JAMESBURG, N.J. (May 3, 2017) - Seasons Kosher Supermarkets of Flushing, New York today announced plans to open three new stores in Scarsdale, New York, Baltimore, Maryland and Cleveland, Ohio, expanding from the company's established marketplace in New York and New Jersey.
"It's not hard to see why Seasons has become the first national kosher supermarket chain," said Paul Ruitenberg, Director of Ruitenberg Lind Design Group (RLDG), which plans, designs and fabricates Seasons stores. "They have an extremely successful blueprint that makes the shopping experience enjoyable and makes people want to come back. The key elements are food, customer service, store cleanliness and aesthetics and how they treat the community."
Seasons CEO Mayer Gold said the company strives to create a family atmosphere at each store where customers feel welcome and comfortable. "RLDG's comprehensive store plan and clean, colorful design help enhance customer satisfaction," said Gold.
"Part of our approach to business is we want our store managers to be in the store helping customers whenever possible," he said during a recent visit to the company's newest location in Clifton. "We want the managers to be interacting with customers answering questions."
Seasons is a kosher grocery offering gourmet food and all the products expected in any supermarket.
"We are strictly kosher, but a significant portion of our customers are not Jewish," said Gold. "Keeping kosher today is not the same it was years ago because you can get everything you need in one store in most cases. Our Clifton store probably has the largest Passover section in New Jersey and maybe New York as well."
Gold said Seasons is expanding into areas where the demographics indicate there is a need. The 35,000-square-foot Clifton store, located on Allwood Road at the site of a former Acme, is larger than the typical Seasons. The Clifton location also has an additional 15,000 square feet of store space that is available for lease, which Gold says would be ideal for a liquor store, pharmacy or kitchen shop. The company operates two stores in Lawrence, New York, including a Seasons Express that Gold said is the only kosher grocery in the country that is open 24 hours a day except Saturday when all Seasons are closed.
Seasons has been in business since 2010 and the company's original stores were designed by Lind Design International (LDI). Jill and Paul Ruitenberg purchased the assets of LDI, a well-recognized supermarket design firm, when its principal Gary Lind closed his business and retired in 2014. The Ruitenbergs have since redesigned all of Seasons stores.
"Seasons has a great model that works for their business," said Jill Ruitenberg. "Our businesses have really grown together and we enjoy working with Mayer and his team. We are both committed to supporting the community and it's a pleasure to help bring Seasons to other parts of the country."
About Ruitenberg Lind Design Group (RLDG)
RLDG specializes in the planning, design, fabrication, and installation of professional environments for supermarkets, malls, specialty retailers, restaurants, hotels and health care facilities. For more information, please visit www.beststoredesign.com or call (732) 474-1000.