I’m planning on running the Meyer Lemon-Thyme Gimlet recipe in next Wednesday’s paper, so I called around to a few stores to ask if they stock Meyer lemons. Not only did three stores in Rockland not carry them — they’d never even heard of them.
Which brings me to a complaint: Why is it so hard to shop for specialty food in Rockland? Do chains like Whole Foods or even independent grocers not think they’ll do well?
If you’re like me —frustrated by this — comment below. If there really is a critical mass of people who say they’d buy specialty meats and produce, maybe we could get someone to actually think of opening.
Help potential grocers out by saying:
What would you buy and how far would you travel to get it?
11 Comments
unfortunately, i have yet to find something in rockland comparable to whole foods or something along those lines. ive tried back to earth in new city and was disappointed. back to earth in nyack, although small, is great for fruits and vegetables.
i find myself traveling to trader joe’s & whole foods in jersey on the weekend to get my weekly shopping done. i think a whole foods would do great in rockland. i also heard there is some sort of farmer’s market similar to the chelsea market opening in nyack. we’ll see.
Liz, we would LOVE a Whole Foods to open in Rockland!!! We really need something like that. It is incredibly frustrating not having some place like that nearby. You have my vote and my husband’s vote!!
Whole Foods would be a great addition to healthy alternative shopping. Unfortunately, based on demographics, Rockland probably is not on their horizon. Supposedly they’re planning to build in Closter N.J. in the near future. Tice Farms in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. would be a great location for the proximity to Rockland. Once upon a time there was a Food Emporium in Rockland that had a great speciality section. In regard to trying to purchase meyer lemons, try finding saffron in Rockland ?
Liz, I agree with Neil above.
I just dont think Rockland County has the demographics to support much more than a dry cleaners… Westchester and Bergen County simply have more people and more people per square mile. If the bigger (and better) stores choose densley populated areas, such as White Plains, more people are within a radius where they will travel to for shopping.
Basically, Rocklanders are forced to travel to where the people are….. Interestingly, the per Capita income in Rockland County is higher than Bergen or Westchester, but that doesnt seem to be the deciding factor.
According to Wikipedia:
In Rockland county, as of the 2000 census, there were 286,753 people, 92,675 households, and 70,989 families. The population density was 1,646 people per square mile. There were 94,973 housing units at an average density of 545 per square mile.
In Bergen County, As of the census of 2000, there were 884,118 people, 330,817 households, and 235,210 families residing in the county. The population density was 3,776 people per square mile. There were 339,820 housing units at an average density of 1,451 per square mile
In Westchester County, as of the census of 2000, there were 923,459 people, 337,142 households, and 235,325 families. The population density was 2,133 people per square mile. There were 349,445 housing units at an average density of 807 per square mile.
If you narrow down to White Plains, as of the 2000 census, the population density was 5,416 people per square mile. There were 21,576 housing units at an average density of 2,201/sq mi.
Just the facts ma’am..
I agree with the previous comments. As far as I am concerned, the best grocery in Rockland is DeCicco’s in New City. They have a lot of organic produce and many items you can’t get anywhere else. Unfortunately, they have a limited selection of organic beef, so I usually get mine at Steve’s in Congers. I also do a lot of shopping at Trader Joe’s, but rarely at Whole Foods—too expensive. I would buy some things there if I didn’t have to drive across the bridge or all the way to Ridgewood! Let’s hear it for Trader Joe’s in Rockland. If we can support a huge (and UGLY) mall, we can support a good grocery as well.
I’m surprized that no one has mentioned Fairway. Once a week I arrange an event in the city so I can hit Fairway 125th Street on the way home. It has loads of parking. Beautifulvegetables and fruits, startlingly fresh fish, prime meat (available in Rockland only at Steve’s, as far as I know), eco cleaning products, sauces, pastries, and fabulous cheeses are available at prices quite a lot lower than at Whole Foods. Ready-made foods are wonderful there. They have another bustling store at 74th and Broadway and might be interested in a place in Rockland that has lots of room for their stuff. Like the old Nissan store on 59.
Ah-ha. First, Meyer lemons are very seasonal and they don’t have a long shelf life. I am lucky in that I have a friend in CA who sends them to me but less than a dozen. I would not like to see Wh.Foods here as I am not a fan of the store. Yes, they have a lot of items and yes they do some things well… and I get it. As for Saffron it’s not hard to find – you can get it in Shoprite any ole time. DiPietro Farm is a good place to get vegetables – though it is in NJ but not far. Back to Earth in Nyack needs to retool their store. The so-called International Market in Spring Valley is a trip but they are getting more and more items to appeal to the Hispanic clientele and dropping the great Asian products they used to have…there is still some. Trader Joe is great but not especially for produce. Back to the Meyer lemon…Liz….I’ve got one left in my fridge…you can have it if you phone within the next 24 hours. You can also get them mail ordered from Melissa’s – a bit pricey but it is a speciality item. By the way, if you do go to Edgewater Whole Foods there is Fairway near there which I have yet to get to. These days my route is to go to Balthazar Bakery in Englewood, followed by a trip to Jerry’s just down the street, then to Whole Foods Edgewater, and the to Mitsuku a bit farther down that road. Other side trips include the Bombay market on 59, a true treasure for Indian fresh vegetables and spices, etc. The Orangeburg Market off of Orangeburg Rd has reasonable produce though limited Organics. Maybe I should conduct a tour? Any takers with a large van?? http://www.cookingontheriver.com
Liz, Over the past few years, I’ve sent e-mails to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods asking them to consider coming to Rockland. Clearly, I’m not alone. I do most of my shopping at DeCicco’s in New City (where I live) with forays to Steve’s in Congers for the rare purchase of meats. DeCicco’s has some organic fruits and vegetables and has really stepped up to the plate for customers who request specialty and organic items. i.e. They now stock agave syrup and lots more organic canned and dried goods. We make a Trader Joe’s run monthly for canned goods and whole wheat pasta and a few good cheeses we can only seem to find there.
We also drive up to Blooming Grove farm in Orange County once their own organic produce starts to come in.
We do have a few Italian delis around that are good. Trade Joe’s is good for some items, Looking forward to Whole Foods and Fairway. How is Fairway’s pricing?
Whole Foods is opening in Paramus in the near future (on Route 4 where the Bergen Mall used to be, I believe). And Fairway is MUCH cheaper than Whole Foods, which I have always found to be ridiculously overpriced for most things.
Also, Trader Joes has ignored Northern Westchester as well. They have two stores 10 minutes apart in Hartsdale and Scarsdale (and also in Larchmont) but nothing further north. Fortunately, they have a store in Danbury, CT which is closer for me (in Yorktown) than any of the Westchester stors. But they’ve also ignored Dutchess County and other areas north. I’ve complained to the manager (er, team leader) in Danbury and one of them told me he’d love to see a store in the Yorktown area since he lives nearby, but they have no plans for one).
When I need something like lemon grass or Yuca, I go to International Food Mart in Spring Valley. If I need healthy snacks for the kids I go to Trader Joes in Westwood. If I need organic local produce, I’ll hit the Nyack Farmer’s market, or drive up to Blooming Hill. If I need a good roast, I’ll go to Steve’s in Congers. I also go to Stew Leonards for meat and produce. Would I be happy if I could go one place to get it all? – yes, but I’m a working mom. I need to be able to buy Cheerios, shampoo, detergent, pantyhose and cough medicine too and can only make so many side trips.