Corrado`s Market

Corrado’s Market
Success Built on the Strength of Family
This multigenerational family business continues to grow and prosper based on
a winning formula of unity, continuity, and shared values and traditions.
A
visit to any of the five
Corrado’s Market locations is sure to be a strikingly different experience from a routine trip to your typical
food store chain. Patrons of Corrado’s
Market will more than likely be connecting with a Corrado family member,
whose memorable stories date as far
back as the 1930s when James Corrado celebrated his Italian heritage
and traditions by making wine at home
and gardening in his own backyard. He
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would inevitably end up not only sharing these traditions with others, but
also joining his immediate family on
a life-long, expansive journey. In the
early 1950s, James began with trucking and wholesale in the Paterson area,
which eventually led to a retail operation. James’ children—sons Peter, Joseph and Jerry, and daughter, Patricia—joined the family business in their
teen years and the family enterprise
continued to prosper, branching out to
encompass f loral and home wine mak-
ing, all the while strengthening their
family bond and commitment.
As the families grew with James’
four children starting families of their
own, the business developed right
along with them. By the 1970s, the
Corrado’s Market had opened in Clifton and has enjoyed an eventful journey
ever since. James’ son Peter was joined
in the business by his sons, Jimmy and
Frank, who worked alongside Patricia’s son, Ryan. Joseph Senior brought
his sons Joseph Junior, Ralph and Vin-
nie on board, while Jerry Senior was
thrilled to have his sons, Jerry Junior,
Paul and Anthony join the team. Fortified by individual members’ combined
efforts, the Corrado clan was able to
branch out with a variety of services
and personnel. As of this year, the company employs more than 900 workers; each family member successfully
handles equal amounts of responsibilities managing their own departments.
Presently, the well-known specialty store Corrado’s Market caters to
nearly every taste bud and preference,
offering the best of classic Italian
favorites as well as Spanish, MiddleEastern, European and Greek fare.
“If you can eat it, we have it,” says
Jimmy Corrado, the “Corrado Wine
Making Guru” and son of Peter. “You
can buy traditional lasagna for Monday
night’s dinner, kielbasa and sauerkraut
for Tuesday, homemade hummus and
kumquats for Wednesday and lamb
with lemon potatoes for Thursday.
We offer endless options at the best
value to ensure we accommodate to an
entire spectrum of customers coming
through the door. Also, we would honestly rather sell 20 of something and
make 20 people happy than sell one
higher priced item on a given day, as
you would typically see in a regular
grocery store. My grandfather always
said, ‘A fast nickel is better than a slow
dollar’. He was right.”
And this is just the beginning. A
fresh bread section covers 120 feet of
the market and new deliveries arrive
five times each day to fill the space
with the aroma of mouth-watering pastries and custom cakes and pastries.
The specialty market boasts an oldstyle full service butcher department
guaranteed to satisfy all palates thanks
to the varied selection of eclectic
choices—anything and everything from
oxtail and homemade sausage to prime
dry aged beef and chicken’s feet. Those
who prefer sandwiches are able to savor delicious imported ham topped
with Hungarian salami or satisfy their
cravings with made-to-order sandwiches. The market’s assortment of fish,
such as red mullet, dorado and even live
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eels, is another popular draw. Additionally, patrons may order creative gift
baskets for every occasion filled with
food and f loral selections, which are
distributed through online purchasing internationally or in-store pickup.
People of all ages visit the market and
specialty centers daily, weekly or even
monthly to stock up their homes with
the appealing, imported goods. For
example, one customer who moved
to Florida from Bergen County makes
it a point to stock up on Corrado Market’s exclusive items when she f lies
home for holidays.
“Aside from having so many distinct items, I think people really appreciate the family connection here,”
Jimmy noted. “You see a Corrado family member conversing with a father
shopping with his son and grandson
who knew my dad and grandpa. There
are three generations right there in
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the experience and that’s what makes
us special.”
Another bonus perk to a visit at the
Corrado’s Clifton location is the “one
stop shopping” convenience. Corrado’s
Garden Center began in the late 1980s
with Christmas wreaths, Easter tulips
and other basic seasonal items. Currently, the garden center delivers a
mass range for every occasion. Its selections contain gorgeous f lowers customized for striking wedding centerpieces, adorable baby shower decorations, tasteful funeral arrangements
and pumpkin patch novelties. If you’re
a fan of gardening as a therapeutic
hobby or you simply love to drive up to
a beautiful front lawn, expect compliments when you choose from among
hundreds of attractive potted plants or
affordably priced gardening supplies.
At Halloween time, grandparents and
grandchildren come together to enjoy
the Corrado Market’s petting zoo and
entertaining hayride.
When many customers approached Corrado staff members about bringing in great pet foods, the Corrado’s Pet
Market was added, and as of now, this
market carries all of the resources necessary to care for animals, as well as a
selection of fish and reptiles for anyone
interested in taking home a new pet.
Built to honor James Corrado and
his love for wine making, the Home
Wine Making and Home Brewing Center carries all materials any wine lover—from expert to beginner—can imagine. Customers are able to reminisce
about the days when families would
spend Sunday dinners together and sip
wine prepared by their grandfathers
and great grandfathers. During harvest time (September-October), when
the Corrado team acquires the grapes,
the staff offers a complimentary les-
son in home wine making on Wednesday
nights. Additionally, a section within
this particular center allows customers
to make their own sausages and cheeses.
For the last 15 years, the Corrado family
has celebrated James and this memorable
ritual of home wine making at the Venetian in Garfield on the last Friday of each
January. At this time customers are able
to purchase tickets to the occasion and
enjoy an open bar, an excellent meal and
the chance to enter their own wines in a
competition. (Different levels of medals,
along with the “Wine Maker of the Year
Award,” are presented; certified judges
specifically brought in for the event select winners.) Last year more than 2,000
guests attended the event.
These days, the Corrado clan—currently numbering more than 100 people
and still growing—has become so large
that members are not able to celebrate
holidays all in one place—unless it involves renting a hall. The adults are already seeing signs of future promise
and continuity among the next generation as their children and teenagers visit
the markets, help out and show interest
without being prompted or forced. The
parents beam with pride to see their children looking forward to experiencing the
same satisfaction and fulfillment that previous generations have already enjoyed.
“We are all so fortunate to work with
our uncles and cousins every day,” noted
Jimmy, summing up the key element to
being a part of the winning family business. “You hear so many stories about
families fighting, and that is just not
us. Something my grandpa always said
to me that I never have forgotten is, ‘As
long as a family is strong, the business
will be a success.’ In other words, if we
take care of one another, everything else
will take care of itself. And that is how it
has always been and I know will always
be. We have been here over 50 years now
and I can honestly say I am excited to see
what’s next.”
Jennifer Bonazzo Peters is a Bergen
County resident and frequent contributor
to BC THE MAG. For further information
about Corrado’s Market, visit www.corradosmarket.com or call 973-340-0628.
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