Superfresh in Westmont Closing
The A&P chain plans to close stores in Westmont, Marlton and Plainsboro.
Photos
Superfresh market in Haddon Township's Westmont section will close in January, a store corporate official said Wednesday.
"As part of an ongoing review of our store footprint, A&P will close three underperforming Superfresh stores in Westmont, NJ, Marlton and Plainsboro, on Jan. 11, 2013," Marcy Connor, a corporate spokeswoman, said in a statement.
"We notified our union partners on Nov. 9 and began notifying associates on Nov. 12. While this is a very difficult circumstance for our associates, customers, partners and the local communities, we remain focused on providing great value and service to our customers that shop in these stores."
The news came as a shock to many, including employees and loyal shoppers.
"I think it's terrible," said Jean Leusner, 79, a retired legal secretary from Audubon, as she loaded groceries into her car outside the market Wednesday evening. "I'm heartbroken. The clerks here are nice people. They're like family to me."
Ted Callinan, 38, a teacher at Timber Creek High School in Gloucester Township and a Haddon Township resident, was surprised when he heard the store was closing.
"My kids are in a day care center in this plaza," he said, clutching a jar of jelly he had just bought. "That's why I come here, it's convenient. I can get in and out."
Superfresh anchors the Westmont Plaza shopping center at Cuthbert and MacArthur boulevards. The closure would leave two supermarkets in Haddon Township, Acme on Cuthbert Boulevard and Thriftway on Crystal Lake Avenue.
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Christian Haub
3:57 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
We hope a decent, responsible supermarket, with affordable prices and better merchandise goes into the SF space. ShopRite would be wonderful for all of us in neighboring Haddon View apartments.
Loretka
4:25 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
A lot of their merchandise ---- almost everything on my shopping lists --- have been overpriced. For that reason, I've been shopping mostly at Wegman's and Shop-Rite. I also find the Acme overpriced. I also would like to see a Shop-Rite store replace the SuperFresh. They have a good variety and reasonable prices.
chris baile
5:06 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
I would love to see a Wegman's take their place. Having to negotiate the traffic at their Cherry Hill location is a nightmare.
Stephen Lyford
9:37 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Chris: agreed. I like Wegmans for more hard-to-find items but to get in and out of that location is a nightmare indeed.
Jeremiah Wright
5:20 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wait, I thought the economy was steadily improving? Isn't that what Dear Leader's and his lickspittle minions in the MSM have been telling us?
Mister Mike
12:21 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Reading comprehension skills a little rusting? How does ""As part of an ongoing review of our store footprint, A&P will close three underperforming Superfresh stores in Westmont, NJ, Marlton and Plainsboro, on Jan. 11, 2013," Marcy Connor, a corporate spokeswoman, said in a statement." The apparent fact that these Superfresh stores are under performing, at least in the opinion of their upper management, means just that and has nothing to do with the present economy one way or the other.
If the Superfresh store in Westmont can't complete with the Acme store just North of them on Cuthbert Blvd or the Thriftway store just East of them on MacArthur Blvd, then the Super Fresh store lost the competition of attracting customers and also probably weren't to good at negotiating good wholesale prices with their vendors, etc., etc..
Stephen Lyford
9:39 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
That statement coming from someone with a fake name? Yeah, you just drip with credibility. Businesses come and go regardless of whether or not the economy is doing well.
Jack S
1:20 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
How is this not due to the economy Mr. Mike? It's not like "upper management" is saying the space is too small, but they'll be opening at another, larger location in the vicinity. Let's face it, A&P has been struggling throughout what amounts to a continuous recession for the past 4 years, and they realize that things aren't going to be improving any time soon. Time for everyone to hunker down and continue to downsize wherever possible. SuperFresh would not be leaving the Westmont area if the economy were objectively on the upswing -- the propaganda coming from the Executive Branch notwithstanding.
Chris The Clerk
8:11 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
its about greed.Shame on A&P
Sean Andrew
9:18 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
"My kids are in a daycare center in this plaza," he said, clutching a jar of jelly he had just bought.
Clutching a jar of jelly? That's pertinent...
Mister Mike
12:02 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
It's descriptive. Sort of like, "When the court announced that its finding was that Sean Andrews knew nothing about writing skills, his first grade teacher cried as she clutched his decades old copy of Dick and Jane!
Loretka
6:17 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
How about Trader Joe's ? Good location for that store because there is none close by. I hope they consider it.
Mister Mike
7:16 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Jack S - it's called competition - an integral part of Capitalism. The 2010 US Census shows Haddon Twp has a population of 14,707 & 6,477 households.
The same US Census shows Collingswood has population of 13,926 & 6,299 households. It's probably safe to say that a good majority of Collingswood people shop at either Superfresh, Acme and Triftway in the Westmont. Albeit it a smaller percentage of population, Audubon, Haddonfield & Haddon Heights people are also doing some of their grocery shopping at the 3 stores in the Westmont.
You said, "...A&P has been struggling throughout what amounts to a continuous recession for the past 4 years." Internet research shows A&P's problems, struggles, & store closings did not start in the last 4 years, but have been going since the 1970's. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org wiki/The_Great_Atlantic_%26_Pacific_Tea_Company
(If you are one that doesn't think Wikipedia is credible, there are other sources on the Internet).
You need not read every word, sentence & paragraph to see have A&P made bad business decisions by falling behind in what customer wanted, followed by poor customer service, then apparent over acquisition, then new competition from the likes of Walmart, etc., etc., Capitalism, where an individual can succeed or fail based on their hard work, as can a corporation!
So, to cover the entire presidential spectrum - it wasn't the fault of Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, GW or Obama!
Jack S
8:20 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
It's true that A&P has never been a terribly well run company over the past several decades, but the recession was the nail in the coffin for many, many dozens of its stores in the Mid-Atlantic/N.E. A&P filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and has shuttered numerous stores since that time, despite reorganizing. While its executives use the corporate-speak of achieving "efficiencies" and "reorganization" for such closures, analysts have consistently described those actions as driven in large part by the recession. Since you believe Wikipedia is a great source: "
"The recession hit many supermarkets as customers migrated to Wal-Mart in even greater numbers. A&P was especially hard hit because of its increased debt load to complete the Pathmark purchase. In June 2010, A&P stopped paying $150 million in rent at its closed Farmer Jack stores, resulting in 24 lawsuits from property owners.[31] On August 13, 2010, A&P announced that it would close 25 stores; these supermarkets were "facing real estate and cost issues, and underperforming non-core stores."[32] The stores were in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania . . ."
Got news for you, the effects of the recession are not over.
Mister Mike
10:25 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Jack - I appreciate & respect what you said in your reply. I have some general points to make and some specifics ones, too. I had my reply mostly finished when I received Patch's notification that they send to people when they have exceeded their word limit. I just got it, "Easy there, Tolstoy. Your comment cannot exceed 1500 characters." LOL I wish Patch would send their notification early on when the limit has just been exceeded! I saw in my case that I was already over the limit by about 350 characters when I received their notice. Not easy to self edit that on the spot, so I copied & pasted it to edit off site and will get back to you in the next day.
Loretka
11:52 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
To Jack S. and Mister Mike .......
Enough already. Stop trying to impress us by going on and on about recession, competition, U.S. Census, population of Collingswood and Haddon Township, etc., etc., etc., etc. We don't care. All we need to know is that Super Fresh is closing its Westmont store. All this"knowledge" is not going to change things. They are closing. So we can just hope a good store will locate there ---- like Shop Rite or Trader Joe's.
Mister Mike
2:31 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
@Loretka. Surely there was something better for you to do then taking the time to comment on Jack's and my "knowlegde!". Maybe you are trying to impress people with your self assessed philosophical skills. I am curious as to when the other people gave you the authority to speak for them, "We don't care..." I'd love to see the Power of Attorney for that one!
I can't speck for Jack, but I'm not trying to impress anyone, not even Jack. Our posts are simply a discussion with each other of our opinions as to why A&P is closing the Westmont Superfresh as well as other SF stores.
That said, thanks for your support on my position that A&P hasn't kept up with the competition, etc. After all you posted:
Loretka
4:25 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
"A lot of their merchandise ---- almost everything on my shopping lists --- have been overpriced. For that reason, I've been shopping mostly at Wegman's and Shop-Rite. I also find the Acme overpriced. I also would like to see a Shop-Rite store replace the SuperFresh. They have a good variety and reasonable prices."
I could state reasons here why a reasonable deduction can be made that while always possible that it's not probable that a Shop Rite, Trader Joe's or a Wegman's will open on the Superfresh site. If it's to be a major chain grocery store, my bet is an Acme relocation. A Sweet Heart deal from ownership of the Westmont Plaza will be made to get this space filled ASAP.
Loretka
1:34 am on Sunday, November 18, 2012
It would be a shame if Acme moved to the Super Fresh location instead of another supermarket locating there. I think shoppers should have a competing store so they have a choice.
Jack S
9:24 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
@Loretka. You need to chill and stop trolling.
Mister Mike
11:53 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
Jack, unlike me that was clear and concise to Loretka! LOL
Loretka
2:25 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Sorry if I offended you; didn't mean to. So keep up your dialogue. I've "chilled"; but don't know what you mean by "trolling".
Loretka
2:22 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Super Fresh is closing. I'm sorry to see it go. I don't like change. I'm very nostalgic. Many years ago, that was the store where I did all my grocery shopping. In recent years, I just go there occasionally, mostly because the things I buy are more reasonably priced at Wegmans and Shop Rite. I'm sorry for the employees who will lose their jobs, and for the customers who like shopping there. Again, I'm sorry.
Westmont Tom M
12:58 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
Strong rumors that Ollie's bargain store, which recently took over an empty SuperFresh in Bristol might want Westmont. We do not want an urban retailer, who sells mostly damaged and liquidated general merchandise in our very lovely community!!!
Mister Mike
5:41 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
@ Lertka. You didn't offend me and I hope I didn't you in any of my prior posts. I still recall that back in the late 1950's and early 1960's going to the small old style red A&P store with my grandmother a couple of blocks from my grandparents house in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia. She has been gone since Dec 1980 and if I recall correctly the A&P store since some time in the early to mid 1970's.
I shop Acme and haven't been in the "new" Westmont SF store that much. However, when I was in it, I was impressed with the roominess (compared to Acme), the bakery (of course!), and the overall sections. I started to take my father-in-law there after the Pathmark store in Lawnside closed last April 28. He shopped there for well over 25 years.
The SF closing only nine short months after Pathmark closed is what surprises me the most as AP will now have closed 2 stores that are only 3 - 4 miles from each other in less then a year.
Loretka
7:45 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
Hey! Mister Mike! Guess what? I remember shopping at an A & P store with my mother, when I was a little girl, on Mt. Ephraim Avenue in Camden ---- and that was some time around the year 1940 !!!! I remember it being not a very large store as compared to today's supermarkets; and the floor was concrete. Also on Mt.Ephraim Avenue, there was a store called American Store ---- which I believe later became the Acme chain. That also was rather small in size. They used to have bins of produce on display outside the store (we used to grab a few fresh pea pods when we walked by!). The owner would reach up onto shelves with a grabber to get down cans of vegies for a customer. Back then, there were no huge super markets ---- only small neighborhood stores. So you see --- I go back way farther than you ! Told you I like nostalgia! And I hope the Super Fresh site does NOT become an Ollie's or any other kind of junk store.
Camden refugee
6:51 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
A&P is closing ALL Delaware Valley banners according to Food Trade News, and will only have stores North of Middlesex County. Let's hope that Ollie's doesn't get Westmont Plaza, otherwise most of Camden will shop here!!!
Loretka
7:48 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
God forbid! No Ollie's. And no other kind of junk store.
That would not be fair to area residents. We need another
food market.
Crystal Lake Thriftway
1:47 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Westmont ACME closing soon
Lauren Burgoon
3:22 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Can you tell us where you're getting this info from?
Thriftway
2:26 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Food Trade News, you putz
Loretka
9:13 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
No need to be so rude. Why are you so rude? Must you resort to name calling?
Lauren Burgoon
2:59 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Your civility is overwhelming. Have a nice day.
Thriftway
12:13 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Christie is our lord and savior!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eileen Smith (courier post)
4:12 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Breaking News: Acme will close all New Jersey markets after Easter, according to well=place source
Loretka
4:19 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
So the Westmont area will be left with only Thriftway ? That's not so good. Again, I hope Shoprite will open in the former Super Fresh store in Westmont Plaza. They are about the best all-over supermarket in this area and would be well suited for Westmont Plaza location. I wish management would contact ShopRite to encourage them to open a store at Westmont Plaza.
Mayor Redd
1:23 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Dear madam,
ShopRite is opening in Camden, where there is a lot of money in food stamps, and those people are not as fussy as your people.
Mister Mike
1:00 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Madam Mayor Redd:
1) It seems that the proposed shopping center along Adm Wilson Blvd has a long way to go before the actuality of being completed and a Shop Rite opening in it.
2) While there is a lot of speculation as to what type of store will eventually open at the closed Super Fresh location, if it should be a major food store the population in the general area can probably support a Shop Rite in both Haddon Twp & Camden.
3) Over my almost 40 years of doing food shopping in various parts of Camden County my observation has been that people using food stamps pretty much buy brand name food products in the same percentile that people not using food stamps buy brand name products. Thus, it's doubtful that food shopping fussiness is based on food stamps use.
4) Why on earth would you ever label people as "those people" & "your people?!?"
David Zallie
1:02 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013
BREAKING NEWS ShopRite to open in Lawnside on White Hose Pike (former Kmart store) Preference given to Lawnside resident High School or equivalent