Throggs Neck Shopping Center Open

Open for Business

New shopping center opens in Throggs Neck in time for the holiday season

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 21- Simone Development Companies marked the grand opening of the new Throggs Neck Shopping Center in the Ferry Point section of The Bronx at the intersection of Lafayette Avenue and the Hutchinson River Parkway on November 20th, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a host of elected officials and community leaders. 

Anchored by a 165,000+ square-foot Target department store – the retailer’s third Bronx store – the Throggs Neck Shopping Center features over a dozen new stores and restaurants including TJ Maxx, Famous Footwear, Sleepy's, Petco, Skechers, Metro Optics, BX Sports and Super Wines and Liquors, and coming soon, T-Mobile and Starbucks. For fantastic food there is Applebee's, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Subway and Sarku Japan. The shopping center also includes secure free parking for over 600 cars directly in front of the stores.

Speakers at the ribbon cutting ceremony included Joseph Simone, President of Simone Development Companies, Borough President Ruben Diaz, NYS Senator Jeff Klein, NYS Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, NYS Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, NYC Councilman James Vacca and Lenny Caro, Executive Director of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.  Joseph Kelleher, President, Simone Metro Properties, emceed the event.

“This wonderful new retail center is yet another example of how Simone Development is helping to transform and revitalize the New Bronx with innovative commercial and retail projects that create new jobs and boost the Bronx economy,” said Mr. Simone. “I’d also like to recognize Aaron Malinsky, Principal of Curbcut Urban Partners, and Paul Slayton of Slayton Investments, for their experience and involvement in this project.” 

The new Throggs Neck Shopping Center is a prime example of Simone Development Companies’ dedication to repurposing vacant and under-utilized commercial property in the New York metropolitan area. Simone Development Companies acquired the 7.9-acre site in 2011. The property had been used as a Postal Service equipment transfer station for many years and had been closed since September 2010.

Miles Mahony of Ripco Real Estate is exclusive leasing agent for Simone Development and its partners. Only 12,000 square feet of additional space is currently available at the Throggs Neck Shopping Center in various configurations.  

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Subway Push Suspect Arrested

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Subway Push Suspect Arrested: Subway Push Suspect Arrested Expected to be Charged with Murder By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 19 - Police arrested a man in co...

Subway Push Suspect Arrested

Subway Push Suspect Arrested

Expected to be Charged with Murder

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 19- Police arrested a man in connection with the subway push murder of a Chinese immigrant.

Kevin Darden, 34, is expected to be charged with second degree murder charges at the Bronx Criminal courthouse today.

Officials say Wai Kuen Kwok, 61, was standing near the platform’s edge when he was shoved in front of the moving train at just before 9 a.m., on November 16 at the East 167 Street Station.

Kwok, an immigrant from Hong Kong, died instantly as three train cars passed over his body, before the motorman was able to bring the train to a screeching halt.

Investigators used area surveillance video to track the 'person of interest,' turned suspect as be boarded a Bx-35 bus into Highbridge where the surveillance video lost the man.

Shortly after the release of the surveillance video police questioned and later arrested Darden.

A second person was reported struck by a train at the St. Lawrence Avenue Station at 6:45 a.m. on Friday, November 14. Although no criminality was suspected, the condition of that victim was not immediately known.

Officials from the Metropolitan Transit Authority say that Kwok was the 50th person to die in a subway mishap this year, but the first to die at the hands of another individual.

Anyone with information on the individual or his whereabouts is asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bank robbin’ fashionista at large

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bank robbin’ fashionista at large: Bank robbin’ fashionista at large By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 15- A would-be fashionista went to Bay Plaza not to shop the l...

Bank robbin’ fashionista at large

Bank robbin’ fashionista at large

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 15- A would-be fashionista went to Bay Plaza not to shop the latest trends but to try to rob a bank.

The well-dressed crook entered the Chase Bank inside the Bay Plaza Shopping Center at around 12:48 p.m. on October 28. Dressed as if he were headed to a fashion shoot, complete with a luxuriously looking scarf and high-end shades and pea coat, the man passed the teller a note demanding cash. However, cops said he fled the bank without the cash.

Police released surveillance video of the suspect in the hopes someone recognizes the would-be bank robber.

The suspect is a described as a black male in his mid 30’s. He is 5 foot 8, dark complexion with a mustache and beard. He was last seen wearing a gray cap, dark sunglasses, black and white scarf, a black pea-coat type jacket, blue jeans and dark shoes.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away: Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away (Bill Stimers with Bert Blyleven, a Basebll Hall of Famer, in the broadcast booth at YS.    —Photo by ...

Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

(Bill Stimers with Bert Blyleven, a Basebll Hall of Famer, in the broadcast booth at YS.    —Photo by Howard Goldin)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 15- There are very few fans of sports teams who have become a part of the organization they root for. Bill Stimers, who passed away at the age of 67 on Thursday at the Hebrew Home of Riverdale, his place of residence for the past 10 months, was considered a valued member of the Yankee family by the Steinbrenners. 

Stimers, a devoted rooter for the Yankees since his early childhood, met Steinbrenner at Shea Stadium, where the Yankees played their home games during the refurbishment of Yankee Stadium, shortly after the Cleveland businessman led a group that purchased the Yankees from CBS. The story, as Stimers always told it, went like this, “I said to George, ‘Let’s hope the Yankees win today,’ and he just took a liking to me.”

Stimers was an only child, a brother died in a miscarriage, born to a middle class couple in Queens. His father worked on the Long Island Railroad and his mother was a telephone operator. The couple and their young son moved to Brentwood, Long Island, where they each remained for the rest of their lives. Even though both parents worked full-time, they were devoted to their son. To the day of his death, he told stories of his parents concern for him to a close friend. He remembered them with love and respect and was not embarrassed to say how much he still missed them.

At the age of five, Stimers attended his first baseball game in May of 1952. As his memory was astonishing, decades later he recalled seeing Mickey Mantle hit a home run and the Yankees winning the ballgame. He did not return to the Stadium for several years as his father thought he was too young for such an outing. 

He was an enthusiastic sports fan, especially of baseball, throughout his life. His ability to remember what he read, what he heard and what he witnessed made him exceptionally knowledgeable of many topics. He was one of the most well-known callers to radio station WFAN, where he was known as “Bill the Baker”

The sobriquet came from Stimers’ occupation at Entenmann’s Bakery in Bay Shore, Long Island. In his senior year in high school, Stimers worked in a co-op program at Entenmann’s. He kept the job after his graduation, and worked there until his retirement at the age of 50. 

Over the past several decades, Stimers attended many MLB All-Star Games and  World Series games. He told interesting stories of many events such as the earthquake during the World Series in San Francisco and seeing the final hit (#3,000) of Roberto Clemente. 

For whatever the reason, Steinbrenner was dedicated to the well-being of Stimers. On July 26, 1976, Stimers moved to a seat with his own nameplate in the Press Box at Steinbrenner’s behest. The Yankee owner told Stimers, “You’ll be more valuable to me in the press box than in the stands.” Stimers’ seat was next to Steinbrenner’s box in the old Stadium. The Yankee owner and members of his family often came to Stimers’ seat and engaged the dedicated fan in conversation. Steinbrenner joked with him, solicited advice on players and discussed that day’s game. He also invited Stimers to travel with the team to post-season playoff trips. 

Bill, who considered Steinbrenner his greatest friend, liked to recall that shortly after his mother died, Steinbrenner invited him to travel to the American League Division Series. When Stimers was threatened with the loss of the family home due to a second mortgage that his late mother took out, the Yankee principal owner saved the home by paying off the money owed. Those who are familiar with the relationship between the two men understand the charitable nature and compassion that was an important part of Steinbrenner.

Stimers retained his seat in the Yankee Stadium Press Box through the 2012 a. L. Division Series. He attended only nine games during the 2014 season, but had a seat in the lower stands. 

On an even more personal note, another devoted Yankee fan and extremely knowledgeable observer of baseball, my brother Jeffrey also passed away in 2014. The two had many congenial baseball conversations. Jeffrey was well-educated and had much knowledge and understanding of many diverse matters. He worked quietly, but with great capability and effort for the New York State Court System for many years. Despite being a private person and soft-spoken, he was very pleasant to spend time with because of his highly advanced sense of humor and kindness. Like Bill, the 65 year-old man passed away far too soon. He was a blessing to his family and all who knew him.

May you rest in peace Jeffrey and Bill. You are both missed.