ShopRite of Garwood

Of all the Shop-Rites within a respectable driving distance of where I live in Elizabeth this is my favorite one. Sure, it's not the biggest. Also, the produce section could be better in terms of quality. However, in terms of selection, cleanliness, organization and convenience this location is top notch in my book. The staff here keeps the store clean and organized. I rarely have trouble finding what I need. The store also tends to stock the brands I like which is much appreciated. I will acknowledge the parking lot is not the best. It is a bit tight in parts and on days leading up to holidays it can fill up *quick*. However, on normal days if you're willing to walk a bit I tend to park towards the left side of the lot (I realize this is not an option for everyone). ShopRite of Garwood continues to be one of my go-to shopping destinations and I am glad it has kept its quality up all these years.

Excellent store, been going 20 years....and they play Generation X music too. They take care of customers. Great selection, very clean organized.

Still my go-to location most times. Parking lot can be annoying to maneuver but inside is worth the hassle. I really appreciate how clean and well organized this ShopRite location is, all of the time. I never feel the need to be in a hurry or rush through the aisles. I tend to always use self-checkout, however the machines can be quite temperamental. So, asking an employee standing nearby for help is sometimes unsettling as they are either never there at their post or instantly annoyed that you need assistance.

Sure, the shelves were a little sparse but I've been seeing that across a lot of ShopRites. Everyone I encountered from the ShopRite team was very helpful and kind and I found nearly everything I needed. What else do ya need from a grocery store? Like all parking lots, it gets crazy. Be careful around the busy times and you'll be good!

People complain about the parking lot and cramped layout of the store, but they don't know the back story. When Wakefern Food Corp, the parent company, agreed to build a badly-needed supermarket in Westfield on the site of the Westfield lumber yard, their rival Stop & Shop, which has a postage stamp-sized store downtown, blocked it in a political move. So, they built it right next door to the proposed site, literally ten feet over the Westfield/Garwood town line. So Westfield town residents got their supermarket, but the Borough of Garwood gets all the tax revenue. Another dumb move in the litany of poor decisions by the Westfield Planning Board. I've been shopping here for years, and never had a problem with store employees or policies. Yes, the parking lot is awkward, but they did what they could with the available space, and it's crowded because other people need to buy food, too. Imagine that. This store isn't perfect, but they have pretty much everything that I need, and some of the sale prices are amazing. Last week, among other things, I bought a sweet Dole pineapple for only 97¢, sweet potatoes for 40¢/lb, and USDA Prime filet mignon for $23/lb. I don't usually buy meat at supermarkets, but this was beautifully marbled, and almost half the price of what my butcher charges.