Fairway and NYPD Kick Halal Man to the Curb

Fairway and NYPD Kick Halal Man to the Curb

December 16, 2011 6:48am | By Amy Zimmer, DNAinfo News Editor

click to see all pictures (16 photos)

Moustafa Eissawy said he lost a lot of money after his July arrest while working on East 86th Street and claims police injured his shoulder during the incident. (DNAinfo/Amy Zimmer)

UPPER EAST SIDE — Moustafa Eissawy attracted little attention during the eight years he ran a halal food cart in front of 240 E. 86th St.

That changed when a Fairway supermarket moved into the building this summer.

Since then, Eissawy said he has been hounded by the NYPD and Fairway, who wanted him to move his cart. He's been arrested and he's been physically assaulted as he tried to hold onto his tiny piece of sidewalk real estate.

Now, he's been moved across the street and is trying to recover his business, but is struggling.

Eissawy's troubles started roughly three months before Fairway's July opening.

During the supermarket's construction, the NYPD cracked down on Eissawy, telling him his cart was an obstruction to Fairway's entrance.

"The police tell me not to come here, but I've been here everyday for eight years and had no problems," the 54-year-old told DNAinfo. "The Fairway [doesn't] want anything in front of them."

When Eissawy refused to move, cops stepped up their enforcement. Then Eissawy was arrested on July 13, one week before Fairway’s opening day.

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20111216/upper-east-side/fairway-nypd-kick-halal-man-curb?utm_content=blackcotton212%40gmail.com&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Fairway%20and%20NYPD%20Kick%20Halal%20Man%20to%20the%20Curb&utm_campaign=Fairway%20and%20NYPD%20Kick%20Halal%20Man%20to%20the%20Curbcontent#ixzz1gkASx1ri