Residents React to Stop & Shop Reopening

After closing for a month and a half for renovations, Stop & Shop supermarket on Jerusalem Avenue in North Bellmore has reopened its doors to shoppers.

"We did it in six weeks– record time," Store Manager Bruce Detzel said.

Changes, as promised, included widening the aisles for carts – new purple ones in fact – new shelving, and enhanced end-cap and other displays. Other physical improvements include new signage, brighter, energy efficient lighting and new refrigeration units. 

The larger produce section and new natural foods area seemed to be among Detzel's proudest accomplishments.

"I tried to bring in more natural foods, but it was a challenge before," he said, adding that space was an issue.

Every department was renovated, including the bakery, deli and pharmacy, but the now manned seafood service department was most altered.

"People may still think we have prepackaged here," said Seafood Manager Larry Leone. "But now it's all fresh. And we'll steam anything, lobsters, shrimp and open clams...all free. Anything to make the customer happy."

Another new feature, uniquely available at Stop and Shop stores according to Scan-It demonstrator Helen Caras, is a handheld device that lets customers scan and bag in the aisle as they shop, running a total of how much they've spent. Caras said the system requires a free Stop & Shop customer tag and is suited to using canvas or paper bags which hold their shape in the cart, rather than plastic ones, and payment is made by a quick final scan at a self-check or traditional register, speeding things up considerably.

"I loved it," said first-time Scan-It shopper Carolyn Stasio. "I'm sold."

Special "passports" for use during several hours on Friday and over the first weekend were distributed to residents' homes, inviting them to have them stamped at six different departments to receive freebies at each one as well as a free canvas bag at checkout. 

"People were ready for this. We owed them this," said Assistant Manager Tom Vacante, a fixture at the Bellmore store for six years. "With the old store it was very hard to set up the way things should be."

Early morning shoppers at Friday's grand re-opening seemed pleased with the store's overhaul and new offerings.

"It's beautiful, very neat, the aisles are wider, the items are all lined up perfectly, and a lot of things are in the same place so they're easy to find," Arlene Koponen of North Bellmore said as she loaded her car with groceries after shopping in the renovated store. "It was a very pleasant experience."

Other shoppers echoed her sentiments, commenting about the brighter and cleaner interior, revamped layout and expanded products and services. 

"It's immaculate, excellent," Jean Stratos of North Bellmore added. "I always enjoyed shopping here. Since I live in the area, I'd rather patronize a local store."

"I'm happy to be here," Sandy Minkoff of North Bellmore said, adding that she barely shopped since the store had closed. "It looks beautiful so far."