Secaucus Grocery Store Still Slated To Open

SECAUCUS, NJ — Believe it or not, a Secaucus grocery store is still looking like it might happen.

Plans have been revived to turn the old taekwondo building in the center of town into a grocery store. This is 845 First Street, a 20,000-square foot building (it has sat vacant for years) with a warehouse in the back.

The three men, all Secaucus residents, who first said they wanted to turn it into a grocery store nearly two years ago have backed out.

But a new business owner has come forward and plans to turn it into a grocery store, said Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli on Thursday.

He did not reveal the man's name, but said he owns three other small grocery stores. He has taken over the lease on the building and is currently working to put in refrigeration, etc. The Secaucus grocery store will not be a national chain, such as a ShopRite or Acme, but it will be a smaller grocery store. It will probably not be called Secaucus Grocers.

"He was hoping to open by October first, but that's not going to happen," said Gonnelli. "But it may be by the first of January."

The new owner is leasing the warehouse from property owner Raj Patel, whose wife owns the QuikDrugs Pharmacy on Meadowlands Parkway. Patel owns many tracts of land in Secaucus.

Gonnelli said he fully supports the new grocery store opening.

In February 2022, Secaucus resident Sachin Goel originally wanted to open a grocery store there, along with two business partners. It is unknown why they backed out.

"It will be bigger than a farmers' market and smaller than a ShopRite," Goel told Patch at the time. "This is a big opportunity for my business partners and I to do something big for the community and build a legacy in Secaucus. We envision this as a true neighborhood market, a place you can walk to, grab a coffee, a pastry and fresh groceries."