Groceries take you around the world

After much anticipation, the new grocery store in Bellport, Fine Fare, had its opening on Friday, Oct. 2. The supermarket, located on 115 South Country Road, was bustling with customers.

The store includes an impressive organic produce section that one shopper said upon sight was “the best produce market I’ve ever seen.”

A delicatessen hosts a juice bar that will serve throughout the day and the hot food section will feature favorites like macaroni and cheese, lasagna, , crab cakes, meatloaf, and baked chicken.

There is a vast Latin American dry-goods section with seasonings, drinks, coffee, sauces, and dried fruit from El Salvador, Mexico, and Ecuador, among others. There are also sections for Chinese, Korean, and Japanese foods with a wide selection of ramen.

According to Fine Fare, their supermarkets cater to a broad range of ethnic foods.

Since opening in the 1970s, Fine Fare has opened 60 supermarkets across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

At the time of opening, the store already had 58 five-star Google reviews from earlier this year when announced. Residents remarked on their excitement of Fine Fare joining the community and previous experiences they had had from having a local supermarket in the town square.

The business was previously family-owned for over 30 years, offering specialties such as custom meats, gourmet deli items, and imported cheeses.

The Bellport Village Resident’s Facebook page lamented the loss of the beloved store and hoped the replacement would create new memories.

I.G.A. retailer and owner William Blakeman, who was awarded IGA’s prestigious Global Award for excellence in retailing, among 4,400 IGA retailers worldwide, told the community about his plans for the storefront in mid-January.

At the time, Blakeman announced that the store would be redone and include a new Air Flo refrigeration system that would require a $3 million investment. The upgrade is due to New York State’s environmental laws (major renewable energy targets) regarding refrigerant, the Long Island Advance previously reported.

With events like customer appreciation parties (that have in the past included over 2,000 toys for children at Christmas), Blakeman said previously that he models the warm, friendly and caring treatment he expects his staff to have towards customers.