The following is a joint press release from the East Haven Mayor's Office and ShopRite.
Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. announced today that East Haven’s Route 80 corridor will become home to the brand new ShopRite of East Haven beginning in the Fall of 2013.
Maturo announced, “East Haven is proud to welcome ShopRite to town, and especially to the Route 80 corridor. ShopRite’s arrival will be an enormous economic boost for the community, will provide hundreds of new job opportunities, and will complement the wonderful businesses currently operating on and around Route 80.”
The ShopRite store, which will occupy the former A&P food store building at 713-745 Foxon Road, will be owned and operated by the Garafalo family of Milford, CT, who currently operate ShopRite stores in Milford, Stratford, West Haven and Hamden, CT.
Maturo explained, “According to a letter of intent received by the Town in late January, the new store will employ between 200 and 225 full and part time associates, providing many new employment opportunities for residents in and around Town.”
The renovated plaza, when complete, will be renamed ShopRite Plaza and will include a 59,000 square foot ShopRite that will offer the local community a wide range of products and services at ShopRite’s traditional low prices.
In addition to a broad array of groceries and fresh produce delivered seven days a week, the supermarket will offer many amenities ShopRite customers have come to expect, including: a fresh bake shop that can create custom wedding cakes; custom cut fresh meats; fresh seafood delivered daily; a full-service floral department; a pharmacy with free nutritional counseling; as well as a broad selection of ethnic foods, including a diverse selection of groceries from around the world.
Natural and organic products will be available throughout the store, which will also feature a large selection of gluten-free items.
At a later date, for the convenience of its customers, the ShopRite of East Haven will offer ShopRite from Home with in-store pickup and delivery service and will have the free services of an on-site Dietitian to help customers shop for healthy choices or specific diets.
The new store will be outfitted with the latest energy-saving and sustainable technologies in refrigeration and lighting, including LED and T-8 lighting and environmentally friendly refrigerant systems.
Maturo continued, “My team and I have made it a priority to actively recruit new businesses to occupy spaces on major thoroughfares, including Route 80, Frontage Road, and Main Street. In just 14 short months, we have worked hard to bring ShopRite, Hobby Lobby, and host of new small businesses to Town to complement the hundreds of businesses which already operate here in East Haven.”
Maturo concluded, “I’d like to thank the Garafalo family for bringing this new store to our community. It is refreshing to see that while many other towns across the State are struggling to keep businesses from moving away, East Haven is proving to be fertile ground for new businesses to open and prosper.”
“My family and I are proud and excited to be bringing another ShopRite store to Connecticut and we look forward to bringing the same level of customer service, variety, value and low prices that we offer in our other ShopRites to this new location in East Haven.” said Harry Garafalo, President of Milford Markets. “We look forward to becoming part of the East Haven community and working hard to become your neighborhood ShopRite.”
