New ShopRite In The Caldwells Will Replace Old Grocery Store, Grand Opening Events Planned

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — An old supermarket will close this weekend in the Caldwells – and a new one will open in its place next week.

Sunrise ShopRite will open the doors at 900 Bloomfield Avenue in West Caldwell on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Learn more here.

According to a news release, the nearly 90,000-square-foot ShopRite of West Caldwell is designed to deliver a modern shopping experience – while also “honoring decades of family tradition and commitment to the community.”

The store will be open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The new location replaces the supermarket’s former home at 540 Passaic Avenue. The existing ShopRite of West Caldwell on Passaic Avenue will close at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Sunrise ShopRite’s local roots date back to 1940, when Nathan Gladstein opened his first small food store – Sunrise Market – in Caldwell.

Nathan's son, Irving, took over the business after his father’s passing in 1948. He joined the supermarket cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. in 1951 and transitioned his Sunrise Market to ShopRite.

The West Caldwell ShopRite store on Passaic Avenue opened in 1967, and in 1980, Irving's son, Ned, expanded the business with the first Parsippany ShopRite location.

Today, Dara Sblendorio – Ned’s daughter – serves as president of Sunrise ShopRite, representing the fourth generation of the grocery family.

When the new store opens, it will be a bittersweet move, spokespeople said – but the past won’t be forgotten. Here’s why:

“The ShopRite of West Caldwell has been a beloved family-centered store for generations of shoppers and employees. The former store was also known for its distinctive red pagoda roofline, which was inspired by founder Irving Gladstein’s interest in Japanese architecture and culture. He was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific theater and made several trips to Japan during his lifetime. Archival photos showcasing the family history in West Caldwell will be on display in the new location to honor the dedication of multiple generations of family members who built and continue to nurture the business. The new store will also include favorite elements and items like the phone booths that are posted outside the current location on Passaic Avenue.”

Spokespeople said the new store is twice the size of the previous location. Other features include:

• Enhanced Sunrise Kitchens – “Freshly prepared meals and favorite recipes, a made-from-scratch Pizza Shop, sushi, Asian cuisine and a hot buffet”
• Sunrise Cellars Wine, Beer & Spirits – “Three aisles of curated selections with expert staff to help find the perfect pairing”
• Community Room – “A dedicated space for cooking classes, wellness programs and private events”
• Wider aisles and an expanded parking lot for “easier, more convenient shopping”
• ShopRite’s Online Shopping Service: Order.Pickup.Deliver.

GRAND OPENING EVENTS

Sunrise ShopRite is holding a community concert and “Parking Lot Party” outside the new store from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19. The event will feature live music from New Power Soul band, food trucks, games, giveaways and family-friendly activities such as a balloon artist, inflatable corn maze, airbrush tattoos, face painting and a Touch-a-Truck experience.

The celebration will continue on opening day – Tuesday, Oct. 21 – with a community parade and special ribbon-cutting ceremony. The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. from the former ShopRite location at 540 Passaic Avenue. It will end at the new store in time for a 9:15 a.m. ribbon cutting event.

“It was important to us to include everyone in this grand opening, and we are so excited to celebrate with our friends, neighbors and the entire community as we prepare to open the new ShopRite of West Caldwell,” Dara Sblendorio said.

“The new store reflects and recognizes the commitment of our family, our retail teams and the loyal customers who continue to shop with us – many across multiple generations,” Sblendorio said.

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