Stew Leonard's Store, 350 Jobs Coming To Paramus Park Mall

PARAMUS, NJ — Ground will be broken on a Stew Leonard's grocery store Friday at the Paramus Park Mall near Route 17.

It will be the first Stew Leonard's store in New Jersey when it opens in the fall.

The 80,000-square-foot store will support 350 jobs. It is replacing the Sears that had been there for about 45 years.

About 80 percent of products sold in store are brought in daily and prepared in store.

The state-of-the-art store will feature a bakery, cut-to-order butcher shop, and fresh seafood department. A 50-person team will prepare a variety of hot foods for a buffet bar, meals to go, or catering orders.

The store will source locally grown produce and dairy selections from New Jersey and the tristate area, Stew Leonard's said in a press release.

Stew Leonard's six stores have been dubbed the "Disneyland of Dairy Stores" by The New York Times. Interactive animatronic characters, petting zoos, and entertainment at the company's six New York and Connecticut stores.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com