"Small businesses are constantly opening and closing," said Mr. Reed.
But his chapter is closing," said a middle-aged businesswoman.
"The World of Reptiles is closed today," a sign explaining the closing said.
"It shouldn't be closing," said a Bronx resident, Verna Robertson, 67.
About 110 jobs will be affected by the closing, said a spokeswoman, Dawn Soper Lyon.
"It's premature for anyone to worry about lines closing," said John Cunningham, a spokesman for the authority.
Opponents of the closing said LICH's 50,000 emergency patients a year would suffer if they had to travel longer distances to other hospitals.
"It's always best to address anything that comes up at a walk-through prior to the closing," said Douglas Heddings, the president of the Heddings Property Group.
A friend, Mike Jones, who was less troubled by the possible closing, said, "I'll call my bookmaker".
"An ugly chapter in voter suppression is finally closing," said Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Voting Rights Project.
"Quadrangle had the right to pull out until the closing," said Leo Hindery Jr., the chief executive of YES, who has invested $20 million to $30 million.
