Top Tomato Shutters Store in Holmdel Commons

Top Tomato Gourmet Market, an Italian specialty market with catering, pharmacy, and dry cleaning services, has closed its store in the Holmdel Commons on Route 35. 

A steady stream of astonished customers learned of the change by reading signs on the store's locked sliding glass doors Monday. One homemade sign in pink marker said, "Top Tomato will be closed until further notice. For any inquiries, please call (917) 656-3023."

A store official said that the family-owned market store was not well suited for the space. "We want to open a 20,000 square foot store, and that footprint is nearly 40,000 square feet," said Vice President of Operations Dan McQuade on Monday, from the Freehold store. "It was an opportunity to try something. We know we do better at 15,000 square feet."

"We are not going out of business. We closed that store for opportunities in other locations," McQuade said. 

Since opening five months ago in the cavernous store that once housed Linens & Things, Top Tomato had presented itself in advertising as an Italian market with real home made mozzarella and ravioli, specialty meats and fresh produce. But the store also housed a sushi counter, a handbag stand, dry cleaning, a pharmacy and other services. 

The company had signed a ten-year lease for the space, said broker Danielle Brunelli, of Brunelli & Co. 

Customer Savitri Persaud of Holmdel arrived at Top Tomato around 3 p.m. after receiving a phone call to come knock on the doors and pick up her dry cleaning order. She lives in a neighborhood nearby and was disappointed by the news.

"They had the Greek yogurt here for a dollar," she said. Persuad said she had become accustomed to flipping through the Sunday circular and picking out the specials. She said they didn't take coupons or have a loyalty card program, but, "I found the prices quite competitive," she said. 

McQuade said the company, with locations in Brick and Freehold,  is looking to open a third store in the next six months.  The company is in the midst of reconfiguring the Freehold store with wider aisles and a 600-item gluten-free section. 

McQuade said some full-time employees would be transferred to the other stores. Some could be laid off. He declined to say how many. 

The store is moving out in the next two weeks.  There are no plans for special sales. All the grocery items will be sold through existing stores. 

McQuade said that Top Tomato would not be pulling advertising from local newspaper distribution. 

The tough economic retail environment did not help the supermarket. Along the highway, there are plenty of food stores nearby, such as Dearborn Market and A & P in Holmdel, and Aldi's, Stop & Shop and Pathmark in Hazlet.  

"I think the area is 'over-stored.' If you drive up and down Route 35, you see so many retailers that have gone dark," said McQuade. 

The following notices are posted on the storefront:

 Paesano Cleaners:

To pick up clothes call 732-275-1107. After April 13, call 718-702-7243.

Pharmacy customers:

All prescriptions have been transferred to Holmdel Village Pharmacy, 969 Holmdel Rd.