Grand opening held for newly-minted Super Foodtown STAFF REPORT Posted:11/10/09
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Several years ago, Food Circus Super Markets operated a Super Foodtown store in Hazlet on Route 36 before it closed. On Friday, Nov. 6, Food Circus Super Markets returned to Hazlet, with a new Super Foodtown on Route 35 and a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony.
According to Executive Vice President and COO, Louis Scaduto Jr., the new store is 56,000 square feet and employs 135 new team members.
"Just like in our other nine stores, Food Circus intends on entrenching ourselves in the community by being a good corporate neighbor and a force of good in the community," Scaduto said.
As well as Hazlet, Food Circus also operates Super Foodtowns in: Bayville, Toms River, Port Monmouth, Wall, Atlantic Highlands, Red Bank, Sea Girt, Ocean Township, and Colonia.
Dignitaries at the event included: Assemblyman Sam Thompson, R-Monmouth; Deputy Freeholder Director John D'Amico; Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan; Hazlet Committeeman Jim DiNardo; Hazlet Committeeman-elect David Tinker; Holmdel mayor Serena DiMaso; Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Morris; and Hazlet Planning Board member Andy Bace, among others. Also in attendance was Food Circus vice presidents Scaduto, Phil Scaduto, John Azzolina, and Joseph Azzolina Jr.
Heading up the new store for Food Circus is manager Lou Vaccaro. "Everyone is very excited about the new store, and optimistic about the future," Vaccaro said.
Jay Sleifer is the Food Circus manager at the Port Monmouth store. Before the ribbon cutting, he said, "This is great for the community. Everyone has high hopes for the new store."
During his address to a crowd of about 200 outside the Hazlet Super Foodtown, Food Circus President and CEO, Joseph Azzolina Sr. noted that Food Circus is among the top 10 employers in Monmouth County. He reflected upon his family's sojourn that began when his family immigrated to the United States during the 1920s and settled in nearby Highlands.
Though his parents established a grocery that the family worked in, it was not until 1956 that the first Food Circus store in Middletown was opened.
After partnering with his sister, Grace Scaduto, and her husband, Lou Scaduto Sr., Azzolina said the family-owned company went on to include a stores that employed more than 1,400 team members. Consequently, he noted with pride that the family's next generation is already operating the company on a day-to-day basis.
DiMaso said, "This is a great day and I look forward to shopping here. Mr. Azzolina has always been an inspiration to me and I congratulate him and his family on this opening."
Meanwhile, Lavan said the new store provides a boost to the entire Hazlet community and said he would be encouraging residents to shop there.
One of the Hazlet Super Foodtown's newest employees, team member Danielle Hargain, of Keansburg, said it best when she concluded, "I think everyone is so excited that the store is here and looking forward to working to attain a lot of individual and team success."
