Stop & Shop opens its doors

Christina Daly/Herald

Stop & Shop, at 85 E. Park Ave., opened on Nov. 13 at the former Waldbaum’s space. It has assumed the 99-year lease that began in 1983.

Christina Daly/Herald

Store manager Frank Mazovec, left, presented a check to Johanna Sofield and Jack Radin of the Long Beach Christmas Angel at the supermarket’s grand opening last week.

Courtesy Stop & Shop

The new Stop & Shop location features produce, baked goods, meat and seafood as well as an assortment of organic products.

Courtesy Project11561/Facebook

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The Long Beach Stop & Shop held its grand opening on Nov. 13, and the store was flooded all weekend with shoppers looking to give the new supermarket a try. The store, at 85 E. Park Ave., is the former site of Waldbaum’s and one of 25 supermarkets in the area that are being converted to Stop & Shops after Waldbaum’s parent company, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July.

“I’m happy to see things move forward,” said Point Lookout resident Donna Brown. “I think we’re all looking for a place we can shop at where we’re comfortable and everything is nice and neat and friendly. It’s all about community — and this works for me.”

The Long Beach Stop & Shop includes a produce section, bakery, meat and seafood departments and an extensive assortment of natural and organic products — including more than 1,400 Nature’s Promise products as well as gluten-free and special dietary needs selections. The store also features a refreshed modern décor, updated refrigeration systems, new lighting, state-of-the-art technology, and other improvements. Peapod, an internet-based grocery delivery service, will also be available to customers.

As part of its bankruptcy proceedings, A&P — which has nearly 300 supermarkets and other stores under several brands, including A&P, Waldbaum’s, SuperFresh, Pathmark, Food Basics, the Food Emporium and Best Cellars — announced that it would close 25 stores and put hundreds of others up for sale. Stop & Shop agreed to acquire 25 of the stores in New York and New Jersey for $146 million, according to a press release issued by Stop & Shop.

The City of Long Beach, which owns the Park Avenue location, agreed to a 99-year lease with Waldbaum’s in 1983 as part of former City Manager Ed Eaton’s efforts to revitalize the city. The city said that Stop & Shop assumed that lease as part of the bankruptcy proceeding.

Brown said that the supermarket was a little crowded and chaotic Monday as she shopped, but she chalked it up to the new location working out its kinks and commended her fellow shoppers for having a good sense of humor about things.