Brooklyn Heights Foodtown opens with great fanfare

Line started at 8 a.m. for noon opening

June 7, 2024 Mary Frost

The fresh produce aisle at the new Foodtown Supermarket in Brooklyn Heights. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Crowds lined the sidewalk at the corner of Clinton and Joralemon streets on Friday for the grand opening of a new 7,500-square-foot Foodtown Supermarket — the first supermarket to open in Brooklyn Heights in 15 years.

The new Foodtown is on the ground floor of a residential building at 101 Clinton St., formerly occupied by a Rite Aid.

From left: Moe Mujalli, family partner; Nasri Mujalli, store owner; Councilmember Lincoln Restler; Joseph Fantozzi, president of Allegiance. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

While the official opening celebration was scheduled for noon, there were so many people waiting on the sidewalk the store threw its doors open early. The crowd started gathering as early as 8 a.m.

Owner Nasri Mujalli with his brother Moe Mujalli pulled out all the stops for the celebration — handing out balloons and giving away free samples including fried churros, Häagen-Dazs ice cream and juices. Workers cooked up fresh meat and chicken samples in the front of the store and handed out sandwiches and snacks made with Boar’s Head cold cuts in the back.

Shoppers tasted a variety of samples throughout the new Foodtown Supermarket in Brooklyn Heights on Friday, June 7. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

“I’m estimating we’ll get 2,000 to 3,000 people in today,” Moe Mujalli told the Brooklyn Eagle.

The Mujalli family has been operating grocery stores in New York City for a generation, Moe said. “My father started the business 45 years ago.” The patriarch himself, Asad Mujalli, proudly watched the scene unfold.

The crowd for the noontime grand opening of the new Foodtown Supermarket in Brooklyn Heights started gathering at 8 a.m. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

“I am thrilled to welcome Foodtown to the heart of Brooklyn Heights,” said Councilmember Lincoln Restler. “I went to school across the street, and I’ve seen many different establishments and small businesses here over the years. I can’t think of anybody better than Foodtown. The family behind this supermarket owns the DUMBO Market on Smith Street and in DUMBO — they know our community. And I think they’re going to offer great, healthy, affordable, food options for families in the neighborhood.”

From left: Donna Zambo, VP Allegiance; Moe Mujalli, family partner; Joseph Fantozzi, president of Allegiance; Nasri Mujalli, store owner; Samer Rahman, VP Allegiance. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

Foodtown stores are locally-owned and family operated under the Allegiance Retail Services cooperative umbrella.

“We are happy to welcome Nasri and Moe’s new Foodtown,” said Joseph Fantozzi, president of Allegiance. “Growth is good for the co-op as well as for our members.”

Customers spun the wheel and won a variety of prizes — including hats, pens or sunglasses — at Foodtown’s grand opening Friday. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

Donna Zambo, VP in charge of Marketing for Allegiance, said she was thrilled with the turnout. “It’s unbelievable! It’s been like this since 8 o’clock,” she told the Eagle.

Zambo said she was seeing a diverse mix, older and younger including NextGen shoppers, at the opening. “The store did an excellent job catering to the diverse neighborhood,” she said “Everyone eats, and everyone is looking for fresh, quality food.”

David Brier, NYC sales manager for Bob’s Red Mill, handed out free packages of granola. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

‘It’s another option’

Neighbor Mary Robinson said she lives right across the street. “We are very excited about the new store,” she said. “We’ve been waiting for something to open up here for a while. It’s so convenient not to have to walk five blocks to get heavy things like milk and club soda.”

She added, “I’ll look at the prices and compare with the other places, but for heavy stuff this just couldn’t be more convenient for us.”

The free sample tables lined Clinton and Joralemon streets for Foodtown’s grand opening. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

Also giving the supermarket a look was Liana (she wished to just give her first name), who works nearby. She told the Eagle she has been watching the store’s progress. “I am thrilled that it is here and that it’s accessible,” she said. “Another store is good to stimulate local business; it’s another option.”

A variety of cooked meats were given out at the front entrance of new Foodtown Supermarket. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

Liana added that she was happy to hear that the store was family owned. “That’s great — I didn’t know that.”

The store features the Green Way private label brand of natural and organic items, and products from family-owned companies like Bob’s Red Mill. David Brier, NYC sales manager for Bob’s Red Mill, handed out free packages of granola.