The Market Report

Original Tenant: Grand Union Address: 414 Main Street, Belleville, NJ Opened:  1950s Closed:  2001 Later Tenants:  Foodtown > A&P > Food Basics (closed 2015) > Fine Fare (2016-2017) > Bell Farm (2017-2019) Photographed:  June 2020 We've crossed the border briefly just about a mile north of the Newark city line to the suburb of Belleville. This 32,000 square foot store is one we've visited before , but I returned after it closed for good in the summer of 2020. It's currently being prepared, according to property owner RIPCO, for a new LIDL. For the record, although I know I've mentioned this before, I strongly dislike LIDL. The property owners did an exterior renovation on the whole strip, which still had its Grand Union facade (remember that was five stores ago when Bell Farm opened), and it looks nice if a bit bland. Notice that the sign we see here is the same sign that was previously on the old facade, but now reading "supermarket" instead...

We're heading back to Bell Farms Supermarket for this Revisit. It's owned by Kevin Kim and managed by his daughter, Stephanie Kim. While it's a far better-run store than Kim's other (now-closed) stores in Edison and Garwood , it's still not as professional as it could be. Before we take a look at these pictures taken on 12/10/17, you can refresh your memory of the store from the original tour back in June, taken when the store was first opened. The "Bell Farms Now Open" banner has been replaced by a permanent sign on Main St., but the storefront looks substantially the same. Not a bad looking store. Except for the off-centered floodlights, which bother me. Stepping inside, we find that there is actually now decor on the walls! The store's produce selection is great, but some of the products could have been much fresher than they were. Hmm, nothing in this case is really produce. The bakery, immediately next to the entrance, ...

What happens when you take over a store that has promotional signage around? Well, you can put words in people's mouths... Key Food Marketplace (now Superfresh), Fairview, NJ ...you can encourage people to shop elsewhere... Fine Fare Supermarket (now Bell Farms), Belleville, NJ ...but whatever you do, you can't do the job well. Key Food Fairview again.