Teens trash C-Town, attack employees

The CTown Supermarket on Mosholu Avenue has suffered two separate incidents of violence since the new year.

Gary Jean-Juste

On Jan. 28, four teenagers were taken into police custody at the CTown Supermarket on Mosholu Avenue after attacking an employee, the latest in a series of events that have been escalating since last summer.

Police told The Press they prepared juvenile reports — a sealed document describing a minor’s contact with law enforcement — but no arrests were made and the teens were released to their guardians.

CTown supermarkets are independently owned and operated. The Mosholu store is managed by Matt Patel, and staffed by his brother Piyush Patel, family friend Avi Patel, and three others.

The owner, Jaimin Patel, also a family friend, is based in Connecticut. He told The Press he found out earlier this year the teens were vandalizing the store after one punched an employee. He said CTown can't afford a security guard unless business improves, adding upcoming renovations are his "first priority." 

In store Jan. 28 security footage reviewed by The Press, four teens entered CTown around 6:45 p.m., dressed in black winter coats and face coverings. Three lingered around the cash register, and Avi Patel said they were threatening to hit him if he did not bring out Piyush Patel, who the teens allegedly wanted to target.

About 15 minutes went by, before one teen picked up a wet-floor sign and threw it at Avi Patel, striking him in the head. Immediately after, another teen lobbed a black crate at Avi Patel’s head. The teens then chased him into an aisle, and two of them repeatedly punched him in the back. A customer called the police, and officers arrived at the scene shortly after.

Avi Patel suffered a bloody nose and lingering head and back pain, but wasn’t hospitalized.

Jan. 2 store footage shows what staff said was the same four teens, standing around the cash register with Piyush Patel. One teen shoved him from the back, while another punched him in the face.

Employees called the police, but the teens had already fled when officers reached the scene. Police told The Press there is a report on file for harassment, but did not provide detail of the physical altercation.

For months, the teens — usually four to six — have been coming into the store, either stealing items or knocking them down from shelves, according to manager Matt Patel. Fiftieth Precinct Captain Amadeo Oktrov said in last month’s Bronx Community Board 8 Public Safety Committee meeting that 12 incidents have occurred since summer 2025, but Matt Patel told The Press the teens were showing up weekly.

Jaimin Patel said after Piyush Patel was punched, he told the employees to report the teens to police rather than engage with them. He pointed to a lack of police action as the reason for escalating violence. 

"If they are not safe, how can they work?" Jaimin Patel said. 

Laura Spalter, vice chair of the public safety committee, brought the issue to the community board after CTown customers told her about the teens. She learned police had been to the store many times, and had the camera footage from when Piyush Patel was punched, but face coverings made it difficult to identify the teens.

Spalter said she is hopeful the teens’ encounter with police would stop future attacks, but worried, if they didn’t face any consequences, it could happen again.

“[CTown’s] presence is very important,” Spalter said. “They need to devote their time to their business. This has been a huge stress and distraction … I hope that they do well. They’re very much needed.”