Livoti’s Old World Market’s Brick location, just prior to opening, 2024. (Photo: Livoti’s)
It has been nearly nine years since northern Brick Township lost its Pathmark supermarket, a staple of the area – and the large shopping plaza in once anchored – to a corporate bankruptcy. A few years later, Aldi, located a block north, moved to a new location.
Next week, that all changes, with Livoti’s Old World Market, a specialty supermarket, opening in the former Pathmark space at Laurel Square Plaza, located between routes 70 and 88. The shopping center, once nearly empty, has been revived by its owner, the Brixmor Group, and now hosts an At Home location in the former K-Mart store and will also house an Ashley Furniture location.
Livoti’s Old World Market, slated to move into the former Pathmark location in Brick Township in 2024. (Photo: Livoti’s)
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It is the addition of the supermarket, however, that has drawn the most excitement since it was first announced in late 2022. The company has announced that the store will open Thursday, March 7, and serve as the “flagship” location for the growing chain. The market currently operates stores in Aberdeen, Marlboro, Freehold and Middletown, all located in Monmouth County. The Brick location will hold a liquor license, with the store planning a wine club, among other similar amenities.
“We’ve all been waiting a long time for that and we’re all excited for that,” said Mayor Lisa Crate, eager to lead the ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new business. “We hope to see you there for the ribbon cutting to celebrate the rebirth of that shopping center over the last few years.”
Laurel Square was once one of the township’s busiest shopping centers, between the Pathmark and K-Mart stores. It also housed multiple banks, a Payless shoe store, and a number of small businesses interspersed between the larger stores. Many closed after Pathmark shut down, however hope of a new supermarket emerged when another specialty chain, Corrado’s, announced they would open in the Pathmark location. A multitude of delays, plus an opening planned in the midst of the pandemic era, ultimately led to the company defaulting on its lease terms and being evicted. It took another year to lure the Livoti’s chain to Brick, however the company’s expected opening date next week is exactly on schedule with the date the company promised in their 2022 announcement.
Livoti’s Old World Market’s Brick location, just prior to opening, 2024. (Photo: Livoti’s)
Livoti’s Old World Market’s Brick location, just prior to opening, 2024. (Photo: Livoti’s)
Livoti’s Old World Market was founded by John Livoti in Aberdeen in 2010, and focuses on Italian specialties in addition to the items found at a traditional supermarket. Uniquely, Livoti’s is locally-owned in an era where large chain supermarkets dominate.
“Growing up in the Italian supermarket business, and with a strong passion for what he was doing for a living, John decided to open a store of his own,” the business’s website says, with his daughter, his son-in-law, his two sons, his uncle and his wife all playing a role in the venture.
All of the locations have garnered rave reviews online, with all of the stores featuring a gourmet Italian deli, plus bakery, produce, grocery, dairy, frozen, seafood, pizza, meat, and floral departments. The business has been steadily expanding, with the Marlboro location opening in 2014, followed by Middletown in 2017 and the Freehold location in 2021.
Livoti’s is also known for its robust catering and holiday menus.
The store is officially opening at 9 a.m. next Thursday, March 7.
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