Key Food supermarket comes to East Hartford. Customers laud convenience of location.
A new grocery store has opened in East Hartford and it’s drawing praise from local officials and customers.
The Key Food International Supermarket, 954 Main St., recently held its grand opening and Mayor Mike Walsh said the town is excited to have the new supermarket join the business community on Main Street.
“They have already become an integral part of East Hartford, offering every day essentials, fresh produce and so much more,” said Walsh. “We wish them the best of luck and success as they continue to establish their footprint in East Hartford.”
Town Director of Development Eileen Buckheit also said officials are pleased to have the Key Food supermarket come into the community.
“It is a great addition to our downtown along with the openings of the Russell and M & T bank branch within a couple of weeks of each other,” she said. “It’s so important to have fresh food available in this area of our town with great access to transportation options, and also walkable to many residents in the downtown area. We look forward to a long and successful partnership.”
Shoppers appear to be enjoying the new store as well. The site was the previous location of a Save-A-Lot Food Stores business.
One of the customers, Jay Parker, said he really likes the renovations and how clean the store is kept.
“It’s nice. I tried one, maybe two things [that were] satisfactory. [The] store is clean, well lit. The price is a little bit high, but I can understand it’s more convenient, grocery shopping,” he said.
Another customer, Edward Morrow, said that he is surprised that the store offers so much merchandise in each department.
“Even the vegetables. It’s relatively a small neighborhood store, but they have lots of things you can find. So far, I do like that. I do shop prices. They’re basically for people who live in the area and maybe don’t have transportation. So it’s very convenient. That’s what’s being sold here,” he said.
Customer Clifford Griggs said he likes the new store due to the convenience, as it is close to his residence.
Owner Roberto Corona said that he has felt support for the store and enjoys being in the community.
He said that he knows that customers have been saying that the prices are too high, but he said this is due to not being a big chain store.
“The community [has been] supporting, little by little. The thing is a lot of people find the prices kind of high, but…we are not a big chain store. This is not corporate, it’s an individual owner, so. Right now…all the prices change…every day is a different price…We’ve been getting support from [the] people,” he said.
Town Council member Angie Parkinson’s Facebook page offered highlights of the store, noting a full-service meat and seafood department, a full deli, catering services, a bakery and prepared food. Residents who are seniors or firefighters can receive a 10% discount on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., along with free delivery offered with purchases for $100 and Instacart service, according to Parkinson’s page.
She also noted fresh and frozen selections will be available for shoppers to choose from in the seafood department, which will be supplied and run by a local captain, as well as the number of international items, including Caribbean and Central American goods.
The Key Food Store hours are Monday to Saturday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The store also allows payment via EBT and EWIC/WIC.
