Dennis Silicato, owner of Washington Square Shopping Center, is courting three potential grocers to take over the former Fresh & Greens location, said Town Manager Bill Ingersoll at the Jan. 6 meeting of the Chestertown Council.
Fresh & Greens closed their six Maryland stores at the end of December.
“[Silicato] predicted that by March they should be signing papers with one grocer or another,” Ingersoll said.
“What the town will do is absolutely make it known to the owners that we will do whatever we can within the guidelines to try and get another store,” said Mayor Chris Cerino.
In the audience at the meeting was the owner of Chestertown Natural Foods, Trish Young-Gruber, who rose to remind the council that Chestertown has another option to buy groceries. She also announced that plans for her store’s expansion were underway.
“I’d like to remind everybody that Chestertown Natural Foods is another grocery store.” Young-Gruber said. “We are actually getting our expansion plans…we are a locally owned business, we are invested in this community, we are not owned by a bunch of investment bankers [and] we have the town’s best interest at heart at all times.”
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Jose Medrano says
Editor,
Chestertown Natural Foods is a viable alternative to a major chain grocery store for this area. Once their expansion plans are realized, they will be able to offer a wider variety of healthy alternatives that have gained wide acceptance in our society. They offer fresh produce, meats and non-perishables along with helpful supplements. There are also smaller local stores such as the Mexican market located next to Austin Carpets that carry on a limited basis fresh produce and other foods. In addition, the Dollar General and to a lesser degree the Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and Roses offer on a limited basis non-perishable at a lower price than larger chains and convenience stores.
George R. Shivers says
Editor,
I would like to encourage your readers to shop at the Chestertown Natural Food Store. They have an excellent and varied inventory, and you might be surprised to find the prices for most items very competitive. During the summer and fall, for example, I was able to get organic blueberries and strawberries there at a much lower price than at Fresh and Green’s. For those of us who want to shop local and organic as much as possible C-Town Natural Foods is ideal. The owners are also very willing to receive suggestions from their customers and have acquired several items that I have requested over the years. That is something the Acme seems to be completely unwilling to do, typical of large box stores owned by out-of-town corporations.
Helen Merenda says
Editor,
Totally agree with George! I love the fact that C’town Natural Foods carries a wide variety of really FRESH organic veggies & fruits at very reasonable prices—and they also purchase what is available from many local farms and dairies. I quit buying organic milk at the regular grocery store, because I prefer the freshness & quality of the LOCAL dairy Trish sells. Customer service is great with a knowledgeable staff and no long lines! It’s been my experience that if they don’t stock it, they will offer to order it for you. I think that people sometimes forget that we really DO have a gem of a grocery store on Cannon Street that enables us to truly support local business, rather than some corporate chain (selling GMO and mystery foods). I am grateful for the Gruber’s hard work & commitment to provide this service and wish them the best with their expansion!
Linda Hall says
Editor,
This is very good news. It would be great if a chain like Trader Joe’s would come in.I realize they did a study for one in Easton but didn’t find enough population to support one there. If one was put in Chestertown we would draw on Middletown, Centreville, and Easton to come here to support it and beat out Middletown for the commerce. I also believe Giant Foods has a smaller subsidiary store that would fit into the Kent County population.
Gerald Maynes says
Editor,
Giant Foods is owned by Ahold and does not have a small store unit. The idea that Trader Joes would like to locate south of The St Georges Bridge is a possibility, however they would more then likely build in tax free Middletown, with a population much larger than Tax-burdened Chestertown. (If a person from Middletown wanted to visit A Trader Joes, they more then likely would travel north to Route 202 in Fairfax De)
Insiders in the trade tell me that it will be a Super-Valu customer, Sav-A-Lot, Redners or their own banner store group. Sav-A-Lot would give you a limited assortment store with a limited Meat Department Dairy, no Deli and a small produce department. Redners would give you a warehouse discounter, with fresh meats a deli and produce, all a grade below Acme.
Sheri Leach says
Editor,
Suffice it to say, they really need to take a long hard look at what they put there.The idea of Chestertown Natural is a great idea!
The problems with Acme and other stores is they do not offer value with a commitment to freshness,cleanliness,customer service,organic or other items that folks really would like to have.To put a reduced price store in there again would be detrimental to the community.People will shop else where and send there hard earned dollars to Delaware or another county which is what is hindering the county at the moment. They need to be forward thinking and not make such foolish decisions based on what those other stores that you mentioned would/could say to allow such an impractical grocery to supplant the really horrid one that just left.
You folks need to wake up and smell the coffee before its too late and let your voices be heard about advancing the awareness of organic,non gmo foods and getting healthier alternative to the over abundant and factory fed red meat industry.Why keep lining someone else’s pockets when you can get grass fed ,local farm raised fresh meats right here in Chestertown. Keep the money and taxes here…..SHOP LOCAL… not the next county or another state!!!!!
gerald maynes says
Editor,
Acme has high standards for freshness and cleanliness. Don!t confuse old with dirt. As for customer service, a business needs to make a profit to stay open. It can only support so many man hours and pay the help a living wage. You are getting a new expanded building and when done you will not even know where the old building even was.
As for the dream of having a supermarket that carries every item, in every size ever made and having free range chicken etc and a personalized clerk for every person in Chestertown, isn’t going to happen. A store like that would have to charge way too much to be successful. Remember for every wealthy person in town there are 200 who are not. A discounter will do very well.
Remember, the sad truth is that Chestertown, has a small population ,has high taxes and retailers are not dying to get in. Remember high Gloss floor wax and better lighting, will make any market look cleaner (Redners trade secret).
Nancy Johnson says
Editor,
As a new resident to Chestertown, I can tell you that I have found Chestertown Natural Foods a great addition to down town. The store is well stocked and the employees are always helpful. If there is an item that they don’t carry, often times they can order it. I find the prices competitive. In the summer, fresh herbs abound and they will cut them for you while you wait, if you like. Also, for convenience sake, to have a store right in town that I can walk to is a real bonus. This little store has a lot going for it and I am just hearing about the expansion, which will be a plus. And shopping locally owned just makes sense.