Red Envelope Day! Asian Food Market Now Open on Route 18 South

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Ronnie Li and Jay Grusholz of the East Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce passed the "red envelope" to the managers of Asian Food Market on Route 18 South this week as a wish for good luck at the sparkling-clean and contemporary new location.  Red envelopes are usually filled with money and symbolize good wishes and luck for the new year ahead. The importance of the hóngbāo isn't the cash held inside, though; it's actually the envelope itself. The red color symbolizes good luck and prosperity in Chinese (and other East Asian) cultures.

Mayor Brad Cohen and Economic Development Officer Rob Zuckerman were also there to cut that bright red ribbon, symbolizing good luck for East Brunswick as the township manages redevelopment along the retail corridor. Asian Food market is located next door to Umi, the new Asian buffet restaurant off Route 18 South and Lake Avenue, and close to Vermella, the new development which has begun progress on route 18.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

Board of Education member Liwu Hong, who is the liaison to the East Brunswick Education Foundation for the BOE, was there to press for support for local schools and the extended community.

The store contains its own bakery, fish department, and butcher. Produce is fresh and well-priced, at least now during opening week.  As expected, there is a focus on Asian vegetables featuring a variety of types of cabbage, mushrooms, and leafy greens. The tanks in the fish department contain several types of fresh mussels and conch.  Store managers asserted that it is Asian Food Market's policy to buy from local farmers whenever possible.

Asian Food Market is a local chain with stores in Jersey City, Staten Island, North Plainfield, Piscataway, South Brunswick, and Marlboro.

So TAPinto East Brunswick went shopping!  Who can resist a new store with a bakery?

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

For $16.47, the purchase included a pound of baby bok choy; 6 boneless/skinless chicken thighs; two "hot dog buns" (which were sweet tasting rolls with a whole hot dog inside); a large broccoli "crown"; a package of Asian-style vermicelli thin noodles; and a quart of strawberries.  As an East Brunswick mom, I thought that was a good price.

Store hours are 9:00 am to 8:00 pm daily, except for Sunday with a 7:00 pm closing.

Although the location is already open for business, the "official" opening of East Brunswick's Asian Food Mart will be held on Saturday, May 4.  The traditional Chinese "Lion Dance" by the Garden State Lions will take place at 11:00 am.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net