It’s an intifooda!
A lawsuit filed by halal vendor Ayman Afify alleges that his 10-cart empire in Midtown has been disrupted by a rival named Naser Eissa. Eissa is accused of trying to steal prime spots, hiring vagrants to disrupt Afify’s business, and even getting him falsely arrested, claiming a “long-standing grudge” against him.
Afify’s carts are located in high-traffic areas such as West 34th Street at 7th and 8th Avenues near Penn Station, and West 49th Street and Broadway near Times Square.
The feud between Afify and Eissa has escalated, with Afify claiming that Eissa is trying to steal his customers, leading to altercations near Penn Station.
According to Afify’s lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, what was once his dream of providing New Yorkers and tourists with tasty meals has turned into a nightmare due to Eissa’s actions.
The conflict reached a peak on July 23, 2023, when Eissa allegedly called 911 claiming Afify threatened him with a gun at West 34th and 7th Avenue. Afify was arrested but maintains that the weapon found in his cart was planted. The charges against him were later dismissed.
Afify is seeking $1 million in damages and a court order for Eissa to cease interfering with his business.
Eissa denies the allegations, stating that he did not hire vagrants to disrupt Afify’s business. He also claims that any past conflicts between them have been resolved.
Conflicts among food vendors in Manhattan have sometimes escalated to violence, as seen in previous incidents involving attacks and turf wars.
Additional reporting by Claire Samstag
