes. All because you did not play by the rules.
Aren’t rules designed for other people????