Martha Stewart Has Cow Named After Her At Paramus Stew Leonard's

PARAMUS, NJ – Martha Stewart stopped in to check out the new Stew Leonard’s supermarket at Paramus Park Mall during a special invitation-only reception and ceremony Monday evening.

As part of the festivities to christen the chain’s first-ever Garden State location, a New Jersey-born bovine was named after Nutley-native Stewart.

The supermarket's official opening at 8 a.m. on Wednesday is expected to draw thousands of shoppers.

After taking a tour of the 80,000-square-foot store on Monday, Stewart said Stew Leonard’s “was making good use of an old store” and congratulated the chain on its newest location.

The $400 million supermarket has taken the place of Paramus Park’s anchor spot previously held by the now-shuttered Sears. The company has hired 400 employees to work at the new location, according to Stew Leonard’s.

The famed chef, TV personality and lifestyle guru also complimented the store’s produce section – particularly the Jersey-grown tomatoes. Stewart, who now calls Bedford, NY home, will be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame later this month.

Stew Leonard, Jr., the chain’s owner, and Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera were also on hand to celebrate Monday. Following a brief ceremony, friends and family of invitees were free to roam the new store, sample food and enjoy the entertainment.

Leonard said New Jersey's first Stew Leonard's location was "amazing" and he couldn't think of a better way to christen it then to invite Stewart, a "great family friend" who has been shopping at the chain for years.

Dubbed as "the Disneyland of Dairy Stores" by the New York Times, Stew Leonard’s supermarkets offer up farm fresh food and interactive animatronic characters that perform shows to entertain shoppers.

The Paramus store features Stew Leonard's infamous one-way aisle, which winds its way through designated sections for freshly made donuts and coffee, ice cream, flowers, barbecue fare, burgers, sushi, pizza, Asian wok, a hot & cold buffet, a deli counter, seafood, fresh made mozzarella and other cheeses, a butcher shop, produce, dairy, popcorn, cookies, cupcakes, cakes, bagels, a bakery and wine, spirits and beer.

And, if you're looking for entertainment, there's plenty of it.

Interactive "Push Button" shows in the store include: "Larry the Boar's Head Man," "Stew's Naked Chicken Singers," "Three Good Eggs," "The Farm Fresh Five," "Chiquita Banana," "Doodle-Doo the Rooster," "The Guacamole Girls" and "Hank & Bo Farmers' Market."

While there's no loyalty card program for shoppers, don't worry – you'll still get some free perks.

For every $100 spent, shoppers can score freebies such as a scoop of ice cream. The company is also known for its ironclad customer service policy, which is visible near entrances of stores ("Rule 1: The customer is always right. Rule 2: If the customer is ever wrong, reread rule 1.")

The Paramus store also includes a brand new feature for Stew Leonard's - an Augmented Reality app called Stew's Magic Door that allows users to point their smart device at barn door signs around the supermarket and play educational games.

The family-owned grocery chain began in 1969 as a small dairy store with seven employees. It has since expanded to six locations in Connecticut and New York, employing more than 2,200 people. It also licenses its name to nine wine shops, including locations in Paramus, Clifton and Springfield.

Stew Leonard's Wines & Spirits of Paramus has been moved to the interior of the new store, making it the chain’s first supermarket to sell both food and wine.

After its grand opening Wednesday, the supermarket - located at 700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ- will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.