Super Foodtown of Bayville Set to Close Feb. 25
Parent company Food Circus cites economic factors in decision to shut store
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The SuperFoodtown of Bayville, which has been a fixture at Baywick Plaza on Route 9 for more than 20 years, will cease operations as of Feb. 25.
Lou Scaduto Jr., president of Food Circus Super Markets, the parent company of the Bayville store, said the decision to shutter the store was simply an economic one, reflecting ongoing struggles of that store.
"It's unfortunate," Scaduto said. "We've been there for more than 20 years. But when you have a location that's struggling, you have to do what is best for the health of the company."
The Middletown-based, family-owned company, which has been in business since 1956, also is closing its Hazlet location, which will leave the company with eight stores in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties.
For a time, the Bayville Foodtown had been the store of choice for many within the area, overshadowing the A&P Supermarket that had been located at Berkeley Plaza, just down Route 9. The A&P closed in 2002, and for nearly two years Foodtown had little competition.
That changed in 2004, when Perlmart ShopRite opened a new, larger store that encompassed the site of the former A&P. Competition for the Foodtown increased with the opening of a Walmart Supercenter in nearby Lacey Township - which included groceries - in late 2009.
Though the Foodtown added the availability of a liquor store to its offerings in cooperation with Buy-Rite Liquors, that wasn't enough to draw a significant number of customers back to its store.
Customers lamented the news of the impending closure.
"I don't want it to close because it's convenient to all the places I have to go in my life every day," said Barbara Holland of Bayville. "The Rite-Aid is right next door for my mother's prescriptions, and my son and husband go to Tong Dragon (Martial Arts school). I'm here almost every day.
"I'm really sorry to hear this," Holland said, as she headed to Rite Aid before making a stop at Foodtown on Friday afternoon.
"This means more people without work," said Laura Rickards as she loaded groceries into her car. The store employs 75 people, Scaduto said. Some will be transferred to other stores but there will be some layoffs, he said.
"It's unfortunate," Rickards said. "It decreases variety and competition and creates a monopoly."
Several employees yesterday said they were going to apply to other area supermarkets.
"There's 75 of us," one woman said. "We can't all go to Toms River."
What will become of the site is uncertain. Rickards was an occasional shopper at the Foodtown, in part because the lighting was so dim, she said, that it gave the store a dingy feeling. She hopes to see it replaced by a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe's, both of which are known for carrying a variety of organic offerings and specialty foods.
"It would be nice to know where I could get tahini," Rickards said, noting the item -- the key ingredient for making hummus -- has been difficult to find locally.
john
7:22 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
if lighting was the real problem the lacey walmart should be outta business too...cant see in there, all the lights off if the sun is out.......they rely on sky lights....
anyway, it s sad to see foodtown of bayville go....i ve been going to that store for 11 years now...i wish all the foodtown employee s the best in 2012.
Mattie
8:06 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
I started shopping there when the store first opened. I only moved out of Beachwood 2 years ago and that's when I stopped shopping there.
It was just too far to drive from the west end of TR - but I miss that Foodtown.
I always found that store to be clean, well organized, well stocked and the meat department was A-1. I hope all the employees there find work elsewhere if they want to, and Good Luck to all.
Karen
8:54 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
This truly upsets me, I live in Beachwood and have shopped at this store sine it opened I recall the self serve it had, we shop there several times a week I'd rather pay the extra money than deal with the parking, rude employees and crowded aisles of shop rite. They should have kept the green points and lowered prices to compare with shop rite. We do go to shop rite as well because it's much cheaper, so when I can handle the rudeness and crowded store we go to shop rite. The green points gave foodtown a uniqueness I liked trading them in for gift cards to save on my food shopping. Foodtown has done nothing to compete and now has caused people to lose jobs. I have been sick for 2 years now so on a rare occasion I feel well enough to run out, I always choose foodtown. I guess I could always do online shopping at Stop & Shop, except they are even more expensive and meat is horrible there. Unless you buy name brand like purdue, but who wants to pay 5.99 a pound when many offer it for $1.99-2.99.. My wish is for Circus to sell to different Foodtown chain. I don't want a high priced organic foodstore, rather see pathmark, or a Stop&Shop open there..
mike
10:28 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Shopped there for 20 years too, I liked the Green points thing and it was nice to shop in an empty store. I hate crowds.
Maria
10:42 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
I knew it was only a matter of time that this store was gonna close, unfortunately. I really liked the store and shopped there weekly. I agree that their meat dept was always good too. I'll miss it but I do hope another store does move in because competition for Shoprite will keep prices low & crowds smaller.
parkway
11:32 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
I have been shopping at foodtown since they opened. now shop rite is the only Bayville choice. It is a shame
BayvilleDad
11:49 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
FYI - you can get tahini in ShopRite. Check the baking goods aisle
Rosalee Di Pietro
3:44 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Foodtown did have the best meat, & carries Boars Head products.
Skizma
9:22 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Same as above. Love this store. Clean, well laid out. Like it a lot. Better than shopRite. The employees I agree are nicer and more personal. Shop Rite has nothing but clowns and are hired for who knows what reason. You fill out an hour long application and these are the people they choose? The lower the better I guess on the scoring! This store will be missed. Best produce....shoprite's produce is low level quality, especially the fruits....yuck.
Skizma
9:24 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
The lighting in Foodtown is excellent. That's what I like about it.
Toni Colella
2:02 pm on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Trader Joe's?? Whole Foods??? in BAYVILLE?? Ah, if only it were true.......
Mike
1:52 am on Monday, January 2, 2012
The Burger King is gone too.
Larry
8:14 pm on Friday, January 6, 2012
I have shopped Foodtown of Bayville for years and will miss the store. I have never had better customer service and the employee are always very helpful. The meat is the best. I am not a big Shop Rite shopper because some of thier regular prices on thing I buy are higher priced. So I will remain a Foodtown shopper because I live in the middle of Bayville and Toms River Foodtowns. I hope to see some of the Bayville Employees in the Toms River store! Good Luck to all of you!
paul
2:02 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
please please please....a trader joes or whole foods would be AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!
jen
4:09 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
By the way, trader joes is NOT expensive!
L. Reyno
7:53 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Our area already has the means to bargain food shop with the existing supermarkets at convenient locations. The addition of Walmart in Lacey has helped the consumer receive some reduced prices in Shop Rite due to the competition. We also now get some additional personal attention; after all, this is the time excellent customer service can make a business flourish. Why not have some very needed variety in our area with the addition of a Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods? Change is good; different is fun and opens us up to new experiences.