Caraluzzi’s Market

Offers A New Option For Newtown Shoppers

By Nancy K. Crevier

Just a few bright green star balloons and low-key signage at each of the entrances announced to Newtown residents that Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market at the Shoppes at Newtown on Queen Street had opened Wednesday, October 15.

“There had been so much buzz about when we might open that we didn’t want to time the grand opening for the first day we opened up,” said general manager Mark Caraluzzi, on Monday, October 20. “But for just turning the key and putting up a couple of small signs, the turnout last week was better than we could ever have expected,” he said.

Monday morning, however, Mr Caraluzzi was joined by his father, Tony Caraluzzi, sister and CFO Jennifer Caraluzzi Dimyan, and town officials at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the grand opening of the 36,000-square-foot store in the town’s historic borough district.

Borough Senior Burgess Joan Glover Crick and Newtown First Selectman Joe Borst were among those standing by as Mr Caraluzzi snipped the bright green ribbon at 9 am, officially welcoming Newtown residents to the store.

“Personally, my wife is very excited that we don’t have to drive to Bethel anymore to go to Caraluzzi’s,” quipped Mr Borst, adding, “This is absolutely a good thing for the town.”

“I’m just bursting with pride that the third generation of our business is taking the ball and moving forward,” said Tony Caraluzzi, as he stood back admiring the façade of the new store. “The guard has been passed and it’s in good hands,” he said.

Ms Crick addressed her words to Jennifer Caraluzzi Dimyan, CFO for the market, saying, “You bring class to this borough. This is just a beautiful addition to the borough.” Looking out over the newly paved plaza, she added, “This is absolutely great.”

“We’ve been waiting a long time to be in Newtown,” Ms Dimyan said. “We’re very excited to be a part of the community.”

The supermarket is the third facility for the Caraluzzi family, with other stores located in Bethel and Wilton.

“The Newtown store is the best of both our Wilton and Bethel locations, with a greater selection here than at one or the other of the other stores,” said Mark Caraluzzi. “Our strength is in the perishables, the produce and deli departments, I think,” he said.

Shoppers are greeted by a colorful display of cut flowers, arrangements, plants, and seasonal pumpkins at the entrance to the store. Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market features a broad selection of conventional and organic fruits and vegetables, including many locally grown products. Currently, a variety of handpicked apples, cider, and doughnuts from Bethel’s Blue Jay Orchards is available.

Sushi, prepared in-store by master sushi chefs, complements the large selection of Asian specialty foods, and shoppers will find the Boar’s Head line of deli products alongside Caraluzzi’s own brand at the deli case. A large, centrally located cheese department showcases cheeses from all over the world. Fine pastries and artisan-baked goods are also available at competitive pricing, said Mr Caraluzzi.

The meat department is centered around Certified Angus Beef, as well as Certified Angus All-Natural Beef, Dakota Organic Beef, and USDA Prime beef. Fresh seafood, farmed and wild-caught, fills a large case, and lobsters await their selection in a bubbling tank nearby.

Specialty food products include chocolates from Hauser Chocolatier in Bethel, and customers can select from a variety of Caraluzzi kitchen creations of fresh-prepared meals to go.

Throughout the store, natural and organic items are interspersed with name brand, conventional products. Pet foods, health and beauty products, cleaning products, snack foods, and drinks are among the offerings appealing to the “green” consumer.

Karen Sepp moved to Newtown just one month ago and Monday morning she was in line at the deli counter to do some shopping. “It’s lovely,” said Ms Sepp. “The store is beautifully decorated and the food is delicious.”

Louise and Richard Andrews echoed the feeling of several shoppers in Caraluzzi’s for the grand opening.

“We’re very pleased that Caraluzzi’s is here. We have had to travel to Bethel to do our shopping, so we’ve been waiting for this a long time,” said Mrs Andrews. The Andrewses are also shoppers for FAITH Food Pantry, they said, and Caraluzzi’s gives them a generous break to help stock the pantry.

Monday was Karla Bernstein’s first visit to Newtown’s newest supermarket.

“I think it’s great to have another choice in downtown Newtown,” she commented.

Chris Yeaton was also perusing the selections early on Monday morning. “This store looks like it will have everything I’ll want,” said Mr Yeaton.

Residents can look for daily giveaways and other in-store promotions for the next couple of weeks, as the new store celebrates its grand opening, said Mr Caraluzzi. “Shoppers will find specials like the porter house steaks for $3.99 a pound, a price they haven’t seen since the 1970s or 80s,” he said.

 For those who need a break from shopping, or just a break in the day, a pause at the gourmet café for a specialty coffee and a miniature torte might be just the ticket. Caraluzzi’s invites the public to enjoy the refreshments seated in the Wi-Fi café at the front of the store.

 “I love it. I’ve been here every day so far,” said Patricia Gommo, as she and Erika Moran sipped coffee in the store’s café.

“The Newtown and borough officials have been a pleasure to work with throughout the construction phases, which provided a warm welcome for us into the business community,” said Mr Caraluzzi. “We’re ecstatic to be here.”