The Independent Edition

Perth Amboy Farm Owner: Taesup Chang Opened:  1991 Cooperative:  none Location:  159 Smith St, Perth Amboy, NJ Photographed:  June 2020 Our second greengrocer in downtown Perth Amboy (see the first here ). It's about 1200 square feet smaller than Casa de Frutas, placing it in the 3800 square foot range. Perth Amboy Farm is only about four years older than Casa de Frutas, but it feels so much older as it hasn't been renovated and might in fact be a much older store that was only taken over by the current owners in 1991. To their credit, though, the outside looks very good. It seems to have been at least repainted much more recently than the interior was redone. Unlike Casa de Frutas, this store really is only a greengrocer shop (other than a few types of basic groceries). Our final Perth Amboy stop will be at the eastern edge of downtown near the water, about two and a half blocks east of this store. Head over to The Market Report tomorrow to check it out!

Casa de Frutas Owner: Cheongeun Oh Opened:  1995 Cooperative:  none Location:  177 Smith St, Perth Amboy, NJ Photographed:  June 2020 Let's get into today's store tour of the 5,000 square foot Casa de Frutas in downtown Perth Amboy! Now I've found listings for this business owned by Cheongeun Oh, but when I visited I was almost positive it's owned by Supremo  (whose owner is Eddie Trujillo). It uses the same decor package, same storebrand, same promotional and informational signage (such as the "now hiring" posters), and same general fixtures, plus it's only about four blocks away from the Supremo here in Perth Amboy. While I'm not sure of that, I found it unusual that the store was otherwise so similar if it were totally unrelated. Let's head in and check it out. Produce takes up approximately the front half of the store, with dairy on the left side wall, a large butcher on the back wall, and frozen on the right side wall. Interestingly enough, a...