The Market Report

Fine Fare Supermarkets Owner: Tony Perri Opened:  1977 Previous Tenants:  Safeway (1951-1960s) > Finast (1960s) > Foodland (1973-1977) Cooperative:  Retail Grocers Group Location:  320 3rd Ave, Long Branch, NJ Photographed:  January 2021 Our second store tour in Long Branch is the 19,000 square foot Fine Fare! (And make sure to check out the first, at Exito Freshmarket downtown, here .) As far as background goes, the Asbury Park Press did an excellent profile of this store and its owners back in 2018, which you should read here before taking a look at my tour. I think the article might be slightly mistaken on the history of the building, though, since the store was built as a Safeway in 1951, not as a Finast -- which had no New Jersey presence as early as 1951. They later entered the state by purchasing most of New Jersey's former Safeway locations in the 70s, and they closed or sold all of their New Jersey stores by 1977. Other examples of former Safewa...

Just about 13 miles west of Canning is the small town of Cold Brook. It's home to a Foodland, which uses the Sobeys/Compliments group. The store is part of a small indoor mall, and it's on the lower level. So entering here will give you a staircase to head down into the supermarket -- and a good overview of the store. Now is as good a time as any to discuss the layout. Produce is in the front left corner, with meat continuing along the first aisle. Dairy runs along the back wall of the store, with frozen at the far end of the store. Here's the rear/lower level entrance. Looking from the produce alcove towards the front of the store. This store doesn't have a deli, but deli products are in these cases we see running along the first aisle. Here we're looking over towards the produce alcove (left) and the first aisle (right). For a closer look at produce... You know, it seems like everyone loves local. I've seen signs to that effect or...