Thyme Natural Market, formerly named Linda’s Organic Kitchen, is a health food and vitamin store that was established in 2010. The takeover occurred in 2009 when the owner of Linda’s Organic Kitchen left the business to her loyal customer/employee Nathalie Reid. The space, however, has always been an establishment dedicated to providing fresh, healthy, and organic products. This business lies on Lefferts Blvd which hosts numerous businesses in a tract over Long Island Railroad tracks. While the business is still relatively new, land it was difficult to find a rich host of information pertaining to its political, historical and social contexts, there is some journalistic coverage of its battle as a tenant distraught with its landlord recently.
Nathalie broadcasted her deep frustrations and utter disbelief to me about her landlord dealings. Her landlord is the LIRR, a subsidiary of the MTA and a tunnel that lies beneath her business. However, the LIRR employs a management company to oversee that block of businesses, Zee N Kay Management LLC, a Long Island based company. As documented by Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska in an article on DNAinfo.com from 2017, this management company is run by Zoya Kapoor whose husband oversees Thyme as a part of a clause in the lease contract. However, it was revelaed that the husband was convicted in 1987 along with his brother for tax evasion, Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska documented the challenges the business that overlook that LIRR station in an article for DNAinfo.com. She writes, “The owners of 13 businesses, whose stores are located on the Long Island Rail Road bridge on Lefferts Boulevard, between Austin and Grenfell streets said that the property operator — Long Island-based Zee N Kay Management LLC — has been ignoring their pleas to conduct basic repairs, like fixing a roof that has been leaking for years.” A similar article was written in the Queens tribune by Jon Kronin in 2017 who illuminates the $3 million in repairs management has yet to make.
While many tenants throughout NYC can complain about landlords overcharging rent or landlords who refuse to commit to the maintenance of properties, these businesses face these challenges from a corporate giant. Tenants that are dissatisfied with their landlord’s apathy can file a complaint to Housing Services. According to the tenant’s rights and responsibilities as documented by nyc.gov, “If the owner still does not respond or fails to provide essential services, you may file a complaint. You can also bring a case against the property owner in Housing Court to get an order to correct the conditions… A landlord’s failure to make a repair or provide an important service may be a violation of the New York City Housing Maintenance Code or the Multiple Dwelling Law… a judge can order the landlord to correct the violations.”
Despite these laws and procedures, Nathalie still finds it difficult in dealing with the landlord that threatens to kick them out after 3 years when their lease expires. It is also why so many businesses on the block are constantly changing. Nevertheless, the battle has not ended as the fight has drawn support from local politicians, including but not limited to Queens borough president Melinda Katz who has been a supporter of the block’s effort to combat the management company.
On the other hand, Thyme has managed to survive from a statistical standpoint, based on the demographics of the immediate neighborhood. According to the Census, the Average Adjusted Gross Income for the 2012 tax year for the area code 11415 which it is in is $59,551 which means that the neighborhood is generally middle class. In the early 20th century, the neighborhood was still under development and the large array of small businesses were not around yet. The LIRR station had yet to be even built (see picture).
The LIRR station in Kew Gardens being built in 1910
