Stop & Shop Past Halfway Point in Converting A&P Stores

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. is more than halfway through its conversions of 25 stores purchased from the bankrupt Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., with a fifth wave of conversions having begun on Nov. 5.

As during the four previous groups of conversions, the four locations undergoing this process will temporarily close for about seven days, although their in-store pharmacies and banks will remain open. The goal is for all conversions to be completed by the upcoming holidays.

The stores now being revamped are in Staten Island, Long Beach, Belle Harbor and Franklin Square, N.Y.

"We've completed the conversion process of more than half of the 25 newly acquired A&P stores to Stop & Shop stores," affirmed Don Sussman, president of Stop & Shop New York Metro Division, in Purchase, N.Y. "This has been a monumental task for all those involved, and [we] look forward to opening the fourth wave of stores to our customers on Friday, Nov. 6 in Bayside, Baldwin, Massapequa and Seaford, N.Y., as well as Closter, N.J." 

All of the converted stores will feature revamped produce, bakery, meat and seafood departments, as well as extensive assortments of natural and organic products, including more than 1,400 Nature's Promise products. along with gluten-free and special diet items.

Added Sussman: "We are expecting to close the Mt. Kisco, N.Y., store, located at 195 N. Bedford Avenue, on Friday, Nov. 13 and open as a Stop & Shop store on Thursday, Nov. 19."

An Ahold company, Stop & Shop employs more than 59,000 associates and operates 403 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.