Document:

Exhibit 10.17

                                S REMAINDER CORP.
                               823 Eleventh Avenue
                            New York, New York 10019

                                                            May 10, 2000

Namdor Inc.
823 Eleventh Avenue
New York, New York  10019

Gentlemen:

            This letter sets forth our agreement with respect to the supermarket
located at 72nd Street and First Avenue, New York, New York (the "Store") as
follows:

1. Effective as of May 10, 2000, Namdor Inc. ("Namdor") shall have the right to
operate the Store and all of the assets comprising the Store for its own
account. From May 10, 2000 (the "Commencement Date") until the termination of
this Agreement, Namdor agrees to (i) provide all personnel for the operations of
the Store at its own cost and expense, (ii) pay all taxes incurred from the
operation of the Store, (iii) make all payments required to be made by the
tenant under the lease for the Store directly to the landlord and (iv) pay all
other expenses incurred in connection with the operations of the Store. Namdor
shall be entitled to retain all revenues generated from the operation of the
Store.

1. Without limiting the generality of Paragraph 1 hereof, Namdor is hereby
granted, full and complete authority to operate the Store under the name
"Gristede's" or under such other name as Namdor shall from time to time deem
appropriate, and to do everything and to take such action necessary for the
conduct of business of the Store and for the purchasing of merchandise and
equipment for the operation of the Store as Namdor shall in its sole discretion
determine. By means of example and not of limitation, Namdor may conduct the
following activities with respect to the Store:

2.

      -     Purchasing inventory, merchandise and equipment; maintaining the
            operating books and accounting records of the Store; conducting sale
            and promotional activities; and conducting all merchandising and
            advertising activities;

      -     Hiring and firing of employees, agents, and the dealing with
            independent contractors as Namdor shall deem necessary, convenient,
            advantageous or proper to the operation of the business at the
            Store;

      -     Applying for such licenses and permits as Namdor may determine to be
            necessary, convenient, advantageous or proper for the operation of
            the Store;

      -     Implementing selling prices and gross margin goals set by Namdor
            from time to time;

<PAGE>

      -     Negotiating contracts for the purchase, sale or disposition of
            merchandise and equipment at retail or wholesale, upon such terms as
            Namdor shall determine to be necessary, convenient, advantageous or
            proper;

      -     Negotiating contracts of any type and description for services that
            Namdor may determine from time to time to be necessary, convenient
            or advantageous to the operation of the business at the Store;

      -     Negotiating leases for personal property and/or real property for
            the Store;

      -     Obtaining and maintaining insurance policies as Namdor may deem
            necessary, convenient, advantageous or proper for the operation of
            the business at the Store, naming itself as insured party.

1. Namdor hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless S Remainder Corp.
("S Corp."), its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates and their
successors and assigns, from and against all claims, actions or causes of
action, assessments, demands, losses, damages, judgments, settlements,
liabilities, costs and expenses, including, without limitation, costs and legal
or other expenses for investigating or defending any action or threatened
actions, interest, penalties, and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses of any
nature whatsoever, whether actual or consequential (collectively, "Damages")
asserted against, resulting to, imposed upon or incurred by S Corp., directly or
indirectly, by reason of Namdor's operation of the Store. S Corp. shall promptly
notify Namdor of the existence of any claim, demand or other matter to which the
indemnification obligations may apply. S Corp. shall give Namdor reasonable
opportunity to defend the same at its own expense and with counsel of its own
selection; provided that S Corp. may participate in such defense with its own
counsel at its own expense.

2.

3. (a) To induce Namdor to enter into this Agreement, S Corp. grants Namdor, its
parent Gristede's Foods, Inc. ("GRI"), or any other affiliated or non-affiliated
entity designated by Namdor or GRI, an option, valid until December 31, 2005, to
purchase the Store at a fair market price as of the date of acquisition to be
calculated by using the methodology set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.

4.

5. (b) In consideration of the grant to Namdor of the operating rights to the
Store as provided herein, Namdor shall pay to S Corp. $1.00 per annum from the
Commencement Date, plus such amount as shall from time to time be determined by
the directors of GRI (excluding John Catsimatidis).

6.

7. This Agreement shall terminate on May 10, 2001; provided, however, that the
term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for additional one year
periods unless either Namdor or S Corp. shall have given the other notice that
it does not wish to extend this Agreement not later than ninety (90) days prior
to the end of the then current term.

8.

9. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the successors and
assigns of each party.

10.

11. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Namdor and S Corp.
concerning the subject matter hereof and shall be deemed to supersede and
replace all prior agreements, understandings and undertakings, whether oral or
written.

12.

<PAGE>

            If this Agreement correctly expresses your understanding, kindly so
indicate by signing all of the enclosed copies and by returning two (2) fully
executed copies to the undersigned.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        S REMAINDER CORP.

                                        By: /s/ John A. Catsimatidis
                                           -------------------------------------
                                              John A. Castimatidis
                                              Chairman of the Board

As of the 10th day of May, 2000, the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees
to the foregoing terms and conditions.

                                        NAMDOR INC.

                                        By: /s/ John A. Catsimatidis
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           John A. Catsimatidis
                                           Chairman of the Board
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                           METHODOLOGY FOR CALCULATING
                            PURCHASE PRICE FOR STORE

Multiply (i) EBITDA for the Store for the four consecutive fiscal quarters after
the purchase (commencing with the first day of the first fiscal quarter of
Namdor after the purchase) by (ii) the average EBITDA multiple utilized by
Coopers & Lybrand ("C&L") in rendering its Fairness Opinions on the 1997
acquisition of the Food Group, such average C&L multiple to be adjusted for any
change in market factors in the intervening period (such adjustment, if any, to
be made after consultations by Namdor with C&L). As is standard, the purchase
price will be adjusted for any capital expenditures financed by Namdor and for
the net working capital assets acquired.Exhibit 10.18
                              JOHN A. CATSIMATIDIS
                               823 Eleventh Avenue
                              New York, N. Y. 10019

Gristede's Foods, Inc.
823 Eleventh Avenue
New York,  N.Y. 10019

December 3, 2000

            Ref:  Audit of Gristede's Foods Inc. Financial Statements
                  for the Fiscal Year Ended December 3, 2000

Gentlemen:

            On November 10, 1997, Gristede's Foods, Inc. ("GRI") acquired 29
supermarkets and City Produce Distributors, Inc (collectively, the "Food Group")
from entities wholly owned directly or indirectly by myself (the "Acquisition").
The total consideration for the Acquisition was $40 million -- and was paid by
GRI issuing $36 million in common stock and assuming $4 million in liabilities
owed by the Food Group to myself or entities wholly owned by myself (the
"Intercompany Liabilities")

            In connection with the Acquisition, GRI acquired (i) the inventories
located at the Food Group stores, (ii) various Food Group vendor trade
receivables, and (iii) certain other Food Group assets. In turn, GRI assumed an
equivalent amount of Food Group trade vendor payables and certain other Food
Group liabilities.

            In your audit examination of GRI's financial statements for FYE
12/03/00, you have indicated that as of such date, GRI had approximately
$700,000 remaining receivables that were acquired from the Food Group pursuant
to the Acquisition (the "Remaining Receivables").

            Should (i) any portion of the Remaining Receivables be deemed by
yourselves to be uncollectible at GRI's next fiscal year end date of December 2,
2001 (collectively, the "Guaranteed Receivables"), I agree to have such
Guaranteed Receivables offset, dollar for dollar, against the Intercompany
Liabilities, provided however, that the aggregate amount of such offsets do not
exceed $700,000. Subsequent recoveries against the Guaranteed Receivables shall
be available to pay the Intercompany Liabilities.

I further agree not to permit the level of Intercompany Liabilities on GRI's
books to fall below $700,000 prior to the issuance of GRI's next audited
financial statements for FYE 12/02/01, to cover any contingent liability herein.

This letter supercedes and nullifies the prior letter, "Ref.: Audit of
Gristede's Foods, Inc. Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended November
28, 1999" previously executed by myself.

Sincerely,

-----------------------------------
John Catsimatidis

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