3 Guys from Brooklyn celebrates its 20th anniversary

3 Guys from Brooklyn really has something to celebrate — 20 years of providing the freshest fruit and vegetables in the borough at its iconic location at 6502 Fort Hamilton Parkway. That’s quite an accomplishment, especially considering that it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And in honor of the store’s 20th anniversary, 3 Guys is rolling back prices to what they were in 1998.

“We’ve been here on this corner for 20 years and we want to celebrate,” 3 Guys co-owner Philip A. Penta said. “It has been our pleasure to provide this unique and diverse community with quality and affordable produce for these past 20 years. Starting on June 18, our weekly circular will be rolled back for one week to reflect the prices of our first year in business! Same great quality and variety that our customers have come to expect but priced like it’s 1998!”

It actually all started 30 years ago when Howard and Scott Zimmerman and Philip C. Penta decided to open what they called the UN of grocery stores. They offered great deals and the freshest produce available in a neighborhood place where old friends could meet, neighbors run into each other, and families come shopping together from all across the borough…or New York City for that matter.

Howard and Scott’s father Stanley Zimmerman had originally put up a fruit store at 65th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway in 1975. Then, in 1978 Stanley along with his brother Howard and his brother-in-law Harry (the original Three Guys) moved to the current location.

The current 3 Guys is run by Scott and Philip, and continues the tradition that Stanley’s store began – selling only the highest quality produce, at affordable prices. Today, they offer 100 varieties of fruit and vegetables, along with other deli and bakery products in the same spot where Stanley Zimmerman originally started it all.

Stanley visited the store every day until the day he passed in 2009. Tragically, Howard was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2003. The spot where 3 Guys sits is officially designated by the city as Howard Zimmerman Corner. “It’s named after him because of all of the things he tried to do for this community,” Penta said.

Today, the family still remains a big part of the business and people of all ages, ethnicities and origins come from near and far to get their fruits and vegetables from 3 Guys from Brooklyn.

And the quality of their products is of major importance to them. “There have been a few comments about things getting more expensive,” Penta said. “Anybody can sell cheap produce for a cheap price, but we don’t want to give our customers something that’s going to disappear in their refrigerator overnight. We want to provide good produce for a value. I think that’s what sets us apart from other places in the neighborhood.”

And rolling back their prices to those of 1998 for the week is their way of giving back to the community. “We felt this was the best way to celebrate this milestone anniversary,” Penta said. “We’re proud to be a part of this community and we want to continue to be a part of the community.”

And in keeping with Zimmerman’s legacy of giving back, Penta continues to be actively involved in the community. “We still continue to partner with charity runs, charity walks, churches, synagogues, fundraisers and other community-based organizations,” he said.

Penta wants people to know that 3 Guys will continue to be a force for good in the neighborhood. “We are thankful for what this community has done for us and the price rollback is our way of giving back to the community,” Penta added.