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Jefferson Market Closed Forever, Owner Says

By DNAinfo Staff on February 8, 2011 12:38pm

Jefferson Market, founded in 1929, has shuttered forever, its owner confirmed Tuesday.
Jefferson Market, founded in 1929, has shuttered forever, its owner confirmed Tuesday.
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Flickr/M.V. Jantzen

By Olivia Scheck

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — The grocery store Jefferson Market has closed its doors for good after over 81 years of doing business in Greenwich Village, owner John Catsimatidis confirmed Tuesday morning.

Jefferson Market, known for its home delivery service and plentiful displays of cheese, meat and fish, first opened in 1929.

Located on Avenue of the Americas between 10th and 11th streets, the mom-and-pop grocery remained under family ownership until 2008, when it was briefly shuttered as a result of the economic downturn and competition from nearby Citarella.

Catsimatidis, who owns the Gristedes, Sloan's and Red Apple supermarket chains, saved the market from permanent closure a few months later, to the delight of local shoppers and store employees.

But now Catsimatidis says the cost of staffing the store's specialty departments is simply too high to maintain.

"We wanted to make a go of it, but the numbers didn't work out," Catsimatidis explained. "More service departments means a lot of payroll."

Jefferson Market closed late last month, Catsimatidis said.

It could be replaced by one of the group's other supermarket brands, the owner noted.