Yesterday, April 16, 2018, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined Ron Onorato, Larry Inserra, and the entire Inserra family to break ground on the new ShopRite in Wyckoff, the 23rd Inserra family ShopRite.

“I was so proud to join Ron Onorato and the Inserra family to break ground on the new Wyckoff ShopRite, which will bring 200 new jobs to the area,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “As a shopper and as a Congressman, I’m thrilled and grateful to have a company like ShopRite thriving, growing, and investing in North Jersey. I will keep fighting to find ways to make doing business in New Jersey easier, to cut taxes, and invest in our infrastructure — our roads, tunnels and rails.”

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

I’m proud to be here to help break ground on the Inserra family’s 23rd ShopRite. Who would have thought in 1954 that Patsy Inserra’s local grocery store would take off and deliver neighborhood values to now 23 Inserra ShopRites. Patsy’s vision has been carried by each of you and will I’m sure guide the success of this future 62,000 square foot, 7-acre institution of the Wyckoff community.

You don’t just feed families, you take care of the broader community. Already, your family has given so much back. The Carl Inserra Leukemia Fund has donated millions of dollars to beat cancer. In North Jersey local organizations know your generosity: Table to Table, the Center for Food Action, Hackensack University Medical Center and its Tackle Kids Cancer, the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Holy Name Hospital. You support for each of these causes stems from a compelling and inspiring interest in helping other New Jersey families facing a cancer diagnosis or battling diabetes get access to the care and support they need.

And the Wyckoff Inserra ShopRite will only build this community of Service, Quality, and People — the core principles you run your business on.

The building, rendered and built by local Ramsey architect Thomas Ashbahian, will feature enhanced landscaped design and incorporate energy-efficient refrigeration and lighting throughout, taking care of our clean air and clean water with LED lights.

This investment in New Jersey families will bring about 200 new jobs to the area and expand local services, with in-store dietitians, and free health and wellness services. With free nutrition counseling, Wyckoff residents will be prepared and inspired to live well and make healthy, informed choices for themselves and their families. I’ve been in your stores and gotten a tour of your local food section. I know that I’m excited to bring my own son and daughter to one of their cooking workshops.

After almost a decade of bureaucracy, I’m thrilled to see this community institution come to replace the former A&P Supermarkets. As your elected official, know that I find that level of red tape is unacceptable, and will always work to find ways to make doing business in New Jersey easier, to cut taxes, eliminate red tape, and invest in our infrastructure — our roads, tunnels and rails.

The truth is that the Inserra family runs each store with the care and thoughtfulness of Patsy’s very first local store. I’ve seen this first hand as a shopper, but also when I took the behind the scenes tour last year in Lodi. As a consumer and as your Congressman, I was not just impressed, but honored to have a company like yours thriving, growing, and investing in North Jersey.

I want to thank you all for your leadership, investing in New Jersey with this store and believing in New Jersey families. Thank you for doing business here, for championing our state, and for creating jobs. We need brick and mortar stores like these in our community. I’m grateful for what you do, because, as we all know, businesses — not the government — creates economic opportunity and growth in America.

Thank you all, God bless you, and God bless America.