Local Man's Facebook Page Shows Support for Finding a Food Store for Barnegat

It seems as though a Facebook page started by Barnegat resident James D'Arienzo and some of his supporters: "Bring Trader Joe's to Barnegat," has hit a nerve. The page is less than a month old and it already has more than 1,000 "likes."

When he started the page, D'Arienzo wrote: "Are you upset that our two grocery stores closed down (and not because we never used them but due to corporate profit margins and strategic business decisions)? Not a fan of driving to Waretown to go to ShopRite? Or the ShopRite in Manahawkin?"

D'Arienzo's post spoke to many residents' concerns since the township's only grocery store, Genuardi's closed in December. Safeway, Inc., the supermarket chain's parent company,

The Barnegat location, open since 1999, was among those stores which was up for sale; it was not part of the Giant deal.

But the closure has left the township without a grocery store, and many residents in the township have voice concern over the vacancy.

D'Arienzo appeared at the township committee meeting on Monday to get a status update, and was told by several committee members that they are working, alongside Safeway - the current leaseholders on the property - to find a suitable replacement.

Committeeman Albert Bille told the audience that he has sent several letters out to food market owners, and the only interested party seems to be Murphy's Markets, however, the size of the old Genuardi's location is too big for the Murphy's they would like to open, he said.

Walters Group, the property owners, are also looking to find a new tenant for the property, according to the committee.

The committee praised D'Arienzo's efforts - including starting the Facebook page and sending letters to food market owners on his own - however, after the meeting, he wrote on the page: "From what I can see, this is not going to be a quick turnaround by any means."