Atlantic City City Council President William “Speedy” Marsh and I grew up together, and we both graduated from high school in 1972. So when I moved back to A.C. in 2008, I had no problem asking him, “Why don’t we have a supermarket in Atlantic City and when are we going to get one?”
He said the reasons were complicated and promised me then that a supermarket was high on the Mayor’s list of priorities.
For four years, I continued to ask Speedy every time I saw him.
Well, right after I wrote about A.C. being a food desert, wouldn’t you know it! Save A Lot had its official opening with city leaders last week.
I hung out there the day after it opened to see what locals had to say about the place, but the volume of customers on opening day said it all: Local residents have been desperate for a grocery store for more than five years and a great need has now been fulfilled.
Generally, shoppers said they were satisfied, but in a way that reminded me of Santorum’s endorsement of Romney: Could be better yet definitely better than no supermarket at all.
Prices are competitive with other area food stores. Still, some people wondered if they would stay that way or if current prices were specifically for the grand opening. When I entered, a Save A Lot employee deposited 25 cents for my shopping cart as an opening courtesy, but she said in the future, customers will deposit a quarter for use of the cart and have it returned at check-out — never heard of that one before.
Neither was I used to passing through a gate to begin my shopping. Next, the produce section was tiny.
Residents told me one of the reasons past stores didn’t survive was because of the high levels of theft. (Maybe that was the reason for the gate.) There was definitely a high security presence in the store today. Others said that the cost of the building and taxes discouraged food companies from purchasing or leasing the property for so many years.
Either way, Save A Lot has taken a chance on a community that truly needs a place to buy groceries. Elderly shoppers and those without cars seemed overjoyed by the location. Many said they could now spend money on more food rather than transportation to and from Brigantine, where prices are much too high, and Absecon or Ventnor, where the other closest markets are.
Even a couple of visitors from New York said that Save A Lot was much better than over-priced convenient stores in the city.
In a community rife with high blood pressure and diabetes, I was disappointed by the lack of options for those who suffer from these health problems, and I wasn’t the only one. I met a few people who said that they were not shopping but dropped in to see what the store had to offer. They were disappointed by the small produce section, no organic products, no fresh seafood, no bakery and no deli.
In 2013, let’s ask ourselves what we’re doing or not doing to contribute to the good, and what we’re doing or not doing to contribute to the bad.
Though the night was filled with spoken-word talent of all genres, children and young adults also spoke passionately about being bullied and the challenges of growing up in a society that glorifies violence but complains about the proliferation of violence and guns in our neighborhoods.
Wash's hosts 'Rewind - Live Radio Show,' bringing back sounds of Motown with several local talented performers.
Well, MJ is gone and Diana can’t make it to Atlantic-Cape Community College, but there will be some phenomenal local talent performing on June 8 and 9 at the Mays Landing campus in the Walter E. Edge Hall.
It seems that our nation has once again been reminded of people’s fears when it comes to black men, young ones in particular. What I’m ashamed of, however, is admitting my fear of white men, young ones in particular.
If the mayor does run again, she will play a major role in campaigning, because she enjoys urging people to get-out-the-vote, making them feel a part of something special and taking ownership.
We didn’t use the term “food desert,” but we knew exactly what consumer advocates meant when they declared our city one. Food deserts are communities where residents have little to no access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Sometimes fresh meats and dairy products are also included.
Last Thursday, April 5, Henrietta Shelton and the Chicken Bone Beach Foundation opened their spring jazz series at Top of the Trop in the Tropicana Casino. With a room full of supporters, Mayor Lorenzo Langford was on deck to present Henrietta with a proclamation from the City of Atlantic City for service to the community by way of preserving family values, developing community engagement and promoting an appreciation of America’s classical music — jazz.
“Three months to hurry and nine months to worry” was the slogan for locals who looked forward to having work and making as much money as possible during this short period.
Homeopathy is very patient-specific and Dr. Bohle said she gathers a lot of information before considering possible remedies for an individual.
Article:
Meeting Atlantic City's Democratic Mayoral Candidates
Article:
Jacob Lawrence Day in Atlantic City
Article:
Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Atlantic City
Article:
Governor Christie and Pam Breaux Encouraging at Tourism Conference
Article:
E.B. Lewis at Stockton's Noyes Museum
Article:
Full Audiences as Atlantic City and Library Wrap Up Black History Month
Article:
Black History, Jazz and Poetry
1. Anonymous said... on May 21, 2012 at 12:46PM
“Based on the volume of fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish that we consume in our household, I'm sure that we will continue to have to go to Shop Rite and PathMark, but there are so many "quick trips" to the grocery store (you know - milk, bread, eggs) that can now be made without leaving Atlantic City. For me, it's like being able to go to the hardware store at Arctic and California Aves. instead of always going to Home Depot in Absecon. Even with its limitations, I'm still grateful to have a LOCAL grocery store.”
2. Anonymous said... on May 22, 2012 at 01:05PM
“Turiya, I am glad they brought a grocery store to the food desert. Personally I
will not shop there because they don't have enough of name brand products or
quality meats, but it is good for seniors & people who don't have transportation
or for whatever reason. One never knows I myself might have to shop there one day.”
3. Judah Dorrington said... on May 22, 2012 at 10:24PM
“I'm glad you are writing on this. I have the same evaluation of the new store. Save Alot has a reputation across the country for exploiting economically challenged communities. In some places Save Alot is called "the commissary" because it sells food with only enough nutritional value to keep people full, alive and working. Right - plantations, jails and insitutions have commisaries. I don't know if it is cultural ignorance or care about the dietary (for some of us religiuos) needs of people of color who are gentically prone and have the highest rates of obesity, diabetis, and high blood pressure. I really think it is shameful that our leaders could not get a quality food chain to come here. And I know they tried. Im sure the health dept checked.Why should we have to sacrifice healthy, quality food for convenience especially with something as vital as food? I am, however, glad a super market is now accessible to the economically challenged, seniors, and infirm. As for me and my house”
4. Sam Martin said... on May 24, 2012 at 09:30AM
“S-A-L is owned by the same owner as Acme (inferior and overpriced and biggoted)!!!”
5. Jim said... on Jun 1, 2012 at 03:59PM
“That is how Save a lot stores always are setup regardless of the neighborhood. I have shopped at them for years and years. We used to have them back in Western PA where I grew up 15 years ago and your description sounds like they haven't changed a bit. You also used to pay a few cents for bags or use boxes and your own bags.
Save a lot is definitely better than nothing but it isn't a "real" supermarket in any sense of what people would expect in this day and age. They ARE very economical for people on a rough budget but you will rarely find name brands or selections of items that you need. And often things will come and go so you may never seem an item again.”
6. bill said... on Jun 2, 2012 at 02:27PM
“Running a Supermarket in the inner-city is a major challenge.
First you have a high theft rate. Both employee and customer a like. Shopping carts @$300 a piece disapear.
The first week of the month you are busy as can be. The last week of the month you don't need 1/2 of your employees This makes your labor costs high.. If you are a large chain you had best not try and cover your added expenses by raising prices in your store.They will call you every name in the book including racist for charging more for the same product in the inner-city that you do in the burbs. Detroit and Camden don't have a makor supermarket for the same reasons.”
7. Anonymous said... on Sep 11, 2012 at 12:50AM
“i work hrre in ac at sal ...the asst managers are terrible...lots of favortism an the ones who work harder get treated like shit...thecasian one hates an pick on me for no reason...an im offended at this theory the employees steal we have had no issues with that the issues before were letting bad apples continue to give family discounts akavsteal ....as far as carts big dea l u get the quarter back the issue nowvis customers being ghetto an greedy an steeling our cashier carts that we work out of...an when u tlll en to bring cart back u get threats...onevissue we got is customers being rude to us i get crap for nothing like when pple decide to put an item back that requires a managers key yet b i get blammed an even told on ...managers never have defended us in a rude customer dissue we alwayd r blammed...this city sucks an 75 percent of pplr r trash an treat us employees live garbagea n steeling is still happening...want it to lsst quit treating us like cra p an steeling”