The Market Report

Wholesome Fresh Opened:  2018 Owner:  Eun Hye Yoo Previous Tenants:  Market in the Square Cooperative:  none Location:  60 Church St, Cambridge, MA Photographed:  July 21, 2019 Today's post is a look at Wholesome Fresh, a small corner grocer/bodega type store where the focus is the deli and prepared foods. It's a fairly common setup in parts of New York City, with rows of self-service hot and cold food bars in the middle and other features around the outside, usually things like a deli and grill, tossed salads, sushi, tacos, ramen, or the like. But it's not too common outside the city. Here, Wholesome Fresh is very close to Harvard's campus, so it's likely attracting college students who want something quick. The store is small, about 4000 square feet, and definitely isn't a supermarket. But although the front half has mostly grab-and-go items and prepared foods, there are a few grocery aisles in the back. The owners appear to be Korean-American, and there'...

First off, I've fixed yesterday's post with the video of the ribbon cutting embedded. Now for today's snapshot! I sometimes firmly believe I am going crazy. I know for a fact I've photographed the Super Supermarket on 1st Ave (albeit just a quick snapshot) and I'm nearly certain it was even up on Flickr. But now I can't find those pictures anywhere and I don't have it listed on my master spreadsheet. Anyhow, luckily I have other Elizabeth content that I can swap in for today! This grocery store, at 124 W Jersey St, is in that gray space between supermarket and bodega. It's small but seems to have a pretty solid lineup of departments (grocery, deli, meat, frozen, dairy, produce). I've never been inside so I couldn't categorize it for sure. Photographed January 2019

Our second-to-last neighborhood is Norwood, with a low-key business district stretching along a few blocks of Jerome Ave. As I've mentioned previously, there are a lot of very small neighborhoods very close together in the Bronx. This store has been a corner deli-grocery market for years, in fact it's been Big G for more than 30 years. I really can't tell what departments or selections the store has to offer, but it looks like mostly a deli-grocery. It's located at the southern end of the Norwood business district, 3386 Jerome Ave at the corner of E Mosholu Pkwy. Photographed June 2018

First off, sorry for the late post. By the time I finally got around to writing this post, it was after midnight, so out of habit, I just clicked on the calendar to schedule for the next day at midnight instead of choosing publish now. Anyway, here you go! Today's snapshot is a corner bodega that's taken the next steps in promoting healthy food in lower income neighborhoods that need it most, partnering with Montefiore Health System's Healthy Store Initiative. The program is designed to bring fresh products and healthier choices into stores that serve as neighborhood convenience shopping stops, rather than big shopping destinations. The store is located at 101 E 196th St and is that uniquely New York City blend of tiny bodega with full grocery and meat selection. Definitely a tiny place! I do like the new facade with the fake wood design. It's a nice contrast to the green awning and the lettering really stands out. And tomorrow we jump right back in...

Unfortunately, although I photographed this store, I seem to have lost my photo. I only took one exterior shot. It's a small bodega-style store just a few doors down from New Kingsbridge Market. It's at 19 E Kingsbridge Rd. So for this post, sadly, a Google Maps street view will have to do. Tomorrow, come back for a tour at the Morton Williams just a few more doors west!

As we head down towards the main business district of Kingsbridge, which runs along Broadway, we pause to take a look at a small grocery store up at 238th St. I don't usually photograph small grocery stores and bodegas, but this one was worth snapping as I walked by. Now Vargas Deli Grocery, we see clear remnants of "R. Mini Market" on the facade that appears to be under construction. I love old signs like this and couldn't pass up the chance to photograph it! Vargas Deli Grocery is located at 210 W 238th St, Bronx, NY. Photographed June 2018