Fresh & Green’s Markets in Chestertown terminated 10 employees last Tuesday–ending a honeymoon period that started on July 6 when Natural Market Restaurant Corporation of Ontario, Canada took control of the old Super Fresh Store from the bankrupt Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company.
“I was directed last Tuesday to the manager’s office and was told my services wouldn’t be needed anymore,” said a terminated employee who requested anonymity. “When I asked why I was terminated, I was told I’d have to refer any questions to our union, and when I contacted the union, they had not heard about the layoffs.”
Seven part-time and three full-time employees were terminated and had anywhere from three to 18 years at the location with the former Super Fresh, according to the terminated employee.
The employee said there was “huge” disappointment because they had all had put “their best foot forward, taken the pay cuts, and really tried to help Fresh and Green’s get to know the locals and become successful.”
“Now after working hard to get things rolling, we will lose our health benefits, many of us have kids,” the terminated employee said.
“One of our biggest complaints from customers was not having enough selection, and the number of customers seriously dropped off from when we were Super Fresh,” the terminated employee said. “I think they are having serious financial problems.”
NMRC CEO Matt Williams told the Spy in June that negotiations with the union representing Super Fresh workers were very amicable, and that all of the employees will keep their jobs.
“We look forward to working with them,” Williams said in June.
Calls to Williams to comment on this story went unreturned by today’s deadline.
StellaL says
This is sad. I have felt that Fresh and Green should have had their “grand opening” already with all their
“new” items available. Perhaps if this had occured, many more people would be shopping there.
laura D says
Thank you, Daniel, for this important news report. I am sorry and concerned that this new employer/business– that the Spy gave so much unquestioned positive PR to before it opened– is now turning out to be a negative influence on the local employment market. We need a supermarket, but all the promises these Canadians made to get into our local community are clearly not being kept.
Phil says
Guess we still don’t need Wal-Mart nearby, right? I bet 10 newly unemployed people might think otherwise.
Fleurs says
There was a grand opening of a Wegman’s in Abingdon and the place was stormed by potential shoppers. See:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/harford/news/business/ph-ag-wegmans-opening-0921-20110921,0,4107728.story
It’s a real shame that Fresh and Green didn’t take more of an interest in making a go of this local store. The hype before the not-so-evident “opening” made, at least, me want to check out this new addition to Chestertown’s food purveyors. I was underwhelmed, and continued to be so. Prices were high and selection was low. Despite a helpful and cheerful staff, people will not shop in a store where they can’t find what they want at reasonable prices. I am very sorry for the terminated employees and their families. It’s not their fault that management decided not to focus on making the Chestertown store a winner. Just look at the hype accompanying the opening of the Wegman’s in Abingdon. Granted a much larger community, but the fact is that the Canadian corporation neglected to publicize their arrival in Chestertown in any way. I hope the terminated employees will be able to find employment locally, but the fact is that there isn’t much around, as is evidenced by their having to take pay cuts in order to have jobs with Fresh and Green.
Back to the Future says
It looks like someone, or everyone got hoodwinked. I, for one, will no longer shop there, as the mansgement of the company does not keep its word.
Perry says
I’ll make a prediction- this store will be closed within a year. I shopped there for the first time this week, and expected much more than I saw. 2 of the 3 things on my list were not available, so I rolled the cart outside and drove to the Acme. They had a full stock of items, good sales, and all of what I was looking for, despite the feeling of being back in the late 70s.
More disturbing to me was the general condition of both shopping centers- parking lots in need of repaving, and just a general sense of a demoralized economy in Chestertown. Both centers look like centers in depressed areas of the country- which makes me wonder if that is the case in Chestertown.
Joe Diamond says
The local stores will hold you over until you can go shopping in Dover,
The local gas stations and garages will keep your car running to get you to and from a job elsewhere. The local college will educate you to a level where you will be hired elsewhere; the local HS, not so much.
Should you want to buy stuff here you will want to bring money from elsewhere because you won’t make it here.
With a little work attracting outside business this place could be another Detroit.
Joe
country girl says
I went in Fresh & Green once and the only reason I might go back in there is because I need something that I couldn’t find at the Acme or Dollar General. May start making monthly shopping trips again to DE. So sad this town does not have a decent grocery store.
Bocephus says
I agree with Phil on this one. If we could get a Wal-Mart up and running quick fast and in a hurry we may fix the problem with employment around here. My heart goes out to those 10 employees. While we are on that topic i heard there is possibly a Wal-Mart going to be built out on 544 any truth to this?? As for the “management” at this fresh and green….nevermind can’t say it on here cause it won’t get posted.
Born and Raised Here says
It is very sad that these people have lost their jobs, and sadder that there isn’t any jobs for them to go look for. Queen Annes County has tried to clear the way for a store like Wal Mart to build but I don’t think it will happen. Chestertown and the surrounding counties have alot to offer but the ones who make the decisions continue to overlook one of its greatest resources, its young residents. Nowhere is there for its young residents to live and work here and be able to survive. The “old” establishment continues to make sure of that. There are only three groups of people our town and county are interested in, the retired, the college, and the tourist. If you do not fall into one of these groups then forget it. Our 300 year old town could be an economic power house that would generate jobs and revenue for eveyone but will only be a 300 year town with a 300 year old way of thinking. The town, college and county all say they have a “vision” and thats exactly what this area is going to become, a vision, of the past. There will be no old if there is no young. There will be no past if there is no present. There will be nothing here as long as there is nothing here to come to. Next time you are in town, stop and look around. What do you see? A beautiful town, yes. A good college, yes. A place where you can live and work with your family and afford to survive, not a chance!