Two abandoned suitcases, thought to be bombs with wires protruding from the bottoms, were discovered in Bellmore and Merrick this past weekend at two supermarket shopping centers.

The first incident took place at the King Kullen shopping center on Sunrise Highway in Bellmore on Friday, June 18. The second bomb scare took place at the Waldbaum’s shopping center on Merrick Road in Merrick on Saturday, June 19. Police reports state the two suspicious incidents are similar in nature and remain under investigation.

In Bellmore
The drama unfolded under a late-afternoon sun as hotrods were pulling into the Long Island Rail Road parking lot for their weekly gathering, shoppers were scurrying to buy last-minute dinner items at King Kullen and traffic was building up in both directions.

A source told Merrick Life he was alerted by two shoppers who became alarmed at a suitcase on the north side of the parking lot, near the highway, showing wires hanging out of it. The police report indicates that there appeared to be a red light on the inside of the suitcase
as well.

Meanwhile, King Kullen management called police and evacuated the premises. The Nassau County Arson/Bomb Squad, as well as emergency medical services, Seventh Squad detectives and multiple patrol units, responded. The parking lot was emptied, and adjacent roadways, including Sunrise Highway, were closed off at approximately 4:45 p.m.

The bomb squad determined that the suitcase was not a bomb. Inside were household items including a lamp and an erector set. At 6:40 p.m., the scare was over.

In Merrick
Pat McKay of Merrick was on her way to Waldbaum’s on Merrick Road on Saturday to do her weekly food shopping but was turned away. “The parking lot was closed off and there were no cars there,” said Mrs. McKay, who ended up food shopping at nearby Trader Joe’s. “I didn’t know what was going on, but one of the clerks [at Trader Joes] said
it was a bomb scare.”

It turned out to be a lone suitcase in the middle of the parking lot. The bomb squad was called to the scene at 4:15 p.m., according to police. The suitcase had some wires protruding from the bottom but it turned out to be harmless.

The case contained trash, said police. The parking lot was re-opened around 7 p.m. Police did not offer any further comments, as it is deemed an ongoing investigation.

Supermarket giants react
Lloyd Singer, a King Kullen spokesperson, said that “King Kullen is cooperating with local authorities into the investigation of this incident.” He did not provide further details regarding surveillance cameras or other security measures on the property that may have recorded any movements.

Phone calls to Waldbaum’s officials about security surveillance at the store not returned by press time.

Other challenges
The grocery workers for King Kullen, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1500 are considering a strike when their contact ends this Saturday June 26.

Patrick Purcell, spokesperson for UFCW Local 1500, said the workers are “fighting for a fair standard of living. It is not the intention of our workers to cause any inconvenience to the public.”

Mr. Purcell said the police department was notified that a strike is possible and would take place “in a orderly and legal fashion,” he said.

Mr. Purcell said he was unaware of the bomb scare in the parking lot of the Bellmore King Kullen. “I have been in the [King Kullen] stores all weekend and no one even mentioned this to us.”

Meanwhile, a strike could mean more traffic at the Waldbaum’s shopping center in Merrick. There, grocery workers as members of the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union/Local 338 are, according to its website, supporting the efforts of the King Kullen workers for what both unions call “a fair contract.”

By Doug Finlay

Doug Finlay is the assistant editor for Bellmore Life newspaper. He is also an award-winning writer for L&M Publications.