Boro Park Snapshot: Appel’s Grocery

In 1959 Mr. and Mrs. Appel bought their grocery store off a
Mr. Brownfeld at 4507 14th avenue.
Mrs. Appel, who still comes into the store every day, was
always in the food business dating back to when she still lived in Poland.
She lived in a town called Amsina, there her chashuva
grandfather, Reb Eya Leib Stinz the einikal of the Pletzga Rav, owned a bakery where
her father worked. When the war broke out, the store was shut down and they
were out of business. Mrs. Appel, being the giving and kind person she is, left
her town and went to live with family in Cracow in order to provide for her
parents and siblings. when she left, she got onto a bus, the driver pretended
he didn’t know who she was or that she was Jewish, they formed a bond and from
then on he delivered all the packages she sent straight to her family.
Mrs. Appel came from a family of givers, so it is no shock she
turned out the way she did. Back when her family owned a bakery, they
constantly sent food to people who were sitting shiva or celebrating a simcha.
At one point her father was offered to buy his own bakery in Robka, a resort
town in Poland. Being a true Bobova chassid, he asked the Kadishes Tzion of
Bobov if taking the offer was the right thing to do, the Kadishes Tzion of
Bobov said it was not a place to raise kids and so they stayed. They were true
believers who always stuck to what was right.
One year, before Pesach, Mrs. Appel sent money to her
family, her father called her up and said thank you and that because of her,
that year they would have “kartuful” for yom tov. He did not specify that they
would have grape juice or matzah, he said he’d have potatoes and that year they
had potatoes.
Later on in the war, most of Amsina were either killed or
deported by the Nazi’s. Mrs. Appel’s mother and one of her brothers remained
alive at the time, she kept on sending things like food and coats. One day she
gave the bus driver something to take back to them and he informed her there
was no one left on the receiving end. She was devastated, but she pushed
through and survived the agony, despair and suffering of the war. She moved to
Boro Park, married Mr. Appel Z”L, bought a grocery store and has four kids BL”H.
Mrs. Appel’s youngest son, Mendel, is the only one of the
bunch still working the store with her. His older brother and brother in law
used to be involved but they both retired to learn. Mendel jokingly tells Heshy
Rubinstein of Boropark24.com, “I can’t retire because what would it look like
if my mother was the only one left working.”
The community recently celebrated Mrs. Appel’s old age
birthday BL”H. It was a huge festivity, with balloons and music, people were
dancing and singing, it was a beautiful event for the celebration of a
beautiful, momentous occasion.
Mrs. Appel went through so much in her life, yet she is
still happy and well and has the zichus to still be working, she is a true
inspiration.
Walking into her store is like visiting bubby, she is kind
and warm and welcoming and makes every customer who walks in feel good, putting
a smile on their face.
Appel’s carries a full line of groceries, household items,
fruits and vegetables, it is a one stop shop for all your at home needs.
They also make fresh coffee for early mornings and sell readymade
sandwiches and salads for lunch.
Appel’s is truly an amazing store with an amazing warm-hearted and friendly environment.