New Food Emporium to Anchor Pluckemin Center

Tomorrow, December 11^th, at 8:00 a.m., The Fresh Market plans to welcome food lovers on the occasion of its grand opening at the Somerset Hills Shopping Center. 

The Fresh Market takes over the Former A&P
operation at a totally renovated Somerset Hills
Shopping Center.  (Credit/Dick Bergeron)

This new food store is in the historic Pluckemin section of Bedminster, NJ, at the spot where Route 202/206 connects with Burnt Mills Road to the west and Washington Valley Road to the east.  It is one of the busiest little intersections in Somerset County.

According to a press release, The Fresh Market is a specialty store of over 22,100 square feet.  It boasts an on-site bakery that offers 30 varieties of bread and 14 different pie selections each day.  It also features a full service meat counter, fresh seafood delivered twice a week, a huge selection of cheeses, and a produce department with over 400 items and a large organic selection.

Although this company has 149 stores in 26 states, the one is Pluckemin is only the second in New Jersey.

After the A&P decided to close down its operations at the same location, it became clear that it would not be too long before another business moved in.

Pluckemin Center to get Makeover, New Anchor Store

The status of construction for "The Fresh Market"
anchor store in the Somerset Hills Shopping Center,
as it appeared on Monday, July 15, 2013.
(Photo Credit, Bergeron Images.)
 

The A&P Supermarket which once anchored the Somerset Hills Shopping Center on Route 202/206, at the convergence of Burnt Mills and Washington Valley Roads in the historic Pluckemin section of Bedminster had been a landmark since 1967.

However, time and competition would see it steadily lose ground, as competitors moved into its territory, and as the company failed to adequately modernize its marketing concept. 

Old-time area residents may have been sad to see its demise, but it was time for a change.