Future supermarket
Here's a bit of a rarity: a single-floor drugstore building in lower Manhattan. It's only about 5500 square feet at ground level -- I assume there's a basement -- but even after Rite Aid has closed here, it isn't slated to be demolished for a multi-story mixed use development. Instead, a supermarket is moving into the space.
In fact, it looks like the space was previously a supermarket, too. Commenters on local blog EV Grieve mention that it had been an A&P and then a Met Foods. That post also has slightly more updated pictures than mine.
A mural runs along the side of the building,
The storefront is covered, but there are a few opportunities to peek inside. Here's a look through what will presumably be the main entrance. And through the big windows across the front, we can see that a crew was actually polishing the concrete floor when I stopped by...
Presumably, the area with the track lighting on the right side will be the grand aisle or produce department, and the grocery aisles will be to the left. As EV Grieve mentions, there's no indication what supermarket will be coming in here, but this is very consistent with what the average small NYC supermarket looks like -- so it's almost certainly going to be more in the category of Key Food/CTown/Associated than in the national brand category, like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. The local NYC cooperatives have also been snapping up Rite Aid stores basically as fast as they're closing. I'll be back when I can to check out what this new store will be like! In the meantime, here's the overview of our other posts this weekend...
Opening: TBA
Owner: unknown
Previous Tenants: A&P > Met Foodmarkets > Rite Aid
Cooperative: unknown
Location: 81 1st Ave, Manhattan, NY
Photographed: December 12, 2025
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