STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Household budgets are stretched thin, according to a recent Advance/SILive.com article. Yet Staten Island’s passion for food shopping remains strong—so strong that conversations about today’s sticker shock often turn into reflections on simpler times.
More than 100 shoppers lined up on Thursday, June 26, 2025, for the grand opening of Aldi’s second Staten Island location in New Dorp, underscoring the borough’s enthusiasm for budget-friendly grocery options.(Advance/SILive | Jessica Jones-When grocery shopping was an outing
The emails have poured in since the report. From nostalgic sighs—“Shopping used to be an event!”—to delectable memories that shaped our palates—“Do you remember the Bradford House at Grant’s?”—former Staten Islanders are inspired to reminisce over the good old days.
The W.T. Grant department store opened in New Dorp, Staten Island in 1966, serving as one of the original anchor tenants of Hylan Plaza. After the Grant chain folded in the mid-1970s, the location was later converted into a Kmart.
One long-lost shopping destination frequently mentioned is W.T. Grant’s in New Dorp. Before malls and big-box stores, Grant’s was a go-to for thrifty shoppers. Its lunch counter was a treat: locals recall grabbing a steakburger or fried clam platter for under $1.50 while picking up household goods. The store closed in the mid-1970s when the chain folded, but its memory lingers—like the aroma of coffee and the clanking of plates from its bustling café.
In 1974, shelves at the Pathmark Supermarket in Grant’s Plaza, New Dorp, were fully stocked—but few shoppers were in sight, as inflation chipped away at the purchasing power of everyday wage-earners.Staten Island Advance
Based on reader feedback, kids had their own reason to love Grant’s—the Cookie Club Card. Each visit meant a free cookie at the lunch counter, and some stores even offered prizes or stamps for frequent visits. It was a clever way to turn errands into adventures, building loyalty and creating family memories.
The lunch counter was a big part of the borough’s shopping experience. Remember Korvette’s and Lobel’s of Port Richmond? While I don’t recall the food at Korvette’s, I do remember the cork “high heel” strappy sandals plucked from a bin there. (That was a splurge for us in the early 70s.) Based on reader feedback, both stores had small cafés that made grocery shopping feel like a full-day.
And Sears? Back in the 1950s, stores around the country featured soda fountains—perfect for kicking the tires and then grabbing a bite.
On the shopping-cum-restaurant experience, I also remember the employees’ dining room at Macy’s in Herald Square, where my grandmother worked. Macy’s was a food lover’s dream for two reasons: the lunch counter—where I had my first-ever blue cheese and bacon burger (the chef was ahead of his time)—and the great conversation with my dear grandma, Lillian. Plus, there was The Cellar, stocked with gourmet olive oils, spices, and cooking equipment—pre-Rachael Ray, circa Pottery Barn.
This was the scene at the A&P supermarket on New Dorp Lane in the early 1980s. It wasn’t a packed market. On the contrary, Gateway Park users jammed the parking lot with cars. The site is now part of a senior living complex. Staten Island AdvanceCrowds and curiosity
Fast-forward to the Mannix family’s early 80’s opening of ShopRite in Graniteville, when one Staten Islander recalls waiting over two hours just to get inside. Grocery shopping has always been more than a chore here—it’s a community event, a chance to connect, and sometimes, a reason to celebrate with a store-made, standout occasion cake.
Today, the conversation is different. Readers vent frustration over soaring prices, some calling it “greedflation.” As one commenter put it on the Advance/SILive.com Instagram page:
“Some of the prices have become outrageous. I can understand inflation over time, but it’s just pure greed. And to the loyal customers that spend huge parts of their paycheck at their store every year…”
Back to the news: according to “The Wall Street Journal,” while overall inflation this year is far below the pandemic-fueled surge of 2022, August reports show grocery prices climbing again—dairy, fruits, vegetables, and cereals among the hardest hit.
All dressed up and ready to shop on Jersey Street in the mid-seventies, Bess Myerson, then consumer affairs commissioner, checks the dairy shelves at A&P in an impromptu visit to New Brighton. Staten Island AdvanceRemembering the old neighborhood markets
For longtime Staten Islanders, these headlines stir memories of Bohack on Forest Avenue, A&P on Castleton, and chains like Food Fair, Penn Fruit, and ACME. Specialty shops like Trunz Meats and Boston Fish were neighborhood anchors.
“A&P’s were everywhere on SI in the 1960s,” wrote Fred Deats. “Was a time when each neighborhood shopped there. Basically, ‘staying in their lane’ because you could walk there.”
He added wistfully: “I am happy I was part of an era on Staten Island that does not exist anymore. Once a small town, where everyone kinda knew each other, now unrecognizable to former residents.”
In celebration of the opening of their fourth Staten Island ShopRite store, the Mannix family donated $26,000 in gift cards this week to local food pantries and community organizations to help combat food insecurity. Here, Tim Mannix, vice president of Mannix Family Markets, at center holding check, is flanked by representatives from several different community agencies. The store is favored among many for its generosity to the borough. (Courtesy of Mannix Family Markets)Today’s choices—and tomorrow’s trends
Despite the challenges, shoppers now have more options than ever. Some praise the variety, noting, “Competition is good.” For those who’ve moved south or to New Jersey, chains like Harris Teeter, Publix, and Wegmans fill the gap. Harris Teeter, now a Kroger subsidiary, operates more than 260 stores across the South Atlantic states and is known for fresh produce, prepared foods, and community-focused service.
Closer to home, local favorites like La Bella Marketplace in Tottenville and Pastosa in West Brighton keep Staten Island’s food culture vibrant. As one New Dorp resident summed it up:
“I just love good food. ShopRite’s at the top of my list, and I’ll take it over Trader Joe’s or Aldi any day because ShopRite consistently gives back to the community. That kind of generosity makes a difference—and I will be the first to pay it back.”
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