New Store Opens in Bay Hills

In a move that surprised even the employees, the former Superfresh in College Parkway Center reopened Sunday as a Fresh & Green grocery store.

Shoppers were thankful that they still had a local grocery store even if they didn’t know in which store they were shopping. The Superfresh name is gone from the building and a new moniker is yet to be added.

“I am here because I need some bread and I was wondering if the store was still open,” said Susan, a Broadneck resident.” I don’t really know where I am shopping but I have a cart full of groceries.” Another man came in because he saw the hand-written “we’re open” signs taped up in the windows and decided to pick up a few items. “I actually thought the store was closed,” he added.

Fresh & Green is the new concept from Mrs. Green’s Management Corp., which last month purchased 10 of the former Maryland Superfresh locations in bankruptcy court. Mrs. Green’s Management Company is a Larchmont, N.Y.-based division of Toronto-based Natural Market Restaurants Corp.

The Bay Hills store will be a combination local convenience grocery store that also offers organic products, said a manager in the store who explained that shelves will be filling as quickly as possible.

Once the store is fully stocked, Fresh & Green will undergo a full renovation taking between six and eight months, the manager added. The store will remain open as changes are made.

After Superfresh closed its doors on June 30, 15 tractor-trailers of groceries were delivered over the weekend and employees worked diligently to get items on the shelves for the quick Fresh & Green opening.

While shopper Susan said she never did find her bread – that aisle was still bare today -- fresh produce, fruit and meats are already in place. Even the salad bar and deli are open, which is good news for Mimi Watkins, a deli clerk.

“When the store closed last week we did not know we would have our jobs back so quickly,” Watkins said. “We heard rumors, but did not know for sure. I live close to here and I am very glad to have my job.”

She is one of many familiar faces who will continue to work the new store. Most employees of the previous grocer are continuing with Fresh & Green while more staff are expected to be added in the coming months.