Crown Heights Key Food to Close, Re-Open in 2019 Inside New Residential Building

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — The existing Key Food grocery store at 801 Washington Ave. will be demolished early next year to make room for an eight-story residential building with a new Key Food inside, according to the store's owners.

The news, first reported by tipsters on a Brooklynian message board, was confirmed Tuesday by two members of the Othman family, which owns the Key Food.

The owners said they sold the air rights above the property to a developer they declined to name.

The store, along with three attached businesses in properties the Othmans said they also own — Bk Museum Gourmet Deli, The Islands Exotic Carribean Cuisine, and Ludwig's Drug Store — will be closed by February or March of 2017, the Othmans' said.

Construction on the new building will wrap up in about three years, they said — meaning the new Key Food should be up and running again sometime in 2019.

One of the Othmans said Ludwig's and The Islands could have a place in the new Key Food, but the other said that wouldn't be the case.

A worker at The Islands said the restaurant's owner is already looking for a new location.

And Richard Mastrota, the pharmacist and owner of Ludwig's, said he'll also relocate — either temporarily or permanently, depending on whether he strikes a deal with the Othmans.

In the meantime, Mastrota said he'll transfer his customers to another neighborhood pharmacy, where they'll receive personalized treatment and delivery service.

Mastrota said Ludwig's has been in business since 1936. He seemed interested in opening up shop in the future Key Food, if possible.

"To have a grocery store, you do need a pharmacy," he said.