A New Haven neighborhood has a new grocery store more than a year after it's only local supermarket shut its doors.
In March 2010, the Shaw’s Supermarket on Whalley Avenue in New Haven shut down.
Shaw’s corporate offices closed all of its Connecticut locations.
It was a devastating blow for New Haven’s Dwight neighborhood, which is full of residents who walk or use public transportation to get around, and for Yale students who steer clear of the campus dining halls.
Friday, that all changed when Stop & Shop opened its doors.
“I used to have to go all the way up to Hamden or West Haven, now I don’t have to,” Vanetta Smith said.
The new Stop & Shop location offers a full grocery store, pharmacy and banking with People’s Bank.
Local
“This is a blessing, especially for the neighborhood. It will help bring up the neighborhood,” Patricia Johnson said.
For some people it’s more than just a new addition to the neighborhood, it’s a new job opportunity.
Chiffon McGill lost her job at Shaw’s when it closed. She’s been unemployed since.
“When I heard Stop & Shop was open, I jumped on it,” said McGill. 130 other workers did too. Many of the new employees are from the Dwight neighborhood.
