Union Market Opens Today on Court
And the answer to the question, “Will we get a Union Market for Christmas?” is a resounding “Yes!” The signage for the Cobble Hill outpost of the Park Slope-based gourmet market went up yesterday and the store opens today. If you happen to pop your head into the newly renovated 4,000-square-foot space (which is in…
And the answer to the question, “Will we get a Union Market for Christmas?” is a resounding “Yes!” The signage for the Cobble Hill outpost of the Park Slope-based gourmet market went up yesterday and the store opens today. If you happen to pop your head into the newly renovated 4,000-square-foot space (which is in the running for a LEED Gold rating) this morning please send us a photo! Update: A reader who was a little surprised by the LEED rating sent us a photo from a few nights ago in front of the store. Check it out on the jump. Also, check out photos from the opening on Pardon Me For Asking. Looks great!
Will Union Market Open Before the New Year? [Brownstoner]
Union Market Coming to Court Street! [Brownstoner] GMAP
When I was costing out food for Butternut Market, the gross margins can be very high. One of the most profitable items would be the rotisserie chickens and the cheeses.
I’m with 11217 on this. UM are good business people. I’m sure they knw exactly what expenses they can cover and how much profit this place will make.
“All I’m saying is that most supermarkets aren’t willing to pay half that amount on a price per sq ft basis, so they must mark their goods up more than the typical place. I would think the other expenses associated with running the market would be constant (utilities, employees, maintenance, etc.).”
They also sell a really different mix of product than a typical grocery store, so to your point the markup is probably higher on similar items but they also probably try only to carry the highest margin stuff.
Whatever. I like the place, certainly wont do all my shopping there but like their prepared foods (which are awesome) in lieu of takeout. It’s better than a vacant storefront, or a Blockbuster for that matter.
God Bless Fairway
This place will absolutely succeed. Union Market does a lot of market research before opening a store, and they DO NOT go into a situation they think will not be successful.
I remember a handful of frownstoners saying that the opening of the South Slope UM would not succeed, and that the market was not there for it.
Go try to walk around in the 7th Avenue UM on any weekday night. The could open another one next door, and still be profitable.
That said, I do not really shop there all that much anymore. I’ve shifted to Trader Joe’s mostly and I get most of my produce at Natural Land on Flatbush and Natural Land II on 7th.
I just wanna know if their employees will have tip jars on the counter next to the conveyer belt. More and more grocery stores are doing this. What is with that? I got a tip for you…stop putting the cleaning supplies in the same bag as my bread and cheese you dolt!
I guess this covers the over-priced gourmet niche that Trader Joes, Gourmet Fresh, the Italian market next to Gourmet Fresh, and Met can’t cover.
Posted by: Shoots and Leaves at December 22, 2009 11:25 AM
Trader Joe’s is not expensive at all for staples and not bad for other stuff. Milk, bread and eggs less than supermarket prices, and dairy, frozen food, and baked goods better and cheaper than the regular national brands.
The first time I was at a TJ’s I didn’t think much of it, but once I took a look I saw that they have great, high-quality stuff there. And I never even look at the organic stuff.
I bet they pay their staff a little better than an average supermarket… no doubt, their overhead must be crazy. But their mark-up is clear. They only sell the best of the best (but I’m sure they resell the less than perfect produce that gets sorted out)
When i lived in the proximity of the Union Market (on Union), I would buy *select* items that I couldn’t seem to find elsewhere… they have some really nice breads (like those cheddar rolls) and their produce is amazing, if not outrageously priced.
I know someone that lives in a shit hole apartment with relatively low rent (though still expensive, it is Park Slope after all) and shops almost exclusively at the 7th avenue shop. It’s the balance she has decided is worth it. I think she’s crazy.
All I’m saying is that most supermarkets aren’t willing to pay half that amount on a price per sq ft basis, so they must mark their goods up more than the typical place. I would think the other expenses associated with running the market would be constant (utilities, employees, maintenance, etc.).