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April 13, 2020

Business booming, Ferraro’s Market closes on weekdays — at least for now

PHOTO | New Haven BIZ Shoppers queue in the rain outside the Grand Ave. Ferraro’s Market last Thursday, April 9.
By Michael C. Bingham

Ferraro's Market on Grand Avenue in New Haven, one of few full-service grocery stores in the city, has closed to customers except on Saturdays.

Effective Monday, April 13, the grocery store known as the “Meat King” has closed its doors to walk-in customers on weekdays. The store, and its satellite location at 181 Boston Post Road in Madison, will be open only 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. The new hours are until further notice.

Ferraro’s announced the change via social media and in an advertisement in Sunday’s New Haven Register.

“Ferraro’s Market’s first concern has always been the health and well-being of our customers and associates,” said the advertisement. “Due to the current situation we have decided to close for a short period and provide our employees with a much-needed and deserved rest.”

Customers can still place orders online, and home delivery is available on orders of $20 or more.

General manager Al Lauro explained, “It was an absolute madhouse with the Easter holiday and we’ve been doing a great number of deliveries, so we thought it would be best to give the employees somewhat of a rest.”

“Everyone’s still working partial hours,” Lauro added, “it’s just not 11- or 12-hour days.”

Lauro said the New Haven store employs between 55 and 60 workers.

The family owned market was founded in 1952. The market sells a wide selection of meats, seafood, deli, produce, dairy, frozen foods, prepared foods and more.

Following Gov. Ned Lamont’s April 2 executive order limiting the number of shoppers allowed in stores to maintain social distancing, Ferraro’s has been about the only local supermarket that routinely had shoppers lining up outside to enter the store.

Lauro said the store’s management has not yet decided how long to remain mostly shuttered — ”maybe a couple of weeks” he said.

Asked why the store would close following a period when business was booming, Lauro said, “With many corporations [that own grocery store chains], their employees are not their main concern. We’re a little different. We’re owned by a family.”

“We’re still doing business,” he added. “Nothing’s wrong with anybody being sick, or anything like that. It’s a break.”

 

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