Kings Closing on Friday

Soul_29 said:

We've been in town for 26 years. Curious: What was Kings before it was Kings? Asking the real old-timers. 

 WE moved here 31 years ago.  No idea what was there before.
Can't imagine dowtown with no foor store (even if it wasn't a big SUPERmarket.

So many other changes to that cute little downtown since 1989.

I hate change.

Klinker said:

 It was super convenient if you just needed to stop in and pick up a couple of things on the way home from the train/karate class/a haircut/a movie/coffee and a scone......

I was curious about oots' statement that they would go into town specifically to shop at Kings. I agree with your assessment - I would stop in there if I was already in town for something else and never left with more than one bag.  So far they are the only poster who stated they would go to town for Kings. Other posters have been in the "stop in for a few things because it's convenient" category.

I am curious what would drive that sentiment. 

mrincredible said:

 All stores have stuff. I'd argue other local stores have lots more stuff. Often at lower prices. Was there stuff at Kings that was better?

 I found it very convenient 

I hate shopping in the big ( some huge) supermarkets

Very easy for quick visits

About three times a week on average, I would stop in and buy a few items for dinner after my evening walk.  I used to grumble to myself and my spouse about the store's outrageously high produce prices, considering it's essential for health.  Ha!  Didn't expect to lose the option of complaining about Kings because it would be unceremoniously shut down.  File under be grateful for what you have when you have it.  

I loved Kings when I lived in the village.  I'm sure many people within walking distance will miss it a lot.

mrincredible said:

I was curious about oots' statement that they would go into town specifically to shop at Kings. I agree with your assessment - I would stop in there if I was already in town for something else and never left with more than one bag.  So far they are the only poster who stated they would go to town for Kings. Other posters have been in the "stop in for a few things because it's convenient" category.

I am curious what would drive that sentiment. 

 I also stated that I would go to the Village specifically to shop at Kings.  Accessibility, senior hours, quality of produce and prepared items, and availability of items not generally available elsewhere were the main reasons for this.

It’s obvious that king’s is a very convenient little supermarket. The fact that it was the most profitable store per square foot is evident. It was a great store to buy groceries for people who live close by, and for people who worked in the village. And yes I know people who would drive from across town to go there. The seniors would make a special trip to king’s. The restaurants in the village could always run in there to get something if they ran out. Where else can I go to get a bag of ice in a rush? 

For me, Kings was for a couple of items.  In and out... no check-out lines.   Stop and Shop and Costco for shopping list purchase of several items.

Decor at Kings was nicer.

-----interesting to note (At least for me), Kings, Short Hills, was formerly a Stop and Shop.

There was a last ditch effort to save A & P before they went out of business. The plan was to merge A & P with Stop and Shop. It was gonna be called, "Stop and P."

joan_crystal said:

 I also stated that I would go to the Village specifically to shop at Kings.  Accessibility, senior hours, quality of produce and prepared items, and availability of items not generally available elsewhere were the main reasons for this.

 So you did. I apologize.

What Items could you get there that weren't elsewhere?

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

... no check-out lines.  

I think you've hit on the problem they faced.

mrincredible said:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

... no check-out lines.  

I think you've hit on the problem they faced.

 Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.

mrincredible said:

 So you did. I apologize.

What Items could you get there that weren't elsewhere?

My situation is unusual because I don't drive. Kings was in easy walking distance for me (about 20 minutes each way). Stop and Shop and Trader Joes, while less expensive, are more than twice the distance from my house and therefore not a workable alternative much of the year.  I rely on senior transportation from the town, provided once a week, to do the bulk of my food shopping (ShopRite in Millburn).  When the senior bus was not running or the scheduled date did not work, when I ran out of basics midweek, when ShopRite was out of something that I needed, Kings was a valuable lifeline for me. Since the produce tended to be much fresher at Kings and since they continued to make basic prepared foods like Tuna salad, chicken salad, and chopped liver that ShopRite stopped making during Pandemic, I would make an early hours trip to Kings once a week. They were a valuable resource for Passover foods not readily available elsewhere in walking distance.  I especially appreciated that I would often be the only customer at 7 am when they opened for seniors.  This was important to me during Pandemic when I was trying to self-isolate as much as possible but still needed to do some food shopping.

A few cool pics of the Maplewood King at VG:

https://villagegreennj.com/business/as-kings-closes-in-maplewood-a-brief-look-at-a-long-local-history/

Here another I found - 1948 from the Ivy Hill section of Newark.

"Where Mr Joe saves you dough"

Jamie - I think this is the Kings in South Orange. It's a great picture with low prices in the window and look at the baby carriages parked in front.

galileo said:

Jamie - I think this is the Kings in South Orange. It's a great picture with low prices in the window and look at the baby carriages parked in front.

When beef tongue merited billing just below rib roast. 

Here's a more zoomed in view of the windows.

Shortly after WWII I remember going to a small A&P market, not quite modern enough to be a supermarket, on Irvington Ave somewhere near College Place.  It did not survive very long as an A&P, and soon was replaced.  Could the Kings shown above in black and white possibly the reincarnation?  Many years later it became an auto parts store which is now long gone.  

mrincredible said:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

... no check-out lines.  

I think you've hit on the problem they faced.

 Yuppers.

jamie said:

Here's a more zoomed in view of the windows.

 A pound of the deep sea scallops please and a ten pound rib roast+

joan_crystal said:

My situation is unusual because I don't drive. 

 When the senior bus was not running or the scheduled date did not work, when I ran out of basics midweek, when ShopRite was out of something that I needed, Kings was a valuable lifeline for me. 

 I knew someone who lived in one of the apartments above one of the stores for years. He also didn't drive (never did in his entire very long life) and Kings was where he shopped for groceries.

I wonder how many other people share this kind of situation. 25 years ago you could get almost anything you needed in downtown Maplewood when there was a pharmacy, the 5&10, a couple of liquor stores and Kings. You could live in an apartment downtown and not have to get in a car for most anything.

The population is changing and the town has changed with it. But I don't know what it's like living in one of those older apartments and how many of those residents even have cars.

(Joan, I'm not assuming you live in an apartment... just musing on one population that will be affected by this).

Yesterday, I learned that the need for senior transportation has increased substantially with Kings closing.  It is the only way these seniors, who would walk to/from Kings to meet their grocery needs, will now be able to do in person grocery shopping.  Kings closing is a huge loss for them.

Any updates on the Kings location?  Rumors?

jamie said:

Any updates on the Kings location?  Rumors?

Nothing.

I just heard the fish store in the village has a small produce section in the rear.

The township committee announced at a recent TC meeting that they are still working to get a grocery provider in the space.  Nothing specific in terms of who or when.

dave said:

I just heard the fish store in the village has a small produce section in the rear.

 Yes, Freeman's has been trying to increase their offerings of vegetables - but be aware that sometimes they sell out of popular items such as broccoli and asparagus.  

And Roman Gourmet is carrying milk and eggs, but I haven't personally checked out their offerings.

We should all accept the ultimate fate of the site and get ready for another apartment building that will require lots of variances.

yahooyahoo said:

We should all accept the ultimate fate of the site and get ready for another apartment building that will require lots of variances.

 you might want to talk to a member of the Township Committee about what's in the works for the building.  I don't know enough to comment, but a TC member would.