Whole Foods Market coming to Marlboro???

[wench31]

I was just reading News Transcript that a shopping center has been approved for construction on Rte 9 and Rte 520. One of a few possibles that have been referenced is Whole Foods Market.

I really hope so:

http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news...

[angelo04]

Hard to believe this thread is 2 years old. Construction is well underway ........finally! Anyone know the target date for the grand opening?

[MarlboroMan]

Actually... THREE years old! Took them long enough.. but they work every day, no matter the weather. The folks at PNC bank think it will be late summer.

[jrvedivici]

This just reminded me of the Johnny Carson spoof of Carnac the Great:

Answer: PNC Bank Rt. 9 Marlboro

Question: Where does MarlboroMan do his banking!!

[MarlboroMan]

Great, now everyone knows. :)

[angelo04]

Now only if that trader joes rumor would come true!

[jrvedivici]

I gotta tell you I live near the Shewsbury location and there was such hype about their coming to town........I just don't care for them. A few select things perhaps......but not a destination store of mine.

[kattyshack]

i know what you mean. i don't understand the appeal of trader joe's. as far as i can tell, their specialty seems to be fancy frozen foods ...if there is such a thing.

[MarlboroMan]

Construction well underway. I would estimate the building to the far left will be the Walgreen's, Whole Foods in the middle, but can't figure out what the completed building on the right is.. but it LOOKS like a restaurant of some sort.

Edited to add: Well, I was wrong. The big building on the right will be Walgreen's. There will also be a Verizon store (what, the one in Manalapan isn't close enough?)

See: http://www.paganorealestate.com/pdf/m...

[wench31]

LOL! We don't have enough of Verizon stores!

[43prince]

I just heard that Whole Foods backed out and Trader Joes
is coming to Marlboro. It should open by the summer.

[wench31]

That is truly great news! Keeping my fingers crossed that it is true!!!!

[wench31]

I called up TJ's in Shrewsbury and they said that there's no future openings in the area. :(

[angelo04]

WF Marlboro location listed on WF website.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/compa...

[kattyshack]

the hubbub about the traffic -while understandable is only slightly ridiculous. if not whole foods, it will be someone else. it's about time a decent market opened up in the area. i live in colts neck right off of 520 and i'm stuck with driving to middletown to visit the WF there or the wegman's on rt 9. wegman's is great, but i prefer grass fed beef -which they do not sell.

the closest option for me now is an A&P on 520 and rt 79. it's filthy, old and selection is non existent. it's probably the worst supermarket in the county. with WF (and trader joe's) as options i would definitely forgo convenience for real quality.

[MarlboroMan]

Kattyshack (great screen name by the way!) - I was just at Wegman's on Friday, buying some meat for a dinner I was hosting (ended up going with bacon wrapped pork tenderloin.. turned out fabulous!) ANYWAY, Wegman's now has grass fed beef. Yes, I was surprised to see it too. I have not tried it yet, but I definitely will soon. (It's in the back of the store.. there is a whole section of "grass fed" - beef chunks for stew, filet, strip steaks, etc.)

[kattyshack]

that's great to know! thanks marlboro man. i've been wanting to make stuffed peppers so i'll have to head over there tomorrow. was going to make the trip to middletown but wegman's is much closer. thanks again!

[joestein]

Marlboro Man,

Shoprite at Union Hill & Rt 9 carries "Natures Reserve" beef. It is a free range, grass fed, hormone free, sustainable beef from Australia. Their website is: http://naturesreservebeef.com

The best part is, for some reason this beef is less per lb than the usual american standard beef. Right now, they have Natures Reserve Ribeye on Sale for $5.99/lb. I had some for dinner on Sunday with a nice espresso rub and it was great.

They usually have the whole filet mignon on sale every month or so from Nature Reserve. It can run from 6.99/lb to 2.99/lb. I buy the whole piece and bring it home and butcher it myself. Just don't have the people at Shoprite butcher it. I asked them to tie it up into one large roast, and when I got home I discovered they doubled up the fat end instead of the thin end. Instead of a even log apperance, it looked like a giant "sperm".

[eleeper]

I don't go to the A&P at 520/79, but my friend (who is very fastidious) does,so I'm surprised you describe it as filthy. Old and small I'll grant you (sounds a bit like the Shop-Rite on Rte. 9 just north of Rte. 516 in Old Bridge). But for people in the area who are doing basic shopping, old and small is probably just fine.

I suspect the Asian Food Market will get a lot of non-Asian shoppers, as it is the only grocery in its area (that I'm aware of).

[njgirl]

The A & P on Rt 79 and 520 is beyond filthy! I can tell you because I am a supervisor and it's one of my stores sorry to say! I'm so hoping the Whole Foods is coming so I can switch jobs! If you think any of the A & P stores are clean then you must not have a sense of smell and you need glasses lol...you can smell the bacteria odor when you walk in the store and you can often in Shoprite stores also. On Wegmans they know how to operate a supermarket as does Whole Foods and yes Wegman's has had grass fed beef for quite some time now. Yes we need Trader Joe's next...Whole Foods, Wegman's, Trader Joes...everyone else can close down....

[angelo04]

Weren't we also expecting a trader joe's in that area too or was that just a rumor?

[wench31]

Anybody have updates on Whole Foods?

[gumpycat]

http://manalapan.patch.com/articles/w...

"Whole Foods Market, the world's leading retailer of natural and organic food products, will be opening a store in Marlboro in late 2012. The supermarket will be the centerpiece of the new Marlboro Commons shopping center, to be located at the corner of Route 9 South and County Route 520."

[MarlboroMan]

Considering that article was written nearly a year ago, and they still haven't broken ground yet, I don't believe it. Even if they start today, no way it will be done by the end of this year.

The project for some reason has stagnated, kinda like that Middle Eastern restaurant a bit south of there.

[yCf]

I don't believe we are getting a WF also.

Speaking of that Middle Eastern restaurant, everytime I see that sign, I can't help but think that banner is just a sneaky way for them to get free advertising for their Edison location.

[MarlboroMan]

Well, the ground has finally been broken. There is a large earthmover on the site and a few big piles of dirt. According to an article in the News Transcript, the stores are expected to open in early 2013. The PNC bank will remain where it is. Which is good, because that's where i bank. :)

[MarlboroMan]

Oh, and I see recent work has been done on the Middle Eastern restaurant. Every time I pass by (which is frequently), it looks a little bit different.

[wench31]

MarlboroMan, is Whole Foods going to be behind PNC ? I've been looking at the wrong spot the whole time ! I thought it was going to take over the old Pathmark .
What middle eastern restaurant ?

[MarlboroMan]

I'm not exactly sure WHERE it's going to be.. they started moving earth in front, near the corner of Rts. 520 and 9. I think there's a lot of land in back.. the newspaper said something like 17 acres.

The Middle Eastern restaurant-to-be is on Rt. 9 South, past Union Hill Rd. It used to be "Pet Paradise" long ago and was shuttered/abandoned for quite some time. There is a sign out front saying "Coming in 2011" (a little bit behind schedule LOL). I forget the name of the place, but they have another location in Edison.

[yCf]

Their name of Med Restaurant is Le Vant. The location in Edison looks nice from the outside. I have not try since i usually go Chinese or Korean when I am in that area.

[MarlboroMan]

I guess this is the look they're trying to go for:

http://levantcuisine.com/coming-soon

[MarlboroMom]

Costco opened. Pathmark closed and is now empty. I live close to Rt.9 & 520 and many residents attending Planning Bd meetings opposing the development of the Whole Foods Market. Don't get me wrong..(love WF) and it was NOT because of the "not in my backyard" mentality. We are worried about the TRAFFIC NIGHTMARES. Mayor Hornik believes it will be an "improvement". We'll see if that's still the sentiment after he's out of office. The area is already packed and with not much room to expand Rt. 9 or 520. Try making a turn at that intersection now and you risk your lives.

-----
Whole Foods Market
222 Main St, Madison, NJ 07940

[cantkick]

Based on what happened in Middletown, I can't imagine there will be any problems caused by adding a WF in the area. The stores aren't that big, and as specialty stores, won't have the same volume of traffic as a full supermarket. The only traffic problem near Middletown's store is idiot drivers (mostly SUVs) making a left turn from the left lane into the right lane, running cars into the shoulder. But that was happening even before the store came.

[HillJ]

Does this new Costco sell wine?

[angelo04]

I hope.....Heading there today, will report back. Not to digress, I started buying cases from wine.com. You can get great deals and delivered straight to your door.

But still, Hoping this Costco has wine. They too get some great deals on bottles I would normally never buy. Fingers crossed.

[HillJ]

Thanks angelo04. I look for your reply back on thread. I just visited the Wine Academy in Hazlet; rec'd their 200 free pours card....very handy!

[RGR]

No wine at the Marlboro location.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[HillJ]

Good to know, saves me a trip.

[angelo04]

Boo Hiss!

[HillJ]

angelo04, you might want to check out Wine Academy. I love the grotto, free wine pours and friendly staff. Large & lovely selection at every price....even Trader Joe's low price competitive. But it's back to Edison at the holidays...

[angelo04]

I will give it a go down the road, I just got 2 cases, one from wine.com and another a friend put together.

[angelo04]

Better yet HillJ, Wine Academy is opening across from Pathmark at the Marlbroro Diamond Plaza just past the diner!

[HillJ]

Good for you! I'm a very happy Wine Academy customer.

[RGR]

I'm guessing the reason Cosco isn't selling wine is that there are no liquor licenses available in Marlboro at the present time. I recall that when ShopRite first opened, they did not have a liquor store.but eventually opened one -- albeit not in the store itself but a few doors down -- several years later. Same with Wegman's, in Manalapan, though their liquor store is contiguous. So, it's possible that could happen with Costco.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[menton1]

Trader Joe's has been turned down trying to sell wine in their stores in every location in NJ except Westfield. Mostly it's been local issues. Too bad for the consumer, the $3 Charles Shaw wines that TJs sells are a fabulous value.

[angelo04]

Even better is the TJ reserve label pinot noir at roughly $6 a bottle. I have also come across some good prosecco's at the same price point at the westfield location.

[OGguy]

TJ's in Princeton sells wine and beer

[HillJ]

Amazing developments in Marlboro. I wonder how Wegman's feels about three major stores opening in their well-heeled turf. TJ's, Costco and Whole Foods, wow. Maybe Wegman's will open on my end of monmouth county!

[menton1]

The area would be much better off if Fairway decides to come that way...

[angelo04]

Looks like construction on Costco is underway. Any idea when they are targeting completion?

[RGR]

According to this list, the Marlboro Costco is scheduled to open July 6th.

http://addictedtocostco.com/costco-locations/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[yCf]

great news but i question the location. Traffic will be horrible around that area.

[Karensue723]

I heard that Costco was coming to Route 9 and 520

[wench31]

Now all we need is Trader Joes!

[seal]

Building a new shopping center while a perfectly good space near rt 18 and 79 goes empty seems like a waste. But I do love some of the things at Whole Foods and this is a lot closer than going towards Red Bank and Middletown,

[njchowgal]

as a friend recently pointed out, whole foods=whole paycheck. i am excited about the possibility of a whole foods nearby, but i am also a little nervous

[MarlboroMan]

I live very close to the proposed development, and I must admit, I have mixed feelings. While a Whole Foods market in Marlboro "makes sense" on paper, I question that location, but I guess the board already made up their minds. (Keep in mind, there's a Pathmark across the street, and a World Class Shoprite about a half mile south of that).

While we love Whole Foods, I'm not sure I want one within a mile of my home. Too much temptation. :)

[charmel]

I heard confirmation of this at a speech given recently by Marlboro's Mayor Hornik

[mbw1024]

excellent!
but another walgreens .. oy vey! ;)

[JonathanStrobel]

Im NOT looking forward to traffic with a Costco where Regal used to be, and now they want to add a Whole Foods, too?! #FML!!!

[eleeper]

If Whole Foods goes where Pathmark was, I don't see it adding a lot of traffic after the initial burst of interest.

[JonathanStrobel]

But they are going next to PNC Bank!

[RGR]

I've heard that a Trader Joe's will be taking the Pathmark space. As Jonathan said, Whole Foods will be across the road near the PNC Bank, on the corner of 9 South & 520.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

-----
Trader Joe's
725 River Road, Edgewater, NJ

[Karensue723]

Where did you hear that Trader Joe's was taking over the Pathmark space?

-----
Trader Joe's
725 River Road, Edgewater, NJ

[MarlboroMan]

I heard the same thing.

[JonathanStrobel]

The LOGICAL way to go would be to put Whole Foods where Pathmark was and Put trader joes in a smaller area...

[MarlboroMan]

Well, I found out yesterday what's going where Pathmark was, and sad to say, it's NOT Trader Joe's.. or even food related. It's "Hobby Lobby" and my wife nearly came out of her skin with joy last night (there is work being performed at the Pathmark store.. we were dining at Jerry & Harvey's for my wife's birthday and asked the waitress).

This fact is confirmed on their website.

http://www.hobbylobby.com/stores/stor...

[wench31]

I was driving by there and was wondering about the old Pathmark. I noticed that there are 3 buildings being built across the street. Do you know what the the other 2 buildings going to be?

[MarlboroMan]

I know one of them is going to be a Walgreen's.. you know, to compete with the CVS up the road. Funny how often I see a Walgreen's adjacent to a CVS.

[EL7]

What a dissapointment! I don't need any other hobbies except for cooking and eating. What a shame. Thanks for the info, I think and Happy Birthday to your wife!