Caldwell Shop-Rite closes after 58 years, Bigger and More Modern ShopRite Built in Its Place
On October 21, it was an exciting day for the Caldwells: the grand opening of the new Shop-Rite. To mark the grand opening, Shop–Rite invited members of the community to participate in a parade from the old location from the former 540 Passaic Ave location to the new location on 900 Bloomfield Ave that concluded in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance of the new store, with doors opening to the first shoppers at 9:30 AM(Montclair Girl).
History of the Old Shop-Rite
The West Caldwell Shop-Rite opened in 1967. After serving in the Pacific theater during World War II, founder Irving Gladstein was inspired by his interest in Japanese architecture and culture to design the unique Shop-Rite when he came back home (NJ News Report). With its bright red pagoda roof and matching phone booths outside, Japanese style-art decorating the walls and the aisle signage, and the word Sayonara printed on the wall above the cash registers, the commitment to the theme is very evident and almost unbelievable if you have not seen it in person. The aisles of the store and the cash registers were poorly equipped to deal with large crowds. The lights were dingy and incessantly flickering, the floors dirty, the temperature always frigid, and the parking lot hard to navigate. Yet despite all of its evident flaws, the quirkiness, charm, and family history of the old Shop-Rite led it to be beloved by many in the community, with many citizens of West-Caldwell and Caldwell shopping or working there. To honor the importance that the old Shop-Rite held in the community, replicas of the phone booths from the Passaic Avenue store were built and brought over to the new location on 900 Bloomfield Ave, and photos showcasing the history of the old Shop-Rite are displayed inside of the building.
Out with the Old, In with the New
The new Shoprite is much larger at an impressive 90,000 square feet long. It houses full-service meat and seafood departments as well as prepared meals, a pizza shop, a wide selection of wine, beer, and spirits, and everything else that you could buy at the old store. There is also a community room that can be used for various events on the second floor (NJ News Report). Other than the phone booths, the Japanese theme is not replicated anywhere else in the store, drawing disappointment from some in the community who will miss the unique, vintage charm. Others prefer the sleek, modern design of the new store, more similar to other Shop-Rites in the region. Some also raise concerns about the new location, which is right across from the West Caldwell Shop and Stop in a busy intersection, which could cause a lot of traffic. Whether or not you like the stylistic choices and location, the opening of the new Shop-Rite is an exciting event in the Caldwells and it can be promised that the grocery store will follow in its predecessor’s footsteps, supporting the community for years to come.
