Ground Broken On Wyckoff ShopRite

WYCKOFF, NJ — Ground was broken Monday on a new ShopRite grocery store in town.

Mayor Brian Scanlan, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5th), and Inserra Supermarkets officers put ceremonial shovels to the ground to mark the start of the construction project.

Mayor Brian Scanlan said the store aims to be open by the end of the year. The opening will bring with it 200 jobs to downtown Wyckoff.

"I am delighted that construction of the new ShopRite is starting now," Scanlan said. "This parcel has been an eyesore for 15 years, and the Inserra ShopRite will be an attractive addition to our town center. The store will bring both jobs and choice to our community.

The ShopRite store will feature ways of reducing the company's carbon footprint, including energy-efficient refrigerators and lights throughout the store and parking lot.

The online ShopRite From Home service will be offered at the store.

The Mahwah-based Inserra Supermarkets, which owns ShopRite, battled with competitor Stop & Shop in court for years over the store.

Stop & Shop argued that the Wyckoff Planning Board did not have jurisdiction to consider ShopRite's 2010 application because a "supermarket" was not a permitted use in the zone where ShopRite is. An A&P supermarket used to be there.

ShopRite's application before the Wyckoff Planning Board dates back to 2010 when the first of nearly 40 hearings over two years.

The board unanimously approved the application in February 2013, which kicked off the legal battle and series of appeals by Stop & Shop.

The case eventually made its way to the state Supreme Court's Appellate Division where a a three-judge panel eventually ruled in ShopRite's favor.

"We are very excited to officially begin construction to bring the ShopRite of Wyckoff to this community," said Lawrence Inserra Jr., president and CEO of Inserra Supermarkets. "We are incredibly thankful for the outpouring of support from the mayor and the town, and we feel privileged to be a part of this community."

Related: Demolition Work Paves The Way For Wyckoff ShopRite
Related: Ongoing Litigation Stalls Construction of Wyckoff ShopRite

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Lead photo, from left: Rev. Stephen Fichter, Lindsey Inserra, Lawrence Inserra III, Marie Inserra, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Lawrence Inserra Jr., Mayor Brian Scanlan, Carl Inserra Jr., Committeeman Rudi Boonstra, Nancy Grossman, and Committeeman Thomas Madigan