A new ShopRite at 1701 U.S.-22 in Watchung, New Jersey, will open April 9 and host a grand-opening celebration with special giveaways April 13. The town’s current ShopRite will close April 8.
The Sumas family and its company, Village Super Market Inc., which owns and operates the new store, will kick off the festivities at 6 a.m. April 13, with the first 250 customers receiving special gift bags and a free carton of eggs. Shoppers also will be treated to fresh coffee and store-made pastries from 6-9 a.m.
The Sumas family – joined by local elected officials and the Watchung Hills Regional High School marching band and cheerleaders – will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m., followed by a community celebration with a DJ, food tastings, food trucks, giveaways, caricature artist, face painting and special surprises.
The Sumas family and the Village Super Market team – part of the Watchung community since 1969 – will also present the Dudley House Veterans Transitional Housing Program in Plainfield and the Food Bank Network of Somerset County with $5,000 donations as part of the celebration.
“We are excited to open our doors to a beautiful, modern supermarket that delivers quality, convenience and premium groceries to Watchung shoppers,” said Perry Blatt, director of e-commerce and business development for Village Super Market Inc.
“The new ShopRite of Watchung is designed to bring an elevated shopping experience to the community, with expanded offerings, fresh meal and to-go options, and specialty items that cater to all our customers’ needs.”
Special features of the store include:
- Gourmet Garage specialty items – New York City’s famous brand features chef-prepared meals, sushi and global eats;
- Fairway Market Artisanal Cheese Shop – More than 600 cheese varieties and a skilled cheesemonger available to provide suggestions;
- Full-service butcher and seafood experience – Custom-cut meats, store-made specialties, fresh seafood, oyster tastings and whole fish cuttings;
- Expanded produce department – More organic produce, premium picks like specialty berries and grapes and cut fruits and vegetables delivered daily;
- Bakery delights – Freshly baked breads, NYC-style bagels and an Holy Cannoli section; and
- Fairway Coffee Bar and bulk beans – Fairway’s signature coffee blends, 20 bulk blends, seven different bean grinders and a self-serve coffee bar with options like Americanos, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, cold brew, iced coffee and hot chocolate.
The store also incorporates energy-efficient refrigeration, LED lighting and eco-friendly initiatives. And as part of Village Super Market, it supports local food banks through initiatives like ShopRite Partners In Caring.
Village Super Market operates 30 ShopRite supermarkets throughout New Jersey, New York and eastern Pennsylvania, as well as four specialty markets under the Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market brands in Manhattan.
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