Jorge Alvarado cuts the ribbon while flanked on the left by Chamber of Commerce Director Kate Phelon (3rd from left), Mayor Donald F. Humason, and Staten Senator John C. Velis. (PETER CURRIER PHOTO)
WESTFIELD- The Hampton Ponds Market on North Road had its ceremonial ribbon cutting Aug. 22 to celebrate the opening of the only grocery store in the North Side.
Local leaders such as State Sen. John C. Velis, Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr., and Chamber of Commerce Director Kate Phelon came out to celebrate the opening of the store.
Owner Jorge Alvarado said that part of the reasoning for opening the Hampton Ponds Market was because there is little in the way of grocery stores in that part of town.
“The only way to get my food otherwise was to drive 20 minutes to the other side of town,” said Alvarado.
Customers shop inside the Hampton Ponds Market shortly after the ribbon cutting took place. (PETER CURRIER PHOTO)
He is originally from New York and has a background in the grocery industry. Five years ago he moved to Westfield and had been working in construction until his wife pushed him to try to open a store of his own.
While the store itself is relatively small compared to other grocery stores in town at just 8,000 square-feet, it provides all of the necessities of a grocery store that North Side residents would otherwise need to drive to the other side of the city to purchase. Alvarado said that he tried to give the store a good combination of affordable items and items of higher quality.
The store has everything one would expect from a community grocery store including meat, produce, and a delicatessen. (PETER CURRIER PHOTO)
“We want to treat our customers as if they are neighbors, not just as numbers,” said Alvarado.
