New Supermarket Opens in Newark's Central Ward

Like many Newarkers, Anthony Bagley is used to having to travel outside city limits to do his grocery shopping, a result of the "food deserts" that have perennially plagued New Jersey's largest city.

But now, he doesn't have to.

Food Depot Supermarket, located at 75 First St., opened its doors for business Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the first grocery store to open in Newark's Central Ward in 22 years.

"This is something I haven't seen before in Newark for a long time," said Bagley, a West Ward resident, as he perused the fully stocked aisles with his wife. "The quality of the meats, the personalities of the employees – it's a lot different than what I've seen in 20 years."

The $8 million, 31,000-square-foot supermarket bustled Tuesday morning with customers like Bagley, who surveyed the gleaming fresh fruit and vegetables and neatly stacked ethnic merchandise for sale. The store features a large produce area, hot foods deli and frozen foods section, as well as 12 aisles and 10 checkout lanes.

"Everything is just so neat, I hope it stays like this," said Bagley.

The store, which was constructed in an existing space, has created more than 100 jobs, most of which have been filled by Newarkers. Officials said about 60 people were recruited and trained by the Essex County Urban League before interviewing and eventually getting hired by Food Depot.

One of those employees was Keith Robles, a graduate of Barringer High School who had been supporting his two young children without a full-time job prior to landing one as an assistant chef at the store's deli.

"The more progress I make for me and my family, I can (also) make as an employee," said Robles, who graduated from Newark's New Community with a certificate in culinary arts.

Food Depot, which was funded by a $2 million loan through Brick City Development Corporation (BCDC) and Urban Enterprise Zone funds, is part of the city's Fresh Foods Program that promotes healthier eating and lifestyles.

"The mayor used to joke that we needed to make it as easy to find an apple or carrot as it is to find a Snickers bar," said Lyneir Richardson, chief executive officer of BCDC.

Three more grocery stores are expected to break ground in Newark within the next 12 to 18 months, with the South Ward next in line to receive one, said Richardson.

Food Depot owners Orfilio Chaviano and Nick Gonzalez III announced Tuesday that negotiations are underway to knock down an existing C-Town store at 120-128 Clinton Avenue and replace it with another 30,000-square-foot Food Depot. Chaviano said the South Ward store would also include a health club and gym on the second floor.

"I have so many people who tell me they feel they're trapped in a food dessert, that they have to go to bodegas that sometimes don't have a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, the ethnic foods they desire …" said Mayor Cory Booker. "This today is an answer to our prayers."