Middletown, NJ
News
Amazon Fulfillment Center Replacing Vacant Jersey Shore Sears Store Amazon Fulfillment Center Replacing Vacant Jersey Shore Sears Store
Amazon Fulfillment Center Replacing Vacant Jersey Shore Sears Store Amazon plans to open another fulfillment center in Central Jersey at the site of a vacant Sears store. The approximately 93,000-square-foot Monmouth County location — at Seaview Square Shopping Center in Ocean Township — is expected to open in October, Mayor Chris Siciliano told NJ Advance Media. “It’s a win-win for us and for Amazon," Siciliano told NJ.com. "It’s really an ideal spot and it will serve the needs of several communities." Amazon customers will be able to pick up packages at the center, which will create up to 200 jobs. Fulfillment centers are used to store inventory like el…

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by Jon Craig
Worcester, MA
Business
Here Are 7 Major Changes Coming To Costco In 2021 Here Are 7 Major Changes Coming To Costco In 2021
Here Are 7 Major Changes Coming To Costco In 2021 Costco has plans to make 7 major changes to many of its stores in 2021. Some of the changes will add services to the wholesale retailer, such as 1.) curbside pickup options in various markets. Other changes will remove services. For example, Costco closed all of its  2.) Photo Centers for good on Feb. 14. Still, more changes are on the way, according to Eat This, Not That, a food industry blog. Here are 5 more changes you can expect to see at Costco: 3.) Updated Food Court Menu Churros are coming back to the Costco food court menu after being removed last year. The new churro will b…

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by Kristin Palpini
Massapequa, NY
Business
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores Godiva Chocolate is closing all of its North American stores. The mass closure will affect 128 stores in the United States and Canada. Outposts in Europe, the Middle East, and China will remain open. Godiva will stay open through Valentine’s Day, but closures will be completed by March, according to CNN and other media sources. The news comes as a new Godiva CEO steps in, Nurtac Ziyal Afridi, who was appointed in mid-December 2020. Godiva said, in a press release, that its business has been shifting from in-store purchases to online orders through its own and partner websites. The near…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Business
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores - Including 5 In Massachusetts Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores - Including 5 In Massachusetts
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores - Including 5 In Massachusetts Godiva chocolates is closing all of its North American stores. The mass closure will affect 128 stores in the U.S. and Canada - including 5 in Massachusetts and 3 in Connecticut. Outposts in Europe, the Middle East, and China will remain open. Godiva will stay open through Valentine’s Day, but closures will be completed by March, according to CT Post and other media sources. The news comes as a new Godiva CEO steps in, Nurtac Ziyal Afridi, who was appointed in mid-December 2020. Godiva said, in a press release, that its business has been shifting from in-store purchases to online o…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Business
What's Open On Christmas Eve? Local Grocery, Retail Store Hours What's Open On Christmas Eve? Local Grocery, Retail Store Hours
What's Open On Christmas Eve? Local Grocery, Retail Store Hours If you need a last-minute item on Christmas Eve, many stores will be open until 6 p.m. with some exceptions staying open later. The following is a list of store closing times for Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2020, according to USA Today and retail websites. Aldi, 4 p.m. Best Buy, 7 p.m. Big Lots, 10 p.m. Big Y, 6 p.m., pharmacy closes at 4 p.m. BJ’s Wholesale Club, 6 p.m. Costco, 5 p.m. CVS, most stores are open regular hours on Christmas Eve and Day, pharmacy hours vary Dollar General, 10 p.m. Fresh Market, 7 p.m. Home Depot, 5 p.m. Home Goods, 6 p.m. Kohl’s, 6 p.m. Lowe’s, 6 p.m. Market Baske…

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by Kristin Palpini
Rutherford, NJ
News
Firefighters Douse Smoky Oven Blaze At Bergen-Based Italian Food Distributor Firefighters Douse Smoky Oven Blaze At Bergen-Based Italian Food Distributor
Firefighters Douse Smoky Oven Blaze At Bergen-Based Italian Food Distributor Firefighters doused a smoky commercial oven blaze at an Italian food distributor's plant in East Rutherford. Damage was contained to the one oven in a 30-by-30-foot room at MamaMancini's on Branca Road off Route 17 near the Meadowlands after the fire broke out shortly before 8 a.m. -- although the heat melted the strip-door curtains. No injuries were reported. "A swift response by our members helped with keeping the fire contained," the East Rutherford Fire Department said in a social media post. "The fire went to two alarms for manpower relief." MamaMancini's markets and distribute pre-p…

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by Jerry DeMarco
North Hunterdon, NJ
Weather
PHOTOS: 1-Minute Twister Tears Through PA Town PHOTOS: 1-Minute Twister Tears Through PA Town
Photos: 1-Minute Twister Tears Through PA Town A small tornado was to blame for the damage done in one Montgomery County town on Monday, the National Weather Service confirmed. Winds up to 70 mph came with the EF-0 storm that tore through a 100-yard path across Montgomeryville in approximately one minute's time. The half-a-mile wide twister touched down just east of Route 309 (Bethlehem Pike) near the onramp to the 202 Parkway at 3:47 p.m., the NWS said. Two small trees were uprooted on the northbound side of the highway. A twister touched down in Montgomery County, PA Monday.US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly Ou…

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by Cecilia Levine
Springfield, MA
News
AAA Forecasts Fall Gas Prices - Where To Get The Lowest-Price Gas Now AAA Forecasts Fall Gas Prices - Where To Get The Lowest-Price Gas Now
AAA Forecasts Fall Gas Prices - Where To Get The Lowest-Price Gas Now With fewer people traveling due to COVID-19 restrictions, the price of gas has dropped to under $2 per gallon at gas stations across Central and Western Massachusetts. On average, national gas prices are 50 cents less than they were at this time last year, according to AAA.  And the national auto club expects this downward trend to continue through the fall. Further decreases are predicted despite people planning to travel more for fun this season, AAA said, because of the major decline in commuting to work and school brought on by COVID-19.  “As demand remains low,” AAA said in …

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by Kristin Palpini
Jersey City, NJ
Police & Fire
Man Charged With Assault For Attacking Couple In Hudson County Costco Parking Lot Man Charged With Assault For Attacking Couple In Hudson County Costco Parking Lot
Man Charged With Assault For Attacking Couple In Hudson County Costco Parking Lot A 24-year-old man wanted out of Jersey City was taken into custody after punching two people in the parking lot of Costco in Bayonne, authorities said. Kane M. Young approached a 23-year-old man and 30-year-old woman walking through the Goldsborough Drive store's parking lot around 2:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Bayonne Police Capt. Eric Amato said. "Due to the ongoing issues the male victim has been having with Young, the female positioned herself in between the two,"the police report said. Young struck the woman in her face with a closed fist, then hit the other man several times, too, Amato sa…

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by Cecilia Levine
Torrington, CT
Business
Parent Company Of Balducci’s, Kings Food Markets Files For Bankruptcy Parent Company Of Balducci’s, Kings Food Markets Files For Bankruptcy
Parent Company Of Balducci’s, Kings Food Markets Files For Bankruptcy KB US Holdings, the parent company of Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market, which has locations throughout the region, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company announced this week that “it has accepted a stalking horse bid from TLI Bedrock to purchase the company for $75 million.” To facilitate the sale, KB and its subsidiaries have commenced voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Kings currently operates 25 specialty supermarkets, including 23 in New Jerse…

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by Zak Failla
Hartford, CT
Police & Fire
How Long Is Too Long? West Haven Mom Arrested For Leaving Kids In Car How Long Is Too Long? West Haven Mom Arrested For Leaving Kids In Car
How Long Is Too Long? West Haven Mom Arrested For Leaving Kids In Car A West Haven mother was arrested at the Milford Costco for leaving her two young children in the car while she shopped. Antonia Hernandez, 39, of West Haven, was arrested on July 31 at around 3 p.m. at the Boston Post Road Costco, police said. She is being charged with two counts of leaving a child under 12 years old unsupervised, police said. Police were called to the store parking lot for a report of two juveniles left unattended in a vehicle. Upon investigation, police said Hernandez left her children int eh car for 20-30 minutes while she shopped. It is not clear how old the children ar…

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by Kristin Palpini
Lakewood, NJ
Police & Fire
Unruly Central Jersey Costco Customer Charged A Dozen Times Before Unruly Central Jersey Costco Customer Charged A Dozen Times Before
Unruly Central Jersey Costco Customer Charged A Dozen Times Before The Costco customer accused of making "terroristic threats" after losing his temper on a Jersey Shore cashier has been in trouble with the law at least a dozen times before in seven states, according to public court records. Last week's heated exchange involving William G. Commauf, 48, of Barnegat was captured on video. It led to Commauf's arrest on Wednesday on charges of making terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct, Stafford Township police said. Commauf  bad-mouthed a Manahawkin cashier, calling her "an old, ugly hag," police said. He then threatened to smack the ca…

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by Jon Craig