Better World Market Reopens With New Owners, Same Commitment
The Better World Market reopened its doors Feb. 29 with new owners, but with the same commitment to community as the original management.
Montgomery residents Steve Greenspoon and his wife, Donna Simonetti, unlocked the doors after acquiring the business from Elijah’s Promise of New Brunswick. The Hub City non-profit operated the market at Route 27 and Skillman’s Lane as a means to raise money for its primary missions, including their food pantry and soup kitchen.
The group was forced to close the Franklin market, as well as a sister site on Highland Park, earlier this month, to better focus its energy on its core mission, according to a Facebook post.
Greenspoon said he’s had a relationship with Elijah’s Promise for the year, working for the produce wholesaler that supplies the New Brunswick non-profit.
“I’ma good friend of Elijah’s Promise,” he said. “I’ve supported their cause and their community a lot.”
Greenspoon said when he was approached by the group’s leadership about taking over the market, he readily agreed.
The shelves are still a little bare, but Greenpoon said he’s in the process of working out relationships with suppliers. He already has an agreement with Elijah’s Promise, he said.
“We’ll buy products from Elijah’s Promise, as much as I can,” Greenspoon said. “That all goes back to supporting their food bank and their soup kitchen.”
Greenspoon said the group is currently working out a price structure for their products, “so there will be a little bit of a delay” in getting their products on the selves.
“I told (Elijah’s Promise executive director) Jim Zullo that whatever he wants to see in my store, I’m willing to take and sell to support the community and Elijah’s Promise,” he said.
Greenspoon said he plans to offer a variety of products – with an focus on locally sourced – including organic items, gluten-free foods and vegetarian selections.
“We want everyone who comes in here to have options and an opportunity to have some good food,” he said.
“I want the shelves to be plentiful,” he said. “We want to produce good food at a reasonable price.”
Greenspoon said he also wants to build a sense of community in the store.
“Community is very important to me,” Greenspoon said.
He said he wants to encourage local groups and businesses to have meetings in the market. He said he already has a bridge club matting there regularly.
The store will be open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., he said.