Stew Leonard’s to open 2nd location in New Jersey

Family-owned and -operated grocery store chain Stew Leonard's has selected Clifton for its second New Jersey location.

“My family and I just made a deal to have a new Stew Leonard’s take over the Seasons market in Clifton,” President and CEO Stew Leonard Jr. told Winsight Grocery Business on Thursday. “We are excited because we’ll be able to sell both food and wine in the store as we plan to move Stew Leonard’s Wines & Spirits of Clifton into the new location. We will start construction this summer and will open in 2024. We are still in the process of designing the store and hope to share more details soon.”

According to local media site NorthJersey.com, kosher market Seasons lost its lease for the location. Stew Leonard's current New Jersey store, which opened in 2019, is located at 700 Paramus Park in Paramus.

Seven-unit Stew Leonard’s is a more than $550 million business with over 3,000 employees. Unlike traditional grocery stores that sell an average of 45,000 items, each Stew Leonard’s store carries only 3,200 items.

Yet the chain is well-known for its engaging shopping experience as well as a strong offering of fresh and prepared foods. Dubbed the “Disneyland of Dairy Stores” by the New York Times for its costumed characters, scheduled entertainment and animatronics throughout the store, the East Coast grocery retailer was founded by Stew Leonard Sr., who died on April 26.

In March, the East Coast grocer appointed Jake Tavello as chief operating officer, continuing its history as a family-owned business. Tavello is the grandson of the retailer's founder and a nephew of the company’s current president and CEO.

Norwalk, Connecticut-based Stew Leonard’s operates stores in Norwalk, Danbury and Newington, Connecticut; East Meadow, Farmingdale and Yonkers, New York; and Paramus, New Jersey.