Comments
I liked Trade Fair a lot and I agree with a lot of your sentiments, but why knock the Natural? The fact is the Natural, despite its high prices(and yes they are expensive), is much better than any supermarket in the area, save TJs. There just is no way that Trade Fair compared to the Natural. The food at the Natural is way fresher and the variety is enormous. Not that Trade Fair won’t be really missed. I agree with on that.
Posted by ForestHillian
on October 30th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Great piece!
Posted by R.M.
on November 9th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I didnt realize Trade Fair was a good supermarket. It looked like such a dump. Im pissed I missed out.
Posted by Wayno2424
on November 13th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Trade Fair was a dump, its just that Associated is even worse.
Posted by Dudley
on November 29th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I loved Trade Fair for what it was. I was in Associated the other day and saw the staff treat all the customers horrendously. I saw a cashier charge and old lady incorrectly. When she complained and said I think you over charged me, he said sorry lady, everyone feels over charged nowadays…..
I was appalled. i refuse to give these low lifes any of my business.
Posted by FOHI_Boy
on January 5th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
All of have the end )
Posted by Long Island Limo
on January 16th, 2010 at 2:13 am
I mean Associated is rise this farm to future
Posted by Pex tubing
on January 28th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Posted by Mickie T on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
The old, gruff-but-lovable Trade Fair on Queens Boulevard has been turned over to Associated.
Honestly, despite its flaws, lack of style and over-crowding, we loved Trade Fair. We usually preferred shopping at Trade Fair over Key Food and The Natural. We found Trade Fair to have better prices and better selection.

The Last Trade Fair Show
Sure, you could find obscure ingredients like “Newman’s Own authentic Turkish roasted pine nuts - or whatever - at The Natural, but why spend the extra money when you could find actual pine nuts from Turkey, complete with actual Turkish labelling and odball graphics, at Trade Fair for 30% less?
When you got home at <cough, cough> A.M. from a fun night out, and you realize you need milk, did you really want to pay an extortionist’s rate for milk at Duane Reade? No, of course not. What you could do is walk over to Trade Fair, open 24-7.
When you were planning that extra-special dinner, and wanted to try being Mario Batali or Wylie Dufresne, could you just waltz into Key Food to get a goat’s head, or pig’s ears? No. You went to Trade Fair.
Well, not anymore.

Associated's grand opening
Associated seems to be in the middle of its make-over, and the first thing you’ll notice is the shortened hours! What is this “closes at 10 pm” business? Hopefully that will change.

Otherwise, it’s too early to tell how things will shake out. The butcher counter has not re-opened, and many of the aisles have been rearranged. The deli counter guys are still there, but the cashiers and other staff are all different.