Grand & Essex takes its commitment to the local community that it serves seriously.
During the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, when the kosher supermarket was located on Teaneck Road, Grand and Essex was at the forefront of giving out free meals to families experiencing power outages in the aftermath of the storm that, for some, lasted weeks. During this COVID-19 pandemic, Grand and Essex has graciously provided full Shabbat meals to bereaved families during shiva.
Mali Baer, director of marketing and customer care for the store, said, “For the owners of Grand & Essex, this is, simply put, ‘what you do for community.’”
Baer has worked in Grand and Essex since shortly after it relocated to its current premises on New Bridge Road in Bergenfield in 2013. Over the past eight years, she has observed this special appreciation for the community in many of the special events hosted by the store, be it carnival celebrations to mark anniversaries or contests and giveaways.
In response to the current pandemic that is proving particularly challenging to small businesses in the community, the owners of Grand and Essex have created a unique Chanukah Giveaway that will raise awareness of the community to the plight of the small businesses in town, in the hope of ramping up more customers during the Chanukah holiday. Every night of Chanukah, beginning the first night, Grand and Essex will partner with one local eatery and one local commercial business in offering a gift certificate to two nightly winners for a total of 16 winners throughout Chanukah.
The local food establishments that are partnering with Grand and Essex in this “Love Thy Neighbor’s Business Chanukah Giveaway” include Chopstix, Estihana, Noah’s Ark, Sababa Grill, Schnitzel Plus (two locations), Sender’s Smoke Joint and Tavlin. The eight other partnering businesses are Abbie Sophia Photo, Bunny Hain Jewelry, Carly’z Craze, Emporio Clothing, Judaica House, On the Table, Swaddles Baby and Weinreb Books.
The rules for entering the giveaway are posted on the Grand and Essex Instagram page, and participants can follow the three steps listed. Every night of Chanukah, two local businesses will be featured, an eatery and a specific business. Participants are invited to sign up throughout the week for a chance to win. Winners will be announced nightly.
In the spirit of Chanukah, Grand and Essex is helping spread a little bit of light to our lives in these uncertain times. They are also modeling the great mitzvah of “love thy neighbors” to their customers and their families.
Follow Grand and Essex on Instagram at @grandandessex, and find out how to enter.
By Pearl Markovitz
