Harold's Kosher Market Closes After Over 40 Years In Paramus

PARAMUS, NJ — Harold's Kosher Market, a staple in Paramus for over 40 years, has permanently closed.

In a Facebook post and message on the front page of their website, the business owners announced that the last few months of the coronavirus pandemic have taken a toll on operations.

"It’s never easy to say goodbye, but we have decided to close our doors. Over 90 years ago our grandfather built this business and our father Harold continued the tradition and through many years we proudly became a kosher institution in New Jersey," read the post.

"The last few months have been difficult and this was the path that made the most sense for our family, employees, and of course you, our devoted customers. Serving you all was our greatest honor and we will miss seeing the same lovely faces every week pre shabbat, and what seemed like endless simchas and kiddishes."

Harold's Kosher Market moved to the 67 E. Ridgewood Ave. location in 1977 after the business began and operated for over 20 years in Fair Lawn.

The family business has since been passed down through three generations, and was being run prior to closure by the sons of the businesses' namesake, who died in 2011.

Like many area businesses, Harold's had entered various stages of closure during the coronavirus pandemic.

For Passover, customers ordered roast turkey, brisket and other staples over the phone, and stopped by the store for curbside pickup.

A few weeks later, however, the store announced that it could no longer stay open during the pandemic.

"Due to the worldwide pandemic we have no choice but to close our doors indefinitely. Distributors have been closing down, and we are faced with staff and customer shortages that make it impossible to stay open. Please be safe. Thank you. We love you," read an April 17 Facebook post.

Then, on July 17, the market proprietors took to Facebook again, this time to reveal the worst news yet: permanent closure.

"We wish you and your families love, peace, health, happiness, and from the bottom of our hearts, a great big THANK YOU," they wrote.

Harold's prided themselves on customer relationships, and said the store was "a warm and friendly shopping experience where customers are known by name," on their website.

According to the Facebook comments on the July 17 post, they're largely right. Over 100 comments of support voiced sadness for the store closing, but also praise for the experience they received as customers.

Some shared they would make extended drives back to Paramus just for their favorite meals. Others said they'd been shopping at the store when it opened in Fair Lawn, and followed Harold's to Paramus.

But one commenter perhaps summarized it best:

"The end of an era."

Read the full post, comments and all, below:

Have a news tip or press release you’d like to submit? Need to request a correction? Email montana.samuels@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.