The much anticipated Bottom Dollar Food store officially opened to the public on Oct. 24.
by Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The much anticipated Bottom Dollar Food store officially opened to the public on Oct. 24.
The store is located in the Windsor Hights Shopping Center (now known as Windsor Center) at 440 Route 130.
Shoppers were already ready lined up down the sidewalk waiting anxiously to check out the new store, and more than 200 shoppers came through its doors within the first hour of it opening.
The first 200 customers received a free Bottom Dollar Food reusable bag filled with groceries including cookies, chips, bread, pancake and waffle mix, syrup, can of vegetables, and more. Additional customers received free reusable bags throughout the day.
Earl Casler, store manager, along with Bottom Dollar executives said it was the 13th Bottom Dollar Food in New Jersey, which is approximately 22,500 square feet of the former Super Fresh store.
”We thought we have a nice offering for the community and it would be a nice addition,” said Mr. Casler.
According to Mr. Casler, it is a “value conscious supermarket.”
”We really thrive on the everyday low prices,” Mr. Casler said. “That’s what really drives this store.”
Other ways to save include using a Membership Card, eCoupons and signing up for its weekly newsletter and Money-mail, which sends alerts your email.
”We pride ourselves on clean, well stocked stores with great customer service and prices,” Mr. Casler said.
Local dignitaries including Mayor Janice Mironov, Deputy Mayor Alan Rosenberg, councilmen Perry Shapiro and John Zoller were in attendance.
Mayor Mironov welcomed the attendees and congratulated the Bottom Dollar Food management team.
”Good morning, I am impressed by the turnout at this hour of the morning on a somewhat crispy fall day,” said Mayor Mironov.
”It’s nice to see that the community is out to support us,” Mr. Casler said. “We will do everything we can to give them the best shopping experience.”
”This is a very exciting day for East Windsor,” Mayor Mironov said. “We are very excited to welcome Bottom Dollar to this space which needed a tenant. I think they will be a good, successful and well used tenant.”
According to Mayor Mironov, Bottom Dollar has been expanding its stores “up to this area very successfully.”
It was founded in 2005, the Salisbury, North Carolina based store now has 60 stores open throughout the Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey area including locations in Trenton and Bordentown.
Current hours of operation are Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m..
”This is a very good addition for them and certainly for us,” Mayor Mironov said.
According to Mayor Mironov, the shopping center was brought more than a year ago by very “active and capable owners.”
The new shopping center owners Advance Realty and Structure Tone Equities have made several improvements at Windsor Center, which include a completely renovated façade and signage. The owners of the Shopping Center were also in attendance for the grand opening.
”They have done a great job in actively leasing and attracting new tenants,” Mayor Mironov said. “This is a work in progress and they are remodeling the entire center.”
According to Mayor Mironov, it is a “prime location” and “you can’t get much better.”
”Bottom Dollar will just add another great store and another shopping opportunity for East Windsor residents,” Mayor Mironov added.
According to Bottom Dollar executives, it took 17 weeks to renovate the store which started around the beginning of August.
According to Mayor Mironov, it is a “sign of very good direction for us.”
”Good, positive stores and good, positive economic development of which we are going to see lots more of in the coming year,” Mayor Mironov said.
The opening of the store has brought approximately 45 jobs to the local economy.
”On behalf of Bottom Dollar, I am so happy to be here,” said Retired Philadelphia Eagles football player Bill Bergey. “When you see the prices in here I don’t know how our general manager of the store is going to get any kind of a bonus at the end of the year at all.”
Mr. Bergey signed autographs from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
”I have walked through two of these stores,” Mr. Bergey said. “Everything looks so good. I think you are really going to enjoy shopping here.”
The store offers more than 8,000 items to choose from including name brands from companies like Kraft Foods, Heinz, General Mills, Frito Lay, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi, Coke, to private brands which include My Essentials, Hannaford, Home 360, Healthy Accents and Taste of Inspirations.
According to Mr. Casler, the store carries items that it finds customers buy most when they do their shopping.
”We have a full variety of products in our store-fresh produce, fresh meat, fresh bakery,” Mr. Casler said.
There is a double your money back guarantee on all the fresh merchandise, according to Mr. Casler.
”If for any reason anyone is unsatisfied with anything they can bring it back for a double refund,” Mr. Casler said.
Bottom Dollar will refund your money and replace the product.
They also have “We Won’t Be Beat” policy if you find a like item cheaper somewhere else you can bring in your receipt or competitor’s ad and they will beat their price by a penny.
Ways the store has been able to get the prices low is operating in “the most efficient ways possible.” This includes its produce being stocked in the open walk-in produce cooler and handled less.
Offering an extensive line of quality store brand items and customers bag their own groceries. In addition, it has a free Membership Card that gives you the lowest possible price on our Special Buys or While Supplies Last sale items, according to its website.
”Customers supply their own bags and bag their own groceries, which further contributes to efficiency, enabling us to keep our prices so low,” said Erin DeWaters, Manger of External Communications of Delhaize America. “When available, boxes are provided at the front of the store and reusable bags are available at a low price for customers to purchase in store, if needed.
Customers also have to pay to use a shopping cart.
”A quarter is needed to release a shopping cart at Bottom Dollar Food in East Windsor,” Ms. DeWaters said. “The quarter is returned to a shopper immediately when he or she returns the cart, so there is no cost for using a cart. The use of the coin operated cart enables us to keep prices low for customers, since less labor is used retrieving carts and it reduces the likelihood of us having to replace carts, which are expensive. Additionally, it adds convenience for shoppers, as it creates an environment where carts are always available and reduces the risk of carts being scattered throughout the parking lot, which customers have told us is important to them.”
Raymond White, of Cranbury, stopped in the store for a “quick buy” and to check it out. “It was more than I expected,” said Mr. White adding he didn’t know what to expect.Maria Sequinot, of East Windsor, is familiar with the store.
”I’ve been in this store before,” said Ms. Sequinot. “I love their prices and the quality of their meat especially.”
Kathleen Cunningham, of Hightstown, has been shopping in the same building, which has changed ownership, for the past 45 years. “I love it,” said Ms. Cunningham. “It’s very clean and very well organized. I am very well impressed with the help who goes out of their way to help you.”Rise Food Pantry was presented with a $1,000 check on behalf of Bottom Dollar Food.
”We are delighted that Bottom Dollar is going to be a generous community partner,” said Executive Director Leslie Koppel in an email on Saturday. “They are giving back to our local community. The $1,000 donation comes just when we need it most as we are getting ready to prepare Thanksgiving baskets for over 300 local struggling families.”
”Let’s just have ourselves a good time and get in there, buy a bunch of good, cheap, very inexpensive things,” Mr. Bergey said.
”Thank you again for all of you coming out and celebrating with us,” Mr. Casler said . “I hope you enjoy shopping at Bottom Dollar Food.”