If you’ve lived in Bergen County for more than five minutes, you probably know that finding a decent parking spot on New Bridge Road is basically an Olympic sport. But people do it. Every single day. They swarm to 89 New Bridge Road because Grand and Essex Bergenfield isn't just a place to grab a gallon of milk. Honestly, it’s closer to a culinary community center that happens to have a very high-end grocery attached to it.
I remember the first time I walked in. I expected a standard kosher market. What I got was the smell of fresh-baked challah hitting me like a freight train and a deli counter that looked more like a Five-Star hotel buffet. It’s been around since 2013, and in that time, it has fundamentally changed how people in Bergenfield and Teaneck think about "doing the groceries."
The Meat Department That Everyone Obsesses Over
You can't talk about this place without mentioning the butcher. Seriously.
Most supermarkets have a guy in the back who wraps pre-cut plastic trays. At Grand and Essex Bergenfield, the meat department is basically the heart of the operation. They actually won the Progressive Grocer Outstanding Independent Award in 2020 specifically for their meat and seafood. That’s a national award. It’s a big deal for a local independent shop to beat out the giants.
They have this managing partner, Shia Schoenfeld, and a head butcher named Zevy who have basically turned meat-buying into a personalized service. You can actually WhatsApp the butcher. Imagine that. You’re at work, you realize you need a specific cut of Prime USDA American beef for a dinner party, and you just shoot them a text. It’s that old-school neighborhood vibe but with 2026 technology.
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And if you’re into BBQ, their smokehouse is legendary. We’re talking:
- Real smoked brisket that actually has a smoke ring.
- Ribs that don't need a gallon of sauce to be tender.
- Smoked burnt ends that sell out way faster than they should.
It’s Not Just Groceries—It’s the Takeout
Let's be real. Nobody actually wants to cook every single night.
The "Little Italy" pizza section inside the store is a lifesaver for parents on a Tuesday evening. But if you want to go deeper, the Chinese food department is where the real magic happens. They have this "Yitzy’s Gusto" sandwich—honey chipotle poppers, coleslaw, and red onion on a roll. It’s messy. It’s heavy. It’s perfect.
Then there’s the sushi.
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Usually, grocery store sushi is... questionable. But here, they’re doing things like the "Salmon Tiradito" with mango and pickled jalapeño. It’s fresh. They have a "Sushi Falafel" which is spicy tuna and seasoned rice with a panko crust. It sounds weird until you try it, and then you realize you’ve been missing out your whole life.
Why the Community Actually Cares
There is a specific kind of "Bergen County" hospitality that happens here. Mali Baer, who handles the marketing and customer care, has talked about how they view the store as part of the local lifecycle.
They do this thing where they provide complimentary dinners for families with newborns. They visit houses of mourning. If an elderly customer buys more than they can carry, someone from the staff will literally drive them and their groceries home. You don't get that at a big-box chain. You just don't.
Knowing the Logistics (The "Must-Knows")
If you are planning a trip, you need to understand the rhythm of the place.
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Grand and Essex Bergenfield operates on a schedule that respects the Jewish calendar. This means if you show up on a Saturday, you’re looking at a locked door.
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (This is the "I forgot everything for the week" rush).
- Mon-Wed: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Late night shopping here is a vibe; it's when everyone is prep-cooking).
- Friday: 7:00 AM – Closes 1 hour and 45 minutes before candle lighting.
- Saturday: Closed.
They also have a massive online operation. Back in 2015, they partnered with My Cloud Grocer to build a digital storefront that actually works. You can get delivery in New Jersey and even parts of Manhattan. For a local shop to compete with the delivery speeds of Amazon or Walmart is pretty impressive, honestly.
Is It Expensive?
Look, I'm not going to lie to you. It’s a "high-end" market. If you are comparing the price of a head of lettuce to a discount warehouse, you might notice a difference. But you aren’t just paying for the lettuce. You’re paying for the fact that the produce is hand-checked, the meat is top-tier, and the bakery (the kokosh cakes are insane) is making everything from scratch that morning.
Actionable Steps for Your First Visit
If you’ve never been, or if you usually just run in for one thing, try this next time:
- Hit the Deli Early: If you want the good smoked meats or the specific "Sino Steak," don't wait until 6:00 PM.
- Order the "Gush Etzion" Sandwich: It’s roasted pargiyot (spring chicken) with fried onion, hummus, and schug. It’s probably the best thing on the sandwich menu.
- Check the WhatsApp: If you have a specific meat request, ask for the butcher’s number. It saves so much time.
- The Bakery Platter Hack: If you’re hosting people, their "Fancy Mini Breads Platter" (usually 32 pieces) is a way better deal than buying individual rolls.
Grand and Essex Bergenfield manages to be a lot of things at once. It’s a specialty butcher, a high-end caterer, a pizza joint, and a community hub. In an era where everything is becoming an automated, faceless transaction, there’s something really nice about a place where the staff actually knows your name—or at least knows exactly how you like your pastrami sliced.