Fairway converts to ShopRite: Locals’ opinions and what’s to come
The ShopRite that replaced the Fairway Market in Pelham Manor after renovations is getting mixed reviews from customers, with some saying the grocery store is more like a typical ShopRite.
Kelly Rodriguez, a ShopRite regular from the Bronx, said, “This is my first time here. I’m just getting familiar with it, but it’s very ShopRite. ShopRite is typically laid out like this everywhere, from my experience. Compared to the structure of Fairway, this feels very industrial.”
However, customer of the former Fairway and Westchester local Nicola Arias said, “To be honest with you, it still looks like Fairway, but they need to get things together so it looks a little bit more presentable.”
Steve Walker, who was shopping with Arias, said, “I think they shouldn’t have opened the place yet.”
In March of 2020, the Fairway chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and motioned to sell the Pelham store and several other outlets to Village Supermarkets Inc. of Springfield, New Jersey, which runs 29 ShopRites. The Pelham outlet continued to operate as a Fairway until the conversion this summer.
Pelham Manor ShopRite manager Mohammed Khan said the store on Pelham Parkway has yet to have its grand opening and the renovations are far from over.
“We still have aisles left to do, lighting…painting,” Khan said. “The floors still got to get done.”
He said the beloved Fairway bakery would be bigger, better and “state of the art” in the ShopRite.
The renovated store features newer, high technology equipment, according to Khan. “Technology wise, if you look at our tags, they’re all digital. Signage is digital, a lot of good stuff.”
Much of the discussion by customers the Pelham Examiner spoke with was about the selections and variety of food. Along with the bakery, people adored Fairway’s olive bar and salad bar. Both sections that have been brought back in the ShopRite.
“I haven’t seen anything that I really want that is missing, but I do miss the Fairway,” Arias said.
“There are more options,” Johanna Bello said. “We shopped at another ShopRite before, and we would go there more often than the Fairway. Now that they have one here, we can come here way more now.”
The Pelham Manor ShopRite’s grand opening is tentatively set for Oct. 9, with Khan hoping for anytime within the second week of October, if all goes well with the renovations still underway. He said there is still much to do within a short time frame as they prepare for the grand opening.
Kira is a junior at Pelham Memorial High School and this will be her sixth year on the Pelham Examiner. She loves reading and writing, and wrote previously...
Michelle M. Boyle • Sep 29, 2022 at 12:41 pm
I went there a couple of weeks ago and Iiked it. The prices are good and I will be going back. It is not totally finished yet but it hopefully will e soon. I never shopped at Fairway much and it was a bit pricey too so I am happy for this change.
Peter Rustin • Sep 29, 2022 at 12:13 am
Nobody seems to mention prices! In NJ, where I live, the prices at Shop Rites are way below those at Fairway. Fairway Markets are usually very upscale but the Shop Rites in Bergen County (NJ) are great supermarkets. Losing Fairway is a real loss, but you could not get a better replacement.
Natali Wind • Sep 29, 2022 at 6:06 pm
If you scroll you’ll see I mentioned prices.
Lautner John • Sep 28, 2022 at 10:27 pm
shoprite is no fairway; it has the me too look. the selection, e.g. fish, is much, much more limited. no my kind of store any longer. stop & shop, here i come
Natali Wind • Sep 29, 2022 at 6:03 pm
What is “the me too look”? The selection may currently be more limited but that may improve as the store improves.
Natali Wind • Sep 28, 2022 at 8:08 pm
“more like a typical ShopRite” means? What else would it be? I will definitely miss some of Fairway’s more unique offerings and its large (in comparison to elsewhere) selection of Israeli goods but ShopRite usually has a nice selection of most things, good produce, and decent prices. The things planned for the store sound very interesting. Give it time and it will probably be great.