Central Supermarket (550 Farmington Avenue) will be closing its doors on May 15. According to the Farmington Avenue Wire, a newsletter produced by the Farmington Avenue Alliance and Farmington Asylum Business District, the supermarket’s owner, Adam Hamideh, said the store “never found a successful niche in the West End.” The newsletter says that the owner “believes that he should have concentrated on one market segment rather than to try to serve the diverse needs of the neighborhood.”
Tangiers, currently located on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford, will be moving into this space at some point this summer. This grocery sells Middle Eastern, Greek, Bosnian, Armenian, Indian, Turkish, Glatt Kosher, and Halal foods; Tangiers has a small counter and take-out featuring falafel, stuffed grape leaves, gyros, hummus, and more.
The plan is to continue doing take out at the new location. Tangiers is considering expanding its grocery area.
Two months ago, we learned that plans were approved to raze the plaza in which Tangiers currently resides, so that a larger Walgreens could go in its place.
Gaspar Sancoche
Mr. Hamideh’s analysis seems on target. Gaspar tried to like Central Supermarket but ultimately never found a good enough reason to shop there. What a shame.
Best of luck to Tangiers in their new location.
And of course the town of West Hartford, like the nation, and the world, needs a bigger Walgreens.
Robin
I am really glad that Tangiers has found a new home, even better that Hartford can now claim it. I hope they do really well in their new spot, they are honestly one of the nicest (and handsomest) families I’ve ever met.
Now I want grape leaves.
Kerri Provost
It’s really interesting how little I heard about anyone ever shopping at Central until today when word got out about its planned closure.
I really don’t think this is a negative thing for Hartford. The Tangiers crew are a known quantity. They’re friendly, hard-working, and as far as I’ve ever observed, the type who aim to please. Instead of everyone wringing their hands about where they will get _____, maybe it’s worth just asking one of the guys from Tangiers if they would consider stocking ________. I could be a bad judge of character, but I’m willing to bet that in most cases, their answer would be “yes”.
Josh LaPorte
Do many people spend a lot of time talking about where they buy groceries? I buy my food at stores within walking distance of my home. Basically, most of what I eat comes from Carlos Supermarket or Central Market. I fill in odds and ends elsewhere, including Tangiers (they always have the best figs).
Central Market is not fancy. But they offer a much better vegetable selection than I can find at other Asylum Hill/West End markets, along with all the staples I need to create meals. In my mind, this news means that we have fewer options, fewer choices, and a smaller selection. I wish we could have BOTH Tangiers AND a grocery store in the West End. This is a net loss.
Christopher Brown
I never went to Central Supermarket, as there are a few markets closer to my house, so I can’t say I’ll miss it.
I’m happy about Hartford getting a major boost in falafel availability and bragging rights. I wish them success for years to come in Hartford.
Walgreens and CVS have repeatedly proven to be enemies of historic preservation and thoughtful development. The more stores they build and/or expand, the less likely I am to ever set foot in them.
Kerri Provost
Today I wanted eye liner. It was more convenient for me to stop at Walgreens. I went to Sephora instead. Because Sephora has never, to my knowledge, threatened to displace handsome purveyors of falafel. (Also, I now look like a 14 yr old girl from 1987 because I don’t know how to put on make up)
Tony C
I have the same problem when I put on the eye makeup.
Richard
My problem comes with lipstick. Some how it always ends up on my nose and in my moustache.
Christopher Brown
“My problem comes with lipstick” sounds like a country song title and/or lyric.
Christian
Great news. I’m so happy these guys aren’t going too far. They’re really a top-notch family business, one which I associate with the West End.
I wish them luck in the new space; I think the location is difficult. Everyone in the neighborhood – let’s make sure we support them, yeah?
Kerri Provost
I’m not sure the space is difficult. It has that much-sought-after parking. It’s visible for those going west on Farmington. And in this case, Tangiers already has loyal customers. I think it may be hard to establish a new business there, but one that is popular and just relocating seems like it doesn’t have those same challenges.
The thing is people have to *actually* support something, not just say they do it. I’m thinking about the Crown Market here. If we want something to remain in our community, we have to make sure that happens. That means giving financial support (buying stuff) and it means not allowing Hartford to make ridiculous decisions as just happened in West Hartford (re: giving green light to Walgreens at expense of a family-run business)
John Kennelly
I am so disappointed to learn Central Market is closing. I shop there at least once a week and have gotten to know Joe and his family that own and run it. They are wonderful people and I am very sad to hear that they are leaving.
I love Tangiers and have been friendly with the Latif family since most of that large group of kids were still toddlers. I really wish both establishments could have been successful.
Brendan
I have bought kombucha at Central market on numerous occasions.
Please don’t ever tell anyone that I like kombucha.
Kerri Provost
I’m pretty sure you can make kombucha at home. I think I saw someone growing it in a jar on her counter top in Brooklyn.
Brendan
I think that can only be done in Brooklyn.
There’s a pizza place I go to in Vermont that has it on tap and Elm City Market does kombucha growler fills. Someone gave me a growler of kombucha for my birthday last year from Elm City.
Justin Eichenlaub
That stretch of Farmington Avenue could really use both the falafel place and a market like Central. We shopped there a lot when we lived there (a.k.a. the worst street in Hartford). Thought it was a pretty darn good store. I’d never drink kombucha, it has a mother.
Kerri Provost
Tangiers *is* a market.
Gaspar Sancoche
Not sure how helpful it is to revisit the past, but before Central Supermarket there was an Asian market (E-MART Asian American Market) there owned by a very nice Korean family that had been associated with Ichiban. They had a small selection of very fresh fish, among other good things. Before that, a dollar store. Before that Cheese ‘n Stuff. None of those businesses succeeded. Hopefully the loyal client base of Tangiers will follow them to the new location.
Kerri Provost
I keep thinking about this:
http://www.kveller.com/blog/parenting/my-local-kosher-market-is-closing-im-part-of-the-reason-why/
The Crown is different. It had lots of history. But I think the point is still the same. From that article, published before the divine intervention that kept the Crown open:
“Increased competition in the area is cited as the cause but the horrifying truth is I am the cause.
We are all the cause.
I chose to shop at the new neighborhood Wal-Mart because we wanted to save money. What I realize now, much too late, is that if I had shopped at Crown and paid a little bit more, I would have been supporting this important part of the Jewish community that we cherish and love. And now, with a heavy heart, I admit I was wrong. I apologize. I know that isn’t enough. I wish it were. I wish I could promise to shop there for now on.”
Josh LaPorte
Well, Cheese and Stuff was actually purchased and closed by a competitor. It was very successful and it’s closure is still mourned.
Josh LaPorte
Going wayback to my childhood, I remember when that building (all of it, as far as I recall) was a Finast supermarket. The West End was very, very different back then.