Photos used with permission from World Journal
By Shirley Ng, AsAmNews Staff Writer
A Chinatown grocery store in Manhattan Chinatown is open again after a man screamed obscenities and overturned merchandise in front of stunned customers and employees.
The World Journal reports the incident happened last Wednesday at the Huafeng Grocery Store on the corner of the corner of Hester and Mott St.
The man entered the store and started yelling. He knocked off the dried rice, noodles, and other items from store shelves. He also grabbed a trash can from outside and tossed debris in the store.
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Customers stood and watched while others snapped photos with their cell phones.
The store employees chose not to call police.
“I was angry and helpless, but thought that the police would not solve the problem. On the contrary, it only increased my anxiety and feared that he would come back to retaliate,” one clerk told the World Journal.
Other merchants nearby complained to the Journal that their merchandise is often kicked and disturbed by people passing by. They say by the time police arrive, its too late so they don’t bother to report it.
Police in the Chinatown Fifth Precinct urged merchants to keep in contact with the Community Coordinating Officer in the area.
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