New store is the
apple of their eye

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Don’t let the name fool you.
The Apple Farmers market, which celebrated its grand opening last week, carries a lot more than just apples.
The 20,000-square-foot supermarket, established in the long-vacant Thriftway property in the Krewstown Shopping Center in Bustleton, is a full-service supermarket whose offerings include fresh seafood, a deli and an incredible assortment of produce.
Sure, there are the traditional fruits and vegetable, such as apples, oranges, lettuce and the like.
But other offerings are vast and not as common — for example, five varieties of squash, as well as yuca, malagacoco and batata — a white-fleshed variety of the sweet potato from the Caribbean — not to mention the root vegetable yautia — popular in Cuba and Puerto Rico — or even loquat, a fruit that is indigenous to China but is produced on a large scale in Japan, Israel and Brazil.
And don’t overlook the figs, the knob celery — a cousin to anise, carrots and parsnips that is popular in Europe — or the horned melons and two varieties of persimmon fruit.
The enormous assortment undoubtedly will cater to the growing Asian, Brazilian and Russian immigrant population in Northeast Philadelphia, as well as enhance the growing popularity of ethnic foods.
"It’s always good to have variety. That will bring people in — a nice niche," said Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
The grocery store is one of the chamber’s newest members. Although the name Apple Farmers might be new to the Philadelphia area, the independent stores also can be found in New York.
Owner Margaret Ghim, who had wanted to open a food store, left New York and headed to Northeast Philadelphia on the recommendation of a friend.
"It’s a really nice place," Ghim’s friend told her about the Bustleton neighborhood.
Ghim has been pleased with the welcome she’s received from shoppers, who had been without a supermarket in the retail center for about two years.
"Some are walking up to me to say thank you. They’re really nice people. I like it here," she said.
Neighborhood resident Louisa Nivard likes it too.
"I love that we have a store again," she said.
Her husband, John, was likewise impressed with the store’s layout and the variety.
"I wish them well," he said.
Another customer, Leona Ebsworth, is pleased to once again be able to shop closer to home. "It’s convenient," she said. "I usually have to run up to the Acme."
The Apple Farmers market parking lot was festooned with banners announcing the store’s Dec. 3 grand opening and the return of an anchor store to the neighborhood center on the 9300 block of Krewstown Road.
Charlene Connelly, owner of South Philly Bagels, is hopeful the new market will be a boost to neighboring businesses and help energize her own sales numbers.
It’ll take more time, of course, before merchants can reasonably assess that impact. Vladimir Arikh, manager of the House of Beauty, is rooting for the supermarket’s success, recalling that the Thriftway outlet wasn’t much of a business booster toward the end.
"I am happy for this store. Thriftway was very dirty," Arikh said, adding that good prices will be necessary to make the new market a success.
While some businesses are hoping the market means good things for the Krewstown Shopping Center, others aren’t as reliant on an anchor store for their success, said Tony Onosov, who manages Svetoch.
The store, in business for only four months, offers Orthodox religious items, such as vestments, icons, crosses, blessed oils and incense.
"We cater to a very specific market," Onosov explained. ••
Apple Farmers market is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 215-698-0130.
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com