MANAHAWKIN — ShopRite marked the grand opening of its new ShopRite of Manahawkin on Feb. 4 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening-day celebration at the Manahawkin Commons shopping center.
The new supermarket, located at 733 Route 72 West, opened its doors at 7 a.m. as members of the Saker family — owners and operators of Saker ShopRites — joined community leaders and employees to welcome shoppers.
Some shoppers lined up as early as 4 a.m. to be the first to step inside.
The first 200 customers in line received gift bags filled with product samples and coupons, while visitors throughout the day were treated to in-store sampling and other activities.
The store replaces the former ShopRite at Stafford Square and is more than twice the size of the previous location, representing a significant expansion for the Manahawkin area. The project also brought new jobs to the region, with additional full- and part-time employees hired ahead of the opening.
“This new Manahawkin store allows us to provide a modern shopping experience with more space, more services and more variety,” said Richard Saker, president and chief executive officer of Saker ShopRites. “It reflects our continued commitment to quality, convenience and serving the needs of the local community.”
The new location features a broad selection of groceries, including locally sourced products, fresh produce, national brands and ShopRite’s private label lines such as Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry and Paperbird. Shoppers will also find expanded international food options and a wide range of prepared meals.
Additional departments include a full-service bakery, meat and seafood counters staffed by trained specialists, a floral department, and a deli and prepared foods section offering World Class Kitchens and Dearborn Farms items. The store also includes a pharmacy and access to ShopRite’s online shopping service.
As part of the grand opening, the Saker family presented a $10,000 donation to Fulfill Food Bank to support hunger relief efforts in the region.
Saker ShopRites is a family-owned company operated by third- and fourth-generation grocers, with stores across several New Jersey counties, including Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset and Mercer.
