After almost 50 years in the neighborhood, Greenpoint’s Busy Bee Food Exchange (185 Nassau Ave.) is closing its doors. Busy Bee is a neighborhood grocery store, owned by the Konopka family, that sells Polish specialties, including a variety of fresh bread, pierogi, meat, produce and beer.

Unfortunately, Busy Bee’s business could not rebound fully after the pandemic. A representative at Busy Bee confirmed that the…

I am so sad that you guys are closing. BusyBee is an institution. I wish you all the luck and happiness in your future.
I wonder if that building will become another expensive condo.
Sad to see. I ho there a lot
Typo. I used to go there a lot for cold cuts, milk, coke slaw , macaroni salad and pierrogis.
I worked there in my teen years and had the best time . Tom Goscicki should get a bunch of credit for running the place. He was always friendly to others and I learned so much from him when it comes to hospitality. I worked from 88 to 92 . Great time and met some great friends It was the epicenter of the point I felt. Going to miss it . Great memories
It is more than 50 years – I worked there as a teenager in 1966-7.
Yes TJ. The Busy Bee was opened by the Orski family around 1958. They sold the business in the early 1970s. I also worked there and have many fond memories of those days. Sad to see the business close after almost 65 years! DFO.
When I was new to Greenpoint, caring for my grandson, the ladies behind the counter, who instinctively knew that I didn’t speak Polish and knew nothing about Polish food, introduced me to the incredible kielbasas and smoked meats, and I often took home a six-pack of Polish beer and several links of sausage to make a meal late at night. (A pint of ice cream too, usually.) Their location was halfway between my grandson’s address near McGorlick Park and the apartment I stayed in on Newell Street. It was one of the elements of the neighborhood that convinced me, having lived rural most of my life, that I could enjoy city living. It wouldn’t be the same now.