Crab House
Feb 23, 2015 By Christian Murray
Community Board 2 has started the process to name a street after Tony Mazzarella, the long-time owner of the Waterfront Crabhouse who passed away late last month.
Former Community Board chair Joe Conley suggested co-naming 2nd Street and Borden Ave. after Mazzarella who was actively involved in community service in Long Island City and elsewhere.
The street would be co-named Anthony Mazzarella Way and would be adjacent to the Crabhouse that closed last week.
Conley said that the family reached out to CB2 for the street co-naming so it could honor his life and legacy.
Mazzarella was an active supporter of cancer-fighting causes. He served as a member of the board of directors for the Queens division of the American Cancer Society, where he raised tens of thousands of dollars for the organization.
Furthermore, he would donate at least $1,000 each year to the 108 Precinct community group that would buy Christmas gifts for underprivileged children each year.
The community board is expected to approve the street co-naming at its March meeting.
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6 Comments
Why is is that everyone becomes a saint when they pass away. This man was an abusive tyrant. He employed many illegal immigrants in his restaurant working as porters and dishwashers and was abusive to many of them. He ruled with an iron fist and used their fears of getting deported as a way to control them. He was not the hero community leader that everyone makes him out to be. I have seen his mistreatment of staff. Everyone is in denial about this mans true nature. Just because he donated money to the 108 didnt make him a good guy. That was his way of ensuring that the 108 was in his pocket. When you physically assault an employee and the police wont take a report because they have their Christmas party at the restaurant every year that kind of makes you wonder about the motives behind the donations to the police dept in the first place. Every detective in that precinct knew him and the manager a former detective on a first name basis. Its easy to do whatever you want when you give special restaurant priveleges to the whole 108.There are many ppl who know the truth. Its a shame that this community is wasting their time in honoring someone who thought they were above the law
Why must people always have a negative comment about everything. Don’t post anything at all if you don’t have anything nice to say. I’m sure that naming a street after him won’t take away from the pressing matters at hand. Let’s take a positive spin on this and be happy for one another for one day……..Let’s celebrate the life of someone that gave so much to a community professionally and personally!!!
There usually is more than one item on an agenda. Mr. Mazzarella found time to help this community and it shouldn’t take them too much time to honor his contributions.
While Mazzarella certainly deserves the honor, I can’t help but to feel that there are more urgent things CB2 could be doing with their time than renaming streets to honor local residents.
A very fitting tribute to a man who employed many people, gave his time and money to help others, and provided countless good memories for thousands in his restaurant.
What a great idea.
Loved the Crabhouse ..