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Woodbury bets on Bottom Dollar

Mayor welcomes discount supermarket downtown

2 comments

Woodbury bets on Bottom Dollar

POSTED: Thursday, March 8, 2012, 10:10 AM

Woodbury, NJ has given a green light to a discount supermarket project that has some celebrating and others questioning whether downtown is heading in the right direction.

Bottom Dollar Food, a well-regarded retailer rapidly expanding its presence in South Jersey and Philadelphia, will build a suburban-style store (translation: set back from the sidewalk amid beaucoup parking) on the vacant site of a former car dealership.

The city's planning/zoning board ended a marathon meeting Tuesday with a unanimous vote in favor of the project.

Mayor Ron Riskie, a longtime supporter of the Bottom Dollar proposal, says the decision is "a big and bold step" for Woodbury.

"The primary impact (will be) increased foot traffic in the downtown, especially in the morning," the mayor says via email. "I believe only a food store of this size could do this. I'm happy to have Bottom Dollar, and I'm happy to be rid of a vacant building and lot."

Some critics lamented the proposed market's impact on traffic, while others feared for the future of the vintage Acme supermaket at the northern edge of downtown.

And at the Main Street Woodbury page on Facebook, three commentators were not so...upbeat.

"How about a chef's market instead?" said one.

Kevin Riordan @ 10:10 AM Permalink | 2 comments

2 comments

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Comments (2)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:54 AM, 03/08/2012

Bottom Dollar is a nice little grocer. Small, decent variety, solid pricing. The concept fits in well for many communities. I am a fan.

— kelprod2

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:08 PM, 03/10/2012

With all due respect to Bottom Dollar, Woodbury's developmental problems will not even be close to solved with another grocery store!
Woodbury needs visionary planners of which, sadly, it has always lacked -continuing to place blame on things like the nearly 40 year old Deptford Mall rather than devising sound, successful plans for growth.
Also, the 'vintage' Acme is more towards the south of the downtown, geographically speaking.
PEACE.

— KCHARLES