Free Breakfast at Local Deli? What's the Catch?

Well there is no catch - except that free breakfast was made available to anyone who walked in between the hours of 5:30AM to 11AM today for the grand opening of our newest night owl and 24 hour establishment, Star One Gourmet Deli.

Located on Melrose Avenue at the corner of East 152nd Street, Star One Gourmet Deli is the latest business to open its doors in Melrose.  Over the last few weeks no less than 5 business have opened their doors for the first time to Melrose residents, not including Boricua College which opened up officially yesterday (more on that in a few).

Local residents were very impressed that a business was giving away free breakfast to local residents during such bleak economic times (a quick survey of the eager customers on line said they didn't believe last week's report that the recession was over since June of 2009).

Minerva Herrera of Melrose said that what Star One Gourmet Deli is doing today, "is a very beautiful thing in today's world and nice for their new customers."  She went further on to say that she wishes them many beautiful and successful years.

"Welcome2Melrose" Star One Gourmet Deli!  Great way to create a loyal customer base on your first day!

Here's to your success!

New customers patiently waiting for a rare treat - free breakfast!

Update: Health Department Report On Closing of Popular Restaurant, Giovanni's

Last week we reported one of the most popular restaurants in the area, Giovanni's, had been closed by the Department of Health.  While on site, I asked several managers what was the reason that they were closed down and their answers ranged from, "...something broke in the kitchen" to "There is a gas leak and we got shut down."  The real reason is what can only be described as a gross lack of sanitary conditions in such a popular restaurant.  


According to New York City's Department of Health website the following violations were present at the time of inspection resulting in a whopping 78 violation points which resulted in the closing of Giovanni's:
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Violations from 08/12/2010 Inspection

Tip! "Critical" violations are displayed in red.

Violation points: 78 Establishment Closed by DOHMH. Violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed. Sanitary Violations 1) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. 2) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. 3) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. 4) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. 5) Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. 6) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. 7) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. 8) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. 9) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist. 10) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit. 11) Other general violation. Administrative Violations 1) Manufacture of frozen dessert not authorized on Food Service Establishment permit. ======================= As you can clearly see from the above excerpt straight from NYC's DOHMH website, it was clearly not a "gas leak" as reported by one of the unidentified managers.   Clean your act up, Giovanni's!  I wonder what Carmen Arroyo and other local elected officials who are constantly seen eating there think about this???

Local Restaurant Shut Down By The Department of Health

Welcome2Melrose received the tip from local Concourse resident, William C., that Giovanni's restaurant - a local favorite Italian eatery at 579 Grand Concourse and East 150th street, was shut down by the Department of Health.

A walk over to the popular bar and restaurant did indeed the show that the gates had come down and that the DOH had placed the bright yellow, "CLOSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH" stickers of death on two of the restaurant's entrances.  When two different individuals were asked why they were shut down, two very different answers were given.  One older gentleman did try to block me from taking a picture of the signs and he also claimed that "something" had broken in the kitchen.  Another man at the entrance on the Concourse simply stated that they were shut down because of a "gas leak".  Now we all know that Con Edison would have been on the scene not the Department of Health.

According to New York City's Department of Health website, the last inspection of Giovanni's was on 8/2/2010 and were cited for 3 violations for a total of 17 violation points.  2 of the 3 violations were considered critical and highlighted by red text which read as follows:

Sanitary Violations

1) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.

2) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.

Once a restaurant has been inspected by DOH and have received several critical violations, inspectors will return to see if the situation has been remedied which leaves one to wonder what else did they find upon their second visit?  Busboys and staff were scrambling inside vacuuming and cleaning up the restaurant but as I got closer to take a picture, the gates were lowered.

Comments anyone?  

New Eatery in Melrose - Pollo Joe Is Here

Yesterday while walking the streets of Melrose on my daily travels I came across a flyer advertising yet another new eatery - POLLO JOE'S GRAND OPENING exclaimed the flyer.  I made a mental note to check out the place especially since it was a block away from me.  So today as luck would have it I was on Elton Avenue between East 153rd and East 154th Street and a sign caught my eye and it read:  "WIN $100"


Living in Melrose most of my life and being the "Mayor" of Melrose I had to check out the what, where, how and whys of this great give-a-way especially considering the state of the local economy.  According to Pollo Joe's, every time you purchase $5.00 or more at the eatery, you get a raffle ticket and each month there is a drawing for the lucky winner of $100.00 cash prize.  That's some serious moola and shows that they really must believe in their menu and food.  Unfortunately I did not have the time to stick around to try some of the food but rest assured I will be back and stay tuned for my review of this latest entry into our growing list of eats in the 'hood.


If anyone's eaten here already we'd love to know what you think either in the comments section or email at: themayor@welcome2melrose.com.

Home Run at Yankee Stadium...In the Middle of Winter!

Last Wednesday on January 6th, 2010, history was made at Yankee Stadium:  Laughter brought down the house that Ruth Didn't Build with the Championship Comedy Series.  For the first time ever, a comedy show was held at Yankee Stadium at the ritzy NYY Steak, hosted by Davian Velez of mun2 and featuring such great talents as Cory Fernandez of Def Comedy Jam, A. G. White of The Comic View and special guest Talent of 98.7 Kiss FM.  

Fret not if you did not make it to the first show for there is more to come.  Rumor has it that NYY Steak and Yankee Stadium will be home to not only the greatest franchise in baseball history but will place The Bronx, The Concourse area and Melrose which is 2 blocks and a 5 minute walk from the area on the world comedy stage with the first, only and best comedy club in our great borough.  It has also been mentioned that shows will be held during baseball season immediately after a home game - to either continue celebrating if victory is had by the Yankees or drown their sorrows in laughter after a losing game.

NYY Steak is definitely the ritziest restaurant in the greater Yankee Stadium and Melrose area.  The ambiance is great with very tasteful decor.  Food is great, moderately priced and the staff is very friendly and welcoming and welcom2melrose approved place to go for lunch, dinner or cocktails. 


The next show is scheduled for February 10th at 8:00PM and will once again be hosted by Davian Velez and this time guest comics will be Rich Vos, Sara Contreras and Gerald Kelly.  Advanced purchases and reservations are HIGHLY recommended as last week's show was sold out and people were turned away at the door.  For tickets and reservations call Davian Velez at 646-271-1595 or Joe De Jesus, NYY Steak manager at 646-265-5447.


A big Melrose THANK YOU to Davian Velez for hosting such a great show and all at NYY Steak who made this show a success and possible as well as giving everyone yet another great reason to visit the South Bronx!

Davian Velez

Cory Fernandez

A. G. White

Pre-Show dinner

Domino Pizza on Third Ave and 153rd St Closed by Dept of Health

No information was provided, however the bright yellow sign was on the door and domino workers were taking the franchise apart but refused to answer any questions.