The Independent Edition

Newark It's time for another look at the Universal Food Markets stores! The chain of stores has 10 locations under various names (Elizabeth x 2, Rahway, Newark, Orange, Hackensack x 2, Paterson x 2, Camden) of which 7 are Key Food-affiliated (the Hackensack Market in Hackensack and Super El Rey and Eagle Supermarket in Elizabeth are still not Key Food-affiliated). Newark, Orange, and Hackensack were previously Krasdale-affiliated. Newark was a Bravo, and Hackensack and Orange were CTowns. These days, those three are Key Food-affiliated Universal Food Markets joining older locations in Rahway, Paterson, and Camden. While there hasn't been a lot changed in this store, we see new banners temporarily affixed on top of the Bravo logos outside. Inside, there hasn't been much of a change other than replacing the lighting -- a much-needed improvement. This store is clean and well-stocked and seems to be a bit better-run than Orange, although it's quite small. The fixtures we...

Extra Supermarket Owner: Alberto Mendez and/or Nick Gonzalez Opened:  2021 Cooperative:  Krasdale Location:  36-42 W Blackwell St, Dover, NJ Photographed:  July 2020 and March 2021 The main supermarket operating today in downtown Dover is the roughly 18,000 square foot Extra Supermarket, which was a Bravo for a very long time. It didn't change ownership, but for one reason or another in very early 2021 it was switched over to Extra owned by the same folks who own Maplewood , Lyons , and East Orange . My summer 2020 visit showed some signs of the impending switch... ...you know, like the Extra truck delivering in the back. By March 2021, the store had been switched over to Extra if only in part -- the Bravo signage remained on the outside, although the signage inside had been updated. The exterior signage has since been updated. Here's a look at the back entrance facing the parking lot in the back, which I don't believe I included in the original post of the Bravo. ...

Exito Freshmarket Owner: Gaurang Patel Opened:  2009 Cooperative:  Krasdale Location:  25 Broad St, Freehold, NJ Photographed:  January 2021 We are here just outside downtown Freehold for our second central Jersey Exito Freshmarket! (Make sure to check out Long Branch here .) This store is barely 5,000 square feet, located in just under half of a former 12,000 square foot Grand Union. This space has been several different tenants over the years, most recently a Bravo but becoming Exito around 2009. Like Long Branch, this one is a small but complete supermarket with a little bit of everything and a focus on Latin products. Taking a wider view of the strip mall, we can get a clearer idea that the anchor store was originally one single, larger Grand Union... Heading in to Exito, we find that it sports a very attractive decor package we've seen before, but still prominently features Bravo logos around the store. If memory serves me, the last place we saw this decor pack...

Value Fresh Market Owner: Maliq Jata Opened:  2017 Cooperative:  none Location:  729 Secaucus Ave Photographed:  December 2020 Moving just 600 feet west of yesterday's Fine Fare to the Value Fresh Market over the border into Jersey City! This 5900 square foot store is less than half the size of Fine Fare, but much newer and more upscale. Four years after its opening, it seems to have found a niche in the market here and looks like it does a good business. It replaced a Bravo Supermarket that later became the independent Plaza Supermarket. The space has been completely remodeled inside for a more upscale positioning. The first aisle has produce on the right side and in islands in the middle, with a service deli and butcher at the back. Dairy and frozen line the left side wall of the store, with two grocery aisles in between. Not only was there a fairly healthy crowd around the store (though fewer people than Fine Fare), there was lots of merchandise including a lot ...

Golden Apple Tree Supermarket Owner:  Roy Diaz Opened:  2013 as Key Food, 2015 as Golden Apple Tree, closed 2019 Cooperative:  Key Food Location: 745 Westchester Ave, Longwood, Bronx, NY Photographed:  March 2019 This supermarket had been a Bravo since at least 1998. In 2013, Roy Diaz took it over and converted it to a Key Food, followed by a 2015 conversion to Golden Apple Tree (still affiliated with Key Food). Golden Apple Tree never actually got any sign other than a banner over the Key Food logo, and by late 2019 it had been switched back to Bravo. Diaz appears to still own the store. From Google Maps, it looks like the store is 10,000 square feet.