Long Branch Foodtown Closed Until May 27

The Foodtown at 150 West End Court in Long Branch is currently closed and will re-open on May 27 as a Stop & Shop.

The store was closed on May 16 after the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC finalized its acquisition of five local Foodtown supermarkets previously owned by Norkus Enterprises Inc.

As a result of the acquisition, Foodtowns in Long Branch, Neptune City and Point Pleasant Beach were closed on May 16 for rebranding purposes. Stores in Freehold Township and Manalapan closed on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

The five stores will all re-open on May 27 at 7 a.m.

“During phase one of the conversion, we will be cleaning, updating technology and re-merchandising the stores," Bob Yager, senior vice president of operations for Stop & Shop’s NY Metro Division said in a press release. "Shortly after the store openings, we will begin remodeling the Freehold Township and Manalapan stores in the summer and remodel the three Jersey shore stores in the fall for phase two."

“We are confident that our customers will be excited to see what we have done to offer them more choice and greater value," John Stobierski, Vice President of Sales for Stop & Shop’s NY Metro Division said in the release. "While all store aisles will be updated with new signage, we will be bringing a greater assortment of products and savings to customers throughout the store."

The release states that many current Foodtown employees at the stores that are being converted to Stop & Shops have been offered jobs at the same stores in which they currently work or at "other stores within the Stop & Shop chain."

Stop & Shop will be making a $10,000 donation to the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties to commemorate the opening of its five new stores.

“The fight against hunger is a cause in which we can and must make a difference and we look forward to continuing a strong relationship with the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties,” Arlene Putterman, Manager of Public and Community Relations for Stop & Shop said.

Stop & Shop currently operates 10 stores in Monmouth and Ocean counties.