Plans for a ShopRite in Atlantic City’s central business district received a positive response last week at a meeting of the land use regulation and enforcement division of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). The plans, which have been in the works for over a year, call for a 44,000 square foot store near the convention center and the Tanger Outlets, as well as 227 parking spaces.
“I am very excited about this project,” said City Councilman Kaleem Shabazz. “I am excited about ending the food desert status of Atlantic City.”
The store would be owned and operated by Village Supermarket Inc., which operates about 40 ShopRite stores in the region. It would be the first full-service supermarket in Atlantic City in over 15 years.
The vote to approve the project is slated for the September 21 CRDA board meeting. Currently Village Supermarket Inc. and the CRDA are working on an agreement that would include financial incentives and zoning variances. According to representatives of the supermarket operator, the financial support is needed in order to make the project feasible.