Village Super Market celebrated the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation May 18 at the ShopRite of Livingston, highlighted by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a $5,000 donation to the West Essex YMCA.
Livingston Mayor Shawn Klein joined store associates and members of the Sumas family to cut the ribbon Monday, following a family-friendly customer celebration on Sunday, May 17 that featured live music, samplings, and special in-store demonstrations for local residents.
The celebration followed a family-friendly customer appreciation event on May 17, which welcomed the community for a day of entertainment, including jazz music from Livingston High School students, face painting and balloon artists, vendor samplings, a tuna cutting demonstration and a parmesan wheel cracking.
As part of the ribbon cutting, store leadership presented a $5,000 donation to the West Essex YMCA, awarded through the Sumas Family Foundation and Village’s “You Choose. We Give.” program, which empowers associates to support local nonprofits making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Renovation highlights
The storewide renovation introduces new fresh prepared food departments, service counters, lighting, flooring, décor and state-of-the-art cases — creating a fresh, modern shopping experience for customers.
“The Sumas family has been serving the Livingston community since 1966. This renovation reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible shopping experience for our customers and the community,” said Perry Blatt, SVP of Village Super Market and third-generation grocer.
“From expanded specialty departments to enhanced prepared foods and upgraded service areas, every detail was designed to bring greater convenience, quality and value to our shoppers.”
Certified Kosher bakery
A fully certified kosher bakery, supervised by the VAAD of Metro West, anchors the expanded bakery department. The space features an artisan bread bar, new donut, muffin and roll displays, and an enhanced grab-and-go selection. Customers can also enjoy a specialty cannoli program with more than 15 varieties, along with a wide assortment of freshly prepared baked goods.
International cheese department
The new department features hundreds of international and domestic cheeses, with an in-store cheesemonger available to custom-cut selections, create personalized charcuterie boards, and offer pairing recommendations.
Prepared foods department
An expanded prepared foods area offers a wide variety of meal solutions, including hot sandwiches, rotisserie and fried chicken, ribs, and a full selection of grab-and-go sides and snacks. The department also features:
- International hot food, salad and Mediterranean bars with customizable options;
- A soup bar with eight rotating daily varieties;
- A freshly prepared sushi bar staffed by in-store chefs;
- “Sushi Wednesday” promotions featuring select $5 sushi rolls; and
- An extensive assortment of ready-to-eat, ready-to-heat and ready-to-cook options.
Produce department
The expanded produce department offers a broader assortment of fresh conventional and organic fruits and vegetables, as well as convenient cut fruit and vegetable options. The department also highlights its Sweetest Batch berries, known for exceptional quality and freshness.
Kosher market expansion
The renovation builds on last year’s expansion of the store’s kosher market, which introduced a more comprehensive kosher shopping destination in-store. That upgrade more than doubled product variety and introduced a redesigned layout to bring all major kosher departments together in one space. The upgraded kosher market includes an expanded grocery selection with more than 1,500 items, along with redesigned dairy and frozen sections.
What this means for other independents
The ShopRite of Livingston renovation offers several lessons for independent grocers looking to invest in their physical stores.
- First, the focus on certified kosher departments (bakery and expanded kosher market) demonstrates how serving specific religious or cultural dietary needs can create a destination draw that national chains struggle to match.
- Second, the addition of a cheesemonger and sushi chef – specialized service roles – elevates the shopping experience beyond what price-focused competitors offer.
- Third, the multi-million-dollar investment in a store that first opened in 1966 shows that independents can successfully refresh older locations rather than always building new.
For independents considering similar upgrades, the combination of community celebration (local student musicians, face painting, samplings) with local giving (the YMCA donation) helped generate positive word-of-mouth and local media coverage that amplifies the renovation’s return on investment.
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About Village Super Market
Village Super Market remains true to its roots as a family-owned grocery business committed to serving local communities. Third-generation members of the Sumas family operate the stores and continue the family tradition of supporting local communities. Village operates 30 ShopRite supermarkets throughout New Jersey, New York and eastern Pennsylvania, as well as specialty markets under the Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market brands in Manhattan.
