[June 19, 2013] ShopRite opens supermarket in Hazlet store once vacated by Super Foodtown Tweet HAZLET, Jun 18, 2013 (Asbury Park Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ShopRite on Monday unveiled an 85,000-square-foot supermarket on Route 35 here, taking over a location of a previous supermarket that was abandoned by a competitor after only two years. ShopRite officials sounded more confident in their chances to succeed. For one, they are banking on keeping the customers of the ShopRite it is replacing less than four miles away. For another, they are touting new amenities -- from healthy (an on-site dietitian) to not-so-healthy (a cigar shoppe) designed to keep them competitive. "All of these services are very expensive for the supermarket operator to offer to the community, so we're (offering) that understanding this is what separates us from our competition," Rick Saker, director of operations for the family-owned supermarket chain. Freehold Township-based Saker ShopRite is part of the Wakefern Food Corp., a cooperative of ShopRite owners. It owns 29 stores in central New Jersey. The $15 million store is scheduled to open to the public Wednesday at 7 a.m. It will employ 300 workers. And at more than twice the size of the store on Route 36 that it is replacing, it comes with new bells-and-whistles, including an online service customers can use to order remotely. Watch the video above to get a sneak peek at the new store. It also brings a change in habits for particularly loyal customers. Grace Ulanski, 61, of Hazlet, has been shopping at the old store for more than 30 years. From the outside, there is no comparison. The new store is sleek, modern and bright. The old store, built more than 50 years ago, is showing its age. But it still had its charm. PHOTOS: New Hazlet ShopRite preps for Grand Opening "I'm going to miss this Shop-Rite," said Ulanski, who plans to shop at the new store when it opens. "It's not too big. The aisles aren't that long. But it's good for them." The new store faces competition, namely from Pathmark and Costco nearby. Super Foodtown operated in the same location for two years, but it closed in February 2012 after executives said the market was oversaturated with retailers. Still, Halzet Deputy Mayor James DiNardo said the ShopRite opening will help revitalize a corridor that includes a new Buhler and Bitter car dealership and a CVS pharmacy. "With ShopRite moving to this new site, it stirs up economic development for the township," DiNardo said. Michael L. Diamond; 732-643-4038; mdiamond @njpressmedia.com; @mdiamondapp ___ (c)2013 the Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.) Visit the Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.) at www.app.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]