1663 Market Now Open At The Site Of Former Sickles

LITTLE SILVER, NJ — 1663 Market, the new gourmet food market that took over the former Sickles market building in Little Silver, is now open.

The market had a soft opening last week.

1663 Market is owned by three partners, all local to this area, who were intent on having a food market here after Sickles abruptly closed and filed for bankruptcy last year.

The partners reopening the store are Jennifer Karp, Dennis Devine and Timothy McCooey, all Rumson residents. They declined to comment for this article. Bob Sickles, his two daughters and former Sickles market manager Maria Carrigan will all be employees of the new market.

1663 Market has a sign up at the store's front entrance, stressing to shoppers the store is in soft opening mode, and that many more products are coming.

"Thank you for your patience," the sign reads.

For example, the store plans to add a coffee bar and pastry section, and open a smoothie bar in the future. They kept the original nursery and plant section that Sickles was known for; flowers and potted plants are all blooming and for sale.

"In soft opening mode. Market & Garden Center in Two River Community of NJ. Coffee & Smoothie Bar open soon," 1663 Market said on its Instagram page. "Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m."

Shoppers in the parking lot Monday seemed thrilled the market reopened.

"I loved it. I'm really happy to see it back," said Rumson resident Cindy O'Brien, as she loaded groceries into her car. "It's getting there — they need to expand the butcher and prepared foods section. But I'm really happy it's back."

"We were so thrilled to see it reopen," said another Rumson-ite, Dr. Mark Hiatt, shopping at the market with his wife. "It's been an integral part of the neighborhood and we were so upset when (Sickles) closed."

When asked what else the new store needed, he said: "Bring back the pastries section! But we really wish them well."