Bayville Foodtown Closes

On Sunday morning, the wife asked me to run to the supermarket to get a couple of things. The usual list – water, eggs, bread, etc.  I have always been a creature of habit. Living in Ocean County for the last eight years, I have my routine of where I like to shop.  It really depends on my mood.  So I was chagrined to find “my grocery store” locked up tighter than a drum and a sign on the door.

I’ve known for quite sometime that the Food Circus owned Super Foodtown in Bayville would be closing at some point this year.  I knew it was going to be early but wasn’t quite sure.  As I turned into the Baywick Plaza something was not right.  There were virtually NO CARS in the lot in front of the store.  Hmm.  Was I too late?  Did they close already?  I decided to park anyway.

I got out of the car and walked to the door.  There was a huge sign.  I was one day late.  One day!  They had closed Saturday, February 11th.  After being open for 20 years, the Foodtown was no more.  No more eggs.  No more smiling faces.  No more cakes and meats.  It was actually depressing.  I was actually upset as I walked back to the car.   Upset for the workers there.  Upset for another casualty of the economic downturn.  And most importantly, upset that I had to drive to another grocery store which was more crowded and annoying than ever.

I always enjoyed shopping there because the workers were friendly, the store was rarely busy and I never had to wait too long on a checkout line.  Last year’s introduction of a liquor department was especially helpful during parties and summer barbecues.

While some of the staff were being laid off, others have been transferred to Food Circus’ other locations.  I wish everyone who worked at the store good luck in their future endeavors.  It’s the end of an era.  I just hope other stores can continue to weather the struggling to recover economy.  Seeing vacant stores in mega-strip malls is very sad.  The Foodtown in Bayville will not be the last.

Have you had a favorite store close in the past few years? How did you replace it?  Tell us about it in the comment section.