Oceanside Stop & Shop set to open

Atlantic Avenue market to be ready next month

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By this time next month, Oceansiders and those from nearby communities will be able to finally do their shopping at the brand new Super Stop & Shop on Atlantic Avenue.

Built on the site of the former Camp DeBaun, the new supermarket is set to open in mid-May, according to Stop & Shop officials. Employees of the store have been hired and are already being trained in other locations. Plans call for the store to be open from 6 a.m. to midnight.

“I think it’s a great addition to the neighborhood,” said Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino. “I understand there are some people that had concerns about traffic, and that’s one of the things we’ll look at. But in an economic environment when almost nothing is happening, this is a major commercial addition and it’s a shot in the arm to the Oceanside community.”

Camp DeBaun closed three years ago after it became too costly for the DeBaun family, which owned and operated the summer camp, to run it. Craig DeBaun sold the property to the developer for an undisclosed price.

The Super Stop & Shop has been designed to look very different from other supermarkets. “It was made to look as much like a residential edifice as you can possibly get,” explained Santino. “It pretty much blends in with the residential character of the community.”

While many came out in support of the project, residents in the immediate vicinity of the Atlantic Avenue construction were concerned that a supermarket would bring much more traffic to the area. Santino tried to assure those residents that any problems that arise will be dealt with to the best of the town’s

ability.

“With everything positive, there are always some negatives,” said Santino. “And I know some people like to focus on those negatives. But I think it’s going to be a net benefit. And whatever negatives there are, people can be assured that the town will attempt to mitigate them to the extent possible.”