The Independent Edition

Giant Farmers Market Owner: Sang Kim Opened:  2018 Cooperative:  Retail Grocers Group Location:  19 Wyckoff Ave, Waldwick, NJ Photographed:  November 12, 2023 It's time for a quick update at the Waldwick Giant Farmers Market! We first saw it in 2020  and since then, it's gotten a minor renovation that shuffles around some of the departments and has turned it from a farmers market-type store with some groceries into a fairly straightforward supermarket with a disproportionately large produce department. Not all the change is positive, though, and some of the produce cases we can see below to the right were empty when I visited. Then again, there was some excellent produce and that appears to have been where the organic selection used to be. I was a bit concerned when I came back and saw those empty cases and then the mostly-empty bakery department in the back. The service counter that was there had been removed and replaced with shelving for bread that was mostl...

Fairfield Welcome back to the Corrado's Market in Fairfield! If you recall, I was blown away when I went to this Corrado's as I definitely visited it at its high point. But Corrado's as a whole has been declining steeply and quickly, with the first cracks in the operation showing when they canceled their upcoming Brick store (and apparently doing the same in Old Tappan ). Their strip mall in Wayne was foreclosed on, then the store closed last month . They closed stores in North Arlington and Denville in 2021 and 2023, respectively. While I don't know exactly what's going on inside the company, it sure looks like it's crumbling before our eyes. Then again, there's no sign of that when you enter Fairfield, with a beautiful, fully stocked produce department, a huge deli packed with fresh products, and a massive fully-stocked salad bar. There's even fresh pizzas out in a dedicated service counter. But that good first impression is ruined if you look clo...

Universal Food Markets Owner: Phillip Patel Opened:  2023 Cooperative:  Key Food Stores Location:  154 State St, Hackensack, NJ Photographed:  July 23, 2023 Okay, a quick look at the Hackensack Universal! Not much to say here, just coming back for a better outside picture since last time it was pouring rain. Nothing has changed since this store was a CTown, but I haven't yet posted pictures of this store as a CTown. So let's take a look!

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...

Shop Fresh Marketplace Owner: Nick Nasser Opened:  March 3, 2023 Cooperative:  Great Valu Markets Location:  7 Naughright Rd, Hackettstown, NJ Photographed:  June 13, 2023 We return to Shop Fresh Marketplace of Hackettstown, which opened in March in a former A&P on route 46 just outside of the town. In fact, I attended the soft opening on its first day in business, March 3rd. An official ribbon-cutting was later held on April 1st. I returned to the store on June 13th to find the store well on its way to going out of business. Think I'm exaggerating? I was one of two customers in the store and found the shelves mostly empty... While the store is still very attractive, it is also clearly soon to close. Social media posts as far back as late April show shelves beginning to empty out, and clearly that process has only continued. Most of the service departments have closed, too, leaving only the deli in operation. All the prepared foods are gone... ...and although ...

Universal Food Markets Owner: Vishnu Patel Opened:  2023 Cooperative:  Key Food Stores Location:  16-26 N Day St, City of Orange, NJ Photographed:  May 22, 2023 I reported on the removal of the CTown signage from the CTown-turned-Universal in Orange, NJ, and I have returned a few weeks later to see what, if anything, else has changed. The store appears to be getting some remodel, with flooring in the first two aisles torn up. A temporary Universal banner has been added near the street side of the store. While I'm glad to see some work going on here, this store needs a LOT of work. I'm not sure whether it'll get the full renovation it really needs or if it'll just be a quick refresh. The difference between this store and a similar one, for example the SuperFresh in Newark (also a Key Food affiliate that was previously a CTown) is shocking. This store is dirty, dingy, messy, expensive, and poorly stocked compared to that one which is very similar otherwise. It's ce...