Extra Supermarket
Opened: 2018 under current ownership; 1990s previously
Newark, New Jersey is the state's biggest city -- but although there are quite a few supermarkets in the city of around 320,000 people, most of them are rather small. But one, in Weequahic in southwestern Newark, is currently in the process of getting quite a bit bigger. This Extra Supermarket was previously at the back of a small strip mall, which included a beauty supply store, a restaurant, and a cell phone store. One by one, those tenants have closed, with the last one (the restaurant) closing in 2022. Since then, Extra has undertaken a major project to expand the supermarket to the full size of the building -- from the original 19,000 square feet up to about 30,000 square feet today. It's still smaller than the SuperFresh just across the border into Irvington, at 53,000 square feet, but the difference is immense here at Extra.
The store has been flipped, too. In these photos from my 2020 visit, you can see the original layout (and rather dated interior and exterior, which are both in the process of getting major updates). Produce used to be in the front-right corner with meat and seafood on the right-side wall, dairy on the back wall, and frozen in the last aisle on the left side. Now, the grand aisle is on the left side of the store along with the new entrance and exit. Produce takes up the main part of the grand aisle, but an island for deli, bakery, and hot food is in progress, too, as is a pharmacy in the front-left corner. Frozen hasn't moved, although that's now the first aisle instead of the last, and dairy is still on the back wall. A much-expanded meat and seafood department is in what's now the last aisle instead of the first.
This store dates back to the early-to-mid 1960s, when it was constructed as a ShopRite. In 1968, it became a Pathmark, which closed in the mid-1980s, probably in 1986. That's the year it re-opened as a Key Food, though Key Food closed in 1990 and by the end of that year, this space became an IGA. In 1992, Pathmark returned to the area with the much larger space now occupied by SuperFresh. In 1995, the store reopened as a Fine Fare, becoming Extra most likely in the late 1990s. Extra is a local chain, with locations mostly in and around Newark, but in 2018, the chain split. So Newark has another Extra that's under different ownership.
Back to this specific store, the transformation is truly impressive. Especially in this new grand aisle -- which is still in progress -- it certainly doesn't feel like you're in a 1960s-era Pathmark. This decor is the same as what Extra uses in its other newer locations as well as the related Food Depot stores.
The drop ceiling has been removed throughout the store, with new lighting and flooring installed as well. Below, you can see the division between the new and old, and the new deli-bakery island is behind the temporary wall to the left.
Going by signage I could spot (but not photograph) behind this temporary wall, hot food will be up at the front of this island, with deli in the middle and bakery at the back.
And on the back wall will be bread...
As you can see, this remodel is still very much in progress.
Frozen foods actually haven't moved, though the frozen food department was previously only one side of this aisle.
Dairy also hasn't moved, and these cases haven't been replaced (yet). Compare the below picture with this one from 2020.
The flooring also hasn't yet been done in the whole store, so while the front-end, grand aisle, and grocery aisles are done, the back wall and meat department are still in progress.
Amazing what some new lighting and flooring, and opening up the drop ceiling, can do here.
Bread is currently in the last grocery aisle, and I imagine it'll be moved over to the spot next to bakery once that area is fully set up.
The packaged meat is in the last grocery aisle, which is extra-wide (remember this was originally the grand aisle). New refrigerator islands are in the middle.
There's a service counter under the red "fresh meats" sign, although right now that's the seafood counter. I think it's likely seafood will wind up where produce used to be, in the front corner.
Wall of value is at the back of the meat aisle.
It's really exciting to see a local, independent supermarket like this making as big of an investment as they have here. The store previously was fine, but very dated. Now, it's shaping up to be a top-of-the-line store.
This corner used to be the produce department (and you can see the former entrance door here). Here's what this corner used to look like.
Obviously, there's still a lot of work to be done in this corner, and it wouldn't surprise me if this is eventually where seafood ends up.
Getting over to the front-end, we see the transition to new flooring.
And customer service is on the front wall between the entrance and exit. You can see that the front-end feels much brighter and more open than it did previously, and the higher ceiling and big windows, now with a decorative grid pattern, help.
I'll be back to check out this store's updates as the remodel progresses, but for now, things are looking good! Here's a look at this weekend's other posts...
Opened: 2018 under current ownership; 1990s previously
Owner: Alberto Mendez
Previous Tenants: ShopRite (1960s) > Pathmark (1968-1986) > Key Food (1986-1990) > IGA (open by late 1990) > Fine Fare (opened 1995)
Cooperative: none; supplied by Krasdale and C&S
Location: 327 Lyons Ave, Newark, NJ
Photographed: January 21, 2026
- Food Bazaar's southern Brooklyn remodel comes close to completion
- We check in on updates at New Jersey Food Universe stores in Clifton and Glen Rock
- Corrado's Market in Clifton begins its renovation -- finally
- Extra works on a major renovation in Newark (this post)
So now this store has Extra Extra in it ;)
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