Paul Martinka
THANKS?Mayor Bloomberg inspects a portrait held by Fairway CEO Howard Glickberg yesterday at the reopening of the chain’s Brooklyn store.
At least there weren’t bread lines.
Mayor Bloomberg celebrated the reopening of Red Hook’s Fairway supermarket yesterday — and was presented with a spray-painted portrait that made him look more like a Soviet dictator than the leader of a First World city.
The artwork — painted by the store’s in-house artist, Floyd Simmons — shows a squinting Bloomberg gazing off in the distance with a strong, square jaw.
Fairway CEO Howard Glickberg proudly presented the painting to Hizzoner at the end of a ceremony marking the Brooklyn store’s grand reopening after it was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
“Floyd’s a very talented artist,” Glickberg explained.
The mayor — who considered the piece with a thoughtful gaze — also said he liked it.
“He really appreciated the gift and the work that went into making it,” said Marc LaVorgna, the mayor’s spokesman.
But don’t expect to see it hanging in Gracie Mansion — or even the Kremlin — any time soon.
By law, the mayor cannot keep any gift valued at more than $50.
Most presents he receives are stashed away in a storeroom, where they will remain even after he leaves office.
More than 500 people showed up at the popular food store’s reopening ceremony, including Sen. Charles Schumer, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the reigning Miss America, Mallory Hagan, who was living in Brooklyn when she won her crown.
“It was our grand reopening, but today was more about a grand reopening of Red Hook following the storm and all of Van Brunt Street, much of which is still recovering,” Glickberg said.
The company spent more than $10 million gut-renovating the 39,000-square-foot store, which was flooded with more than four feet of water in the storm.
The renovations included a redesign of the produce section, wider aisles and enlarging the bakeries and cafes.
Although Fairways attract foodies from all over the city, the market is crucial to the neighborhood, since there are few places to shop and no nearby subways.
“This is really the lifeblood of the neighborhood,” said Imre Kovacs, who lives a few blocks away.
Red Hook resident Oona Short said, “A lot of people think Fairway is all about yuppies getting to have 50 different kinds of special olive oils, but for most of us who live in Red Hook and nearby, it’s about being able to get milk, cat litter, bread and other essentials.”
Additional reporting by David Seifman
jennifer.fermino@nypost.com
'Comrade Bloomy' hailed at Red Hook Fairway reopening
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'Comrade Bloomy' hailed at Red Hook Fairway reopening
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'Comrade Bloomy' hailed at Red Hook Fairway reopening
