El Especial Supermarket Owner: Jose Arias Opened: 1991 Cooperative: Krasdale Foods Location: 278 Monroe St, Passaic, NJ Photographed: July 2020 At just 4600 square feet, El Especial Supermarket is the smallest full supermarket in downtown Passaic. But it is indisputably a full supermarket, and a really good one at that. The independent store has been in business here since 1991, but the building is probably a former chain store. Very hard to tell though, as the awning disguises the past facade of the building. That said, the store today is looking fantastic. It's obvious the owners take great pride in this store. We enter on the left side of the store to a very large deli and butcher counter, with meats continuing down the first aisle. Frozen foods line the back wall, with dairy and produce in the last aisle. Let's head in! Inside we've got bright colors, great lighting, and a wonderful wooden awning structure. The flooring has a ...