A Bite of the (Big) Apple

Posted July 9, 2008 by Jessica Kitchin

Eden Gourmet Café and Marketplace

Photo: Courtesy of Eden Gourmet Café and Marketplace

A produce guy who carefully explains the best way to cook Jersey sweet corn, standing amid a sea of locally grown fruits and veggies. A butcher who gives grilling tips for different cuts of meat as he hands them over the counter. A deli slicer who seeks out customers in the store to give them one more slice of that cheese they liked so much. Winding aisles, soft lighting, and wooden shelves stocked with unusual specialties, such as wild-boar prosciutto or Turkish bastirma. Fresh-made doughnuts covered in cinnamon sugar while they are still hot. All in a storefront grocery next to a train station.

It has the feel of a nostalgic market or some chic gourmet shop on the Upper West Side. And that’s exactly what the people at Eden Gourmet Café & Marketplace want you to think when you enter their new digs in South Orange (1-7 South Orange Ave; 973-762-5200), the third Eden specialty food store to hit the Garden State (after Garden of Eden Gourmet in Hoboken and Eden Gourmet Café in Atlantic City). The company’s other four locations are in New York City, where the brand began in 1994.

“Our focus has always been on quality, variety, and exceptional service,” says owner Mustafa Coskun. “We want our customers to enjoy their shopping experience here and discover delicious new flavors and products.”
Mission accomplished. It’s difficult to avoid getting sucked in once you (and your wallet) enter. Freshness abounds: The whole shebang clocks in at 35,000 square feet and includes fresh-made mozzarella, rice cake, and juice stations; a smoothie bar and cheese and olive bars; bakery, meat, and deli departments; a colorful produce section; and a stock of fully prepared meals by local chefs. A casual café is on the way, along with a full-service restaurant, cooking studio, and third-floor outdoor terrace just off the New Jersey Transit train platform. (The Hoboken location is just a few blocks from mass transit, too.) With gas prices climbing, it’s a tempting spot.

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