ShopRite Opens in Philly Food Desert

Brown’s Super Stores has opened its 11th ShopRite store, ShopRite of Fox Street. The 71,000-square-foot supermarket anchors the Baker’s Centre, located on the former Tasty Baking Factory site in the Allegheny West section of Philadelphia, and has created more than 300 new jobs for local residents.

The Aug. 1 grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, featured live entertainment from local group Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes.

“We are thrilled to be joining this community, which has been without a supermarket for more than 20 years,” said Jeff Brown, president and CEO of Westville, N.J.-based Brown’s Super Stores. “After operating supermarkets in Philadelphia for 25 years and collaborating with this local community for over three years, I believe we have developed one of the most innovative retail experiences available today.”

Offerings at the store will include Brown’s popular sweet potato line, a large international department, a fresh seafood section selling live fish, and a hot Chinese buffet. It will also feature Brown’s all new fire-grilled chicken, as well as a Chickie’s & Pete’s Express restaurant.

Additionally, ShopRite of Fox Street represents Brown’s vision for the future of supermarkets, which includes affordable financial services through an in-store American Heritage Credit Union providing no-fee banking, and QCare, a convenient care clinic.

Operated by the Resources for Human Development Family Practice and Counseling Network, QCare will offer affordable, quality health care with flexible hours. Among the store’s additional amenities for customers are the no-cost services of an in-store nutritionist, application assistance for public benefits, and free use of community rooms where area groups can safely meet.

ShopRite is the registered trademark of Keasbey, N.J.-based retailer-owned cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. With nearly 250 ShopRite supermarkets throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than 5 million customers each week.