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Update: Universal Food Markets - Orange, NJ

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By Zachary
Universal Food Markets
Owner: Vishnu Patel
Opened: 2023
Cooperative: Key Food Stores
Location: 16-26 N Day St, City of Orange, NJ
Photographed: May 22, 2023
I reported on the removal of the CTown signage from the CTown-turned-Universal in Orange, NJ, and I have returned a few weeks later to see what, if anything, else has changed. The store appears to be getting some remodel, with flooring in the first two aisles torn up. A temporary Universal banner has been added near the street side of the store.
While I'm glad to see some work going on here, this store needs a LOT of work. I'm not sure whether it'll get the full renovation it really needs or if it'll just be a quick refresh. The difference between this store and a similar one, for example the SuperFresh in Newark (also a Key Food affiliate that was previously a CTown) is shocking. This store is dirty, dingy, messy, expensive, and poorly stocked compared to that one which is very similar otherwise. It's certainly not up to the standards of most of the other Key Food-affiliated stores we see, and I really hope the ongoing work will bring the store up to those standards.
For an overall Universal update, here's where their stores are:
  • Universal Food Markets, Rahway, NJ: joined Key Food, completed a major renovation
  • Universal Food Markets, Paterson, NJ: joined Key Food
  • Universal Food Markets, Camden, NJ: joined Key Food
  • Universal Food Markets, Hackensack, NJ: previously CTown, joined Key Food
  • Universal Food Markets, Orange, NJ: previously CTown, joined Key Food, renovation ongoing (this one)
  • Universal Food Markets, Newark, NJ: previously Bravo, joined Key Food
  • Golden Mango Supermarkets, Paterson, NJ: joined Key Food
  • Super El Rey Supermarket, Elizabeth, NJ: member of Retail Grocers Group
  • Eagle Supermarket, Elizabeth, NJ: member of Retail Grocers Group
  • Hackensack Market, Hackensack, NJ: member of Retail Grocers Group
Note that there are still three stubborn Universal stores that haven't joined Key Food yet, and also note that of the stores I don't specify a renovation status, I don't know if there's a renovation ongoing since I haven't been there lately. The stores were previously affiliated with Krasdale or Retail Grocers Group. It's unclear if the three remaining non-Key Food stores will join. Well anyway, I'll come back to this Universal soon enough to see how the renovation is going, but in the meantime...
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