The Market Basket: Big Business With Small-Town Values

The family owned and operated Market Basket first opened their doors in Wyckoff in 1965 and has been a transformative staple in the community ever since.

After enjoying years of success at their first location, the high-end specialty food store, owned by Tony and Phyllis Chernalis, took a visionary leap in 1988 by expanding into Franklin Lakes and opening the first gourmet supermarket-sized shop in the area.

“There was nothing like it at the time,” said 19-year manager Erica Mazzilli, “I’m sure it was a risk.”

Clearly, the risk paid off. Today, Market Basket has expanded its services exponentially, housing everything from florals and gift baskets to an in-house bakery and café. November 2010 marked the opening of Cose Belle, a separate invitation and gift shop located on the other end of the Market Basket Shopping Center.

Yet despite its large scale operations, Market Basket has managed to maintain the balance between the intimate and expansive, most notably evidenced by its catering division, which is recognized as one of the largest in the Northeast, garnering “best caterer” honors five years running by local publications.

For many local folks, working at the Market Basket has been a rite of passage of sorts.

“I think what makes Market Basket so special is really the people,” said Mazzilli, “Many of us working here have been here a long time – it’s like a family.”

Dedicated to community, Market Basket has long made a practice of donating to local schools, churches, recreation programs, YMCAs and local non-profit organizations, as well as employing thousands of local residents.

 “We’ve always been very involved in the community,” said Mazzilli “Not just with donations, but also with events like Oktoberfest where we have the chance to celebrate the great people here that are the community.”

With Oktoberfest now going into its eighth year, the Chernalis began sponsoring the annual three-day German festival. With last year’s event averaging nearly 700 people per night, the festival has been a huge success, housed under a large tent at McBride field in Franklin lakes located directly across from the store.

Proceeds from the event, which kicks off this week, benefit community organizations. Each night has a designated charity: Thursday benefits the Wyckoff Recreation Programs, Friday night benefits OASIS, a Paterson based non-profit organization dedicated to helping needy women and children; and Saturday night benefits the Franklin Lakes Recreation Programs.   

Market Basket is located at 300 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff and 813 Franklin Lakes Rd., Franklin Lakes.