I've already talked about how the furthest-behind supermarket group around here is Metropolitan City Foods, a division of Associated Supermarket Group that runs Met Foods and Pioneer Supermarkets stores. I won't go into that too much here, but this store is typical of an outdated MCF location.
It's the farthest north on our tour and the only one in tiny Guttenberg. On Bergenline Ave between 68th and 69th Streets, the nicest thing about this supermarket is its awning.
Not sure about the spelling of "pinacle". If they mean the highest point, then it should be "pinnacle". I doubt it's someone's name, but I could be wrong. It's a surprisingly non-Hispanic store in this very Hispanic neighborhood. The hot food bar is more of the meatloaf and mac & cheese persuasion than arroz con pollo and carne asada. You walk in on the left side to the dairy aisle, strangely enough, and the back wall contains hot food, deli, meat, and seafood. Frozen foods are in the last aisle and a tiny produce department is jammed up into the front corner.
The inside is your typical urban ethnic supermarket, except not ethnic. It was not particularly new, clean, or organized, but the one employee I interacted with was very friendly and helpful (in the simple task of finding a circular).
Old and new price signs right next to each other. Both of these prices are rather high. It mostly gets better from here, so stay tuned for a Snapshot on Wednesday of the next store, Selectos of West New York!
I get the feeling this type of store is one patronized by hipsters, which might explain the weirdness.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck? What do you mean, Tim? I'm kinda laughing here... It's a good point.
DeleteI'm not sure about that, Tim. It's not so hipster--no organic anything, very limited fresh selections. Feels more like a 1950s store. What made you say that?
DeleteThe fact that it's a non-ethnic store in an ethnic neighborhood made me suspicious of it being a hipster paradise. Of course, the giant typo on the awning probably doesn't help it's neighborhood rep, most likely...
DeleteUnfortunately, just old-fashioned. And you're probably right about the awning!
DeleteA very significant store for me-- I didn't realize you'd be covering it! My grandfather actually worked in this store for the longest time when my father was growing up. I didn't realize it was a Met!
ReplyDeleteCool! I don't know how long it's been a Met for, but I bet it wasn't much different back when your grandfather worked here!
DeleteIt doesn't seem much different from back then! He kinda gave me my love for retail. He was working in supermarkets all his life, and when he shopped, he always had criticism for the people working there!
DeleteI'm actually channeling my passion for retail into a new supermarket idea... lets just say, it's a small supermarket with big supermarket selection, and service departments.
Sounds great!
DeleteI worked here for about 5 years. My mom also worked here. The store opened in the 60’s I believe and the man who originally owned it used to work for A&P. I’d love to know who your grandpa was! It was a family owned business with 2 cousins who took over after the old man retired.
DeleteVery nice! I think the store was recently bought by the same people who own the Met in Newark -- and the store is now a Met Fresh. Up until then, was it still the same owners? I think so.
DeleteThis store was owned by my uncle from the mid 1970’s until last year.My father worked for him in the late 70’s through early 90’s and I worked there in the 1980’s. The reason why it hadn’t had ethnic food in the store, is because the neighborhood was once all Italian. When the Cuban crisis hit the US in the late 70’s/early 80’s this neighborhood went through a culture change. The Italians were moving out when the Cubans came in. However, those hard working folks Opened several Bodegas and there was a Fine Fair about 5 blocks down on Bergenline. This is where my uncle felt no need for change. I know it looks like a small place, but up until he sold at the end of 2019 it was extremely successful. Pinacle is the corporate name, but yes was under the MET food brand since the beginning. Now, someone mentioned the A&P that my uncle worked at. Not only did he work there for many years, he bought that store prior to the 1970’s and sold it to Foodtown. This store is the Foodtown/Other that is caddy corner to Persian Field Park, Jersey City. He then opened Pinacle/MET Foods on Bergenline in Guttenberg and another in Journal Square, Jersey City. That man serviced an entire community for many years.
DeleteThat's great, thank you for all the history here! That makes a lot of sense. I am familiar with where the Fine Fare was but never got to see the inside of the store before it closed.
DeleteI worked for Doc, who at the time was already partially retired. But his son and nephew pretty much ran the operation. I worked there from 1999-2004. My mom also worked for the son and nephew in the 80’s and 90’s prior to pinnacle at another business in a ridgefield Deli called villagios. I grew up there and in pinnacle. It was great times! It’s sad to hear they sold last year. That market was a staple of the neighborhood for many decades
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us about your memories!
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