Back in April, as I was trying to figure out how the hell to get out to Glendale for my interview with the Cash Giveaway King of Queens, Damon Hemmerdinger, development director for the Shops at Atlas Park, I asked his rep:

"Think ol' Dale [Hemmerdinger, M.T.A. chairman and also Damon's father] can hook me up with a closer subway stop?"

"Funny!" she said. "But the bus stop right in front is relatively new so consider yourself lucky!"

Luck is one way to put it. Some city officials call it fishy.  read more »

According to Friday's Metro, City Council members are upset about the new bus service, ]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/bus-ted-city-council-blasts-mta-expanded-service-atlas-park#comments Real Estate Dale Hemmerdinger Damon Hemmerdinger Glendale Metropolitan Transit Authority PUBLIC POLICY Queens Retail The Shops at Atlas Park Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:34:57 -0400 Chris Shott 71016 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/damon-hemmerdinger-selling-archie-bunker-borough-nationally

Location: Your family has been involved in real estate for decades, owning various commercial, industrial and residential buildings throughout New York City. But a shopping mall? Retail is a new frontier for the Hemmerdinger clan, no?

Mr. Hemmerdinger: The interest in retail is all me.

What’s the allure?  read more »

Queens shopping mall developer Damon Hemmerdinger is doing his part to boost sluggish retail sales.

The son of MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger is handing out $50 bills on Friday afternoon to patrons at his Atlas Park shopping center in Glendale.

Ironically, Manhattanites looking to cash in should be aware of bus delays.

Within the next two months, Mr. Hemmerdinger plans on giving away a total of $20,000, as part of his "Atlas Solution," a sort of private-sector economic stimulus plan. He is also challenging other mall owners around the country to do the same. If they join the effort, he estimates, the plan could infuse as much as $340 million into the economy.  read more »