Local Freedom Fuel operators under scrutiny | Inquirer Cherry Hill

Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

A local developer was slapped with environmental violations to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars over his Freedom Fuel gas stations in the area and other holdings — and a new lawsuit alleges the outposts have been able to sell gas cheaply because some fuel wasn’t paid for.

Also this week, the popular Asianfresh Food Market in Philadelphia’s Chinatown is taking to Route 70 for its second location, township native Dominic Sessa shares how spending summers working in a bakery down the Shore prepared him to portray Anthony Bourdain in Tony, and nonprofit BookSmiles is expanding into Cherry Hill.

— Laura Smythe (cherryhill@inquirer.com)

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Freedom Fuel stations from Cherry Hill developer rack up environmental fines, federal lawsuit

Before the White House promoted six Freedom Fuel gas stations in South Jersey in July, substantial environmental violations had accrued on the sites, which are operated by Cherry Hill developer Shamikh Kazmi and his brother Syed Kazmi.

Now, a petroleum distributor is suing Syed Kazmi in his capacity as president of KRSM Inc. The federal lawsuit alleges KRSM has not paid the distributor for $4 million worth of fuel that it allocated across its Freedom Fuel locations.

The brothers have been involved in at least two other gas station-related lawsuits since 2021.

Reporters Frank Kummer and Rob Tornoe unpack the new lawsuit’s claims that the gasoline maestros behind the nearby Freedom Fuel locations have been able to sell cheap gas by stiffing their distributor.

💡 Community News

• Just a handful of years before breakout Cherry Hill actor Dominic Sessa would star in acclaimed films The Holdovers and the just-released Tony, he could be found down the Shore baking doughnuts from scratch at Cathy’s 14th Street Bakery. Reporter Beatrice Forman explores how his four summers spent in the shop’s kitchen informed his portrayal of Anthony Bourdain in the new biopic.
• BookSmiles, a nonprofit that has provided 5 million books to kids in need, is opening its newest center in Cherry Hill. The 14,000-square-foot space off I-295 will allow it to nearly quadruple its annual book distribution.
• The Subaru of Cherry Hill dealership is planning a homecoming of sorts to the company’s former corporate headquarters site on a 14-acre expanse along Route 70.
• Ongoing work on Kresson and Cropwell Roads will impact travel through early Saturday morning. Here are the details.
• Cherry Hill teenager Jonah Serotta placed second in the World Junior Championship for the historical sport of real tennis over the weekend in the United Kingdom.
• Labor Day is the final day of the season for Willowdale Swim Club and the Katz JCC outdoor pool.

🏫 Schools Briefing

• The 2026–27 academic year starts today for Cherry Hill Public Schools. The first couple of weeks are short ones, with schools closed Monday for Labor Day.
• Neil Burti, Mount Laurel’s new superintendent who spent 24 years at Cherry Hill Public Schools, spoke with the Inquirer’s Melanie Burney about why now was the right time to move on from the district where he spent nearly his whole career.
• Cherry Hill pre-K students are among the pupils most likely to be absent from school, only falling behind high school seniors. 70and73 explains how the district is addressing chronic absenteeism.

🍽️ On Our Plate

• Asianfresh Food Market, the specialty concept known for selling fresh seafood, fruit, and difficult-to-procure Asian imports in Philadelphia’s Chinatown, is expanding to Cherry Hill at 2005 Route 70 East.
• Juan Cutz, a mixer and baker who previously spent 12 years creating sweet treats at Classic Cake Bakery in Cherry Hill, is now part of the team making tasty indulgences at newly opened Del Buono’s Pastry Shop in Haddon Township. The new shop fills the once-beloved McMillan’s Bakery, which shuttered in May 2025.

🎳 Things to Do

⚾ One Man’s Journey Through The Golden Age of Sports: Author Lenny Wagner dives into his 2024 biography on Walter French, the only athlete to have played for both a World Series-winning baseball team and an NFL championship football team. ⏰ Wednesday, Sept. 2, 7-8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Public Library

🌮 Al Fresco Affair Food Truck Festival: Snack on various types of cuisine while enjoying live music. ⏰ Thursday, Sept. 3, 5:30-8 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Croft Farm

🚶 Walk with the Mayor: Get your steps in alongside Mayor David Fleisher and members of town council. ⏰ Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9 a.m. 💵 Free, registration required 📍 Cherry Hill Mall

🗓️ Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to ongoing South Jersey events.

🏡 On the Market

An open-concept, bi-level home on the West Side

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with solar panels includes a private primary bathroom, an open-concept living and dining area, and an attached one-car garage. Built in 1961, the house boasts modern updates to the bedroom carpets, roof, and water heater. Half a block away, there is a cut-through to the local baseball field and children’s park, and another park sits within walking distance, per the listing agent.

See more photos of the house here.

Price: $500,000 | Size: 1,938 SF | Acreage: 0.2

🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:

• Eagles reveal 53-man roster, keep four quarterbacks amid roster cuts
• Opinion: Mr. Edison is flashy and ambitious. Too bad the cooking and service are dim.
• Police believe a new video shows violent pornographer Raymond ‘R.C.’ Horsch killing a woman on camera, sources say

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