As Pathmark shuts, Camden (New Jersey) loses its last supermarket

The Inquirer at Philly.com ^ | September 7, 2013 | Suzette Parmley

[M Kehoe]

Oh, common I was in the pool, I was in the pool!

5.56mm

[Sherman Logan]

Save a Lot isn’t a supermarket? I do most of my shopping there or at Aldi’s.

[SkyDancer]

Was surprised that Camden had any stores left. Even the cops don’t want to go in there.

[matt04]

Camden has cops? Didn’t they lay off half of their police force a while ago?

[Chode]

mmmmmmmmmmmm... Spam Bacon

[17th Miss Regt]

Costs drove them out of business.

No doubt. But how much of those costs were simple pilferage?

[Darksheare]

I’m surprised Camden still exists.
Didn’t they used to have shipyards?

[dfwgator]

Not to mention the insurance premiums?

[NativeSon]

I’ll bet that Liquorama is doin OK...

[Steve_Seattle]

A few Camden stats:

1st in the nation in violent crime per capita.

Population (77,300) has declined 12% since 1990.

19.6% unemployment rate.

The average household income is $18,007.00.

The public schools spend $23,770.00 per student.

That school spending figure is shocking. For an elementary school class of 22 students, that would be $522,940.00.

[Travis McGee]

Are you kidding? Things are great in Camden.

(Maine)

[pepsi_junkie]

I grew up in Merchantville which is a nice suburb a few miles from Camden. You learned quickly not to go to the local supermarkets, a shop n’ bag and a Thriftway, on the first of the month. Busloads of people from Camden with fresh government checks would fill those places up because there were virtually no supermarkets in Camden back then. That’s 30 years ago. Not a new issue.

[beaversmom]

Oh wow! Now that Camden looks visit worthy! Very pretty.

[PAR35]

Did this chain (and perhaps this store) make the list of the worst supermarkets in the country?

[Count of Monte Fisto]

Its not Unions, its not high wages, its not Democrats. There are plenty of unionized Democrat cities that are not complete hellholes. Some European cities are practically communistic but they aren't post-apocalyptic.

Camden has a 3rd World population that can only maintain 3rd World conditions. Amenities of a 1st World civilization, like supermarkets, are beyond their means. Without county, state, and federal aid (White tax money) Camden would have ZERO working infrastructure or basic government services.

Grocery store work on razor thin margins and "shrinkage", i.e. theft from 3rd World customers and 3rd World employees, at these stores was too much to bare. The ShopRite chain is pretty successful in the surrounding areas so the costumers in those stores (White people) will be making up for the shrinkage at the new Camden store.

[cynwoody]

Here it is on Google Street View. Hope and change, baby.

I wonder how the DD across the street is doing.

[Travis McGee]

Prettiest little harbor town I have ever seen, bar none. You can walk from one end to the other in a half hour, and every view is a postcard. It’s one of the towns in Maine where you go to get a ride on a schooner.

[Maine Mariner]

Figure 200 student in an elementary school, so almost $47,000 per elementary school per year. I just bet there quite a few union jobs at the central office.

[PAR35]

Did this chain make the list of the worst supermarkets in the country?

Yep, found it. Number 1 - poor on service and cleanliness, mediocre on quality and price.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Media/Slideshow/2012/04/13/12-Worst-Supermarkets-in-America?page=10

[beaversmom]

Wow, sounds and looks super lovely.