New ShopRite of Watchung to Open Doors April 9 and Host Grand Opening Celebration April 13

Village Super Market and the Sumas Family to Cut Ribbon on New State-of-the-Art Store with Thousands of Premium and Specialty Items, Chef-prepared Meals, and NYC favorite brands Like Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market

Watchung, NJ (April 3, 2025) – ShopRite today announced the new ShopRite of Watchung, located in the Blue Star Shopping Center at 1701 US-22, will open its doors to the community on Wednesday, April 9 and host a grand opening celebration with special giveaways on Sunday, April 13.

The Sumas Family and their company, Village Super Market, Inc., which owns and operates the new store, will kick off the April 13 festivities at 6 a.m. – with the first 250 customers in line to receive special swag bags and a FREE carton of eggs. Watchung’s early risers will also be treated to fresh coffee and store-made pastries, which will be served from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on April 13. The Sumas family – joined by Watchung Mayor Ronald Jubin, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, Scotch Plains Mayor Joshua Losardo and the Watchung Hills Regional High School Marching Band and Cheerleaders – will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m., followed by a community celebration with a DJ, food tastings, food trucks, giveaways, a caricature artist, face painting and special surprises for shoppers.

The Sumas family and their Village Super Market team – part of the Watchung Community since 1969 – will also present the Dudley House Veterans Transitional Housing Program in Plainfield and the Food Bank Network of Somerset County with $5,000 donations as part of the grand opening celebration.

Dubbed the “New Star of Blue Star,” the 51,000-square-foot ShopRite of Watchung in the Blue Star shopping center will offer customers an unmatched shopping experience – with fresh, chef-prepared meals, global flavors and specialty and premium items. Expert butchers and fishmongers will staff the meat and seafood counters, while an expanded produce department boasts a colorful bounty of organic products and freshly cut fruit and vegetables. Customers will also find chef-prepared grab-and-go options, including hand-rolled sushi, gourmet meals and sandwiches, over 600 varieties of cheese and unique soup and coffee bars featuring favorites from Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market.

“We are excited to open our doors to a beautiful, modern supermarket that delivers quality, convenience and premium groceries to Watchung shoppers,” said Perry Blatt, director of E-Commerce and Business Development for Village Super Market, Inc. “The new ShopRite of Watchung is designed to bring an elevated shopping experience to the community, with expanded offerings, fresh meal and to-go options, and specialty items that cater to all our customers’ needs.”

Blatt is a third-generation grocer and member of the Sumas family. The family’s company, Village Super Market, Inc., is a member of the retailer-owned supermarket cooperative Wakefern Food Corp.

Specialty features of the new Watchung ShopRite include:

• Gourmet Garage Specialty Items – New York City’s famous brand features chef-prepared meals, sushi, global eats and more, ensuring customers experience diverse culinary delights with top-notch quality and convenience.
• Fairway Market Artisanal Cheese Shop – Over 600 cheese varieties and a skilled cheesemonger to help provide suggestions, offering a gourmet experience with every bite.
• Full-Service Butcher & Seafood Experience – Custom-cut meats, store-made specialties, fresh seafood, oyster tastings, whole fish cuttings and top-tier service.
• Expanded Produce Department – Even more organic produce, premium picks like specialty berries and grapes and convenient cut fruits and vegetables, all delivered daily and expertly handled for peak freshness.
• Bakery Delights – Freshly baked breads, NYC-style bagels and the exclusive Holy Cannoli section, bringing an irresistible assortment of baked goods that blend tradition, taste and quality.
• Fairway Coffee Bar & Bulk Beans – Fairway’s signature coffee blends, 20 iconic bulk blends, seven different bean grinders and a self-serve coffee bar with options like Americanos, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, cold brew, iced coffee and hot chocolate, all with the convenience of tap-and-pay checkout.

Designed with the environment in mind, the ShopRite of Watchung also incorporates energy-efficient refrigeration, LED lighting and eco-friendly initiatives. And as part of Village Super Market, the store is committed to supporting local communities and food banks through initiatives like ShopRite Partners In Caring.

More surprises and treats are planned for Watchung area residents leading up to the grand opening. To stay in the loop on pop-up events and store updates, click here to become a Watchung ShopRite Insider: bit.ly/watchungshoprite. The existing ShopRite of Watchung will close April 8, the day before the opening of the new location.

Village Super Market remains true to its roots as a family-owned grocery business committed to serving local communities. Third-generation members of the Sumas family operate the stores and continue the family tradition of supporting local communities. Village currently operates 30 ShopRite supermarkets throughout New Jersey, New York and eastern Pennsylvania, as well as four specialty markets under the Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market brands in Manhattan.

About ShopRite
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. With nearly 280 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves millions of customers each week. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Since the program began in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated nearly $65 million to food banks that support more than 2,500 worthy charities. As a title sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, ShopRite has donated $40 million to local organizations, hospitals and community groups. For more information, please visit www.shoprite.com.