'Not just chicken Parm': Top Tomato Italian grocer opens in Old Bridge with modern twist
For years, Top Tomato Italian grocery stores filled New York and New Jersey, supplying Italian-Americans with fresh pasta, produce, mozzarella, bread, ready-to-cook Italian dinners and more.
But that reign came to an end when the last Garden State Top Tomato store closed, and the founding family sold the business in 2019.
Now Buddy Sciandra, son of co-chain founder Carmine Sciandra, is bringing Top Tomato back to New Jersey.
On June 20, Top Tomato opened its only New Jersey location in Old Bridge at Ticetown Square Shopping Center at 3105 Route 9.
The 10,000-square-foot store is keeping the Italian nostalgia of the chain alive with offerings like olive oils, organic produce, fresh nuts and beans, and a large prepared food section. But this time, it’s served with an international twist.
“America is such a diverse place, and we Americans don’t want to just eat Italian food. I’m Italian-American and I don’t eat Italian food seven nights a week,” said Sciandra. “I want people to know they’re not just coming here for chicken Parmesan. We have that, and it’s delicious, but at the same time you can get a variety of different things.”
About 40 percent of the Old Bridge’s Top Tomato store offerings are Italian, while the rest are Greek, Latin, American, Asian and other ethnicities.
“If you want to have a taco night but don’t want to use basic Ortega, we have all different varieties,” Sciandra said. “The same goes for our prepared foods.”
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Some of the prepared, oven- or grill-ready dishes that Top Tomato offers are marinated chicken wings, stuffed salmon, stuffed skirt steak, baked clams, marinated tuna steak, and steak pinwheels.
The modernity of the store is also reflected in its design, Sciandra said.
“There isn’t any clutter or overdone Italian décor collecting dust,” he said. “The store is very simple and clean to make the food products stand out, and also be a nice customer experience — so it’s relaxing to walk through and easy to find everything.”
Sciandra worked at his family’s Top Tomato stores for 20 years before leaving once his family sold the business. He worked other jobs since then, but now he’s ready to get back in the food industry.
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“This is what I’ve been doing since I have 14 years old, and I have done every person’s job,” he said. “I enjoy cooking, I’ve been a butcher, I’ve been in the kitchen, I’ve packed produce stands. It’s what in me to do.”
When Sciandra found the vacant Old Bridge location (formerly Garden Farm) now housing Top Tomato, he felt it was a match made in the Mediterranean, since he said that many local residents are from Brooklyn and Staten Island and are familiar with Top Tomato.
The business originated in Queens 45 years ago as a produce stand before growing to grocery stores.
He has his family’s blessing, too.
“They’re happy I’m using the Top Tomato name and moving forward,” Sciandra said.
Go: 3105 Route 9, Old Bridge; toptomato.net, 732-523-4800.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she's a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State's buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Top Tomato Italian grocery store opens only NJ store in Old Bridge
