EASTON, Pa. — Dozens of people from across the Lehigh Valley came together in the South Side neighborhood Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of a much-needed grocery store.
The eagerly awaited Bravo Supermarket on Line Street was officially opened by co-owners Felix Perez and Grizel Mazariegos-Perez.
The store offers fresh produce, meats, seafood and an array of shelf-stable groceries catering to a diverse range of tastes and cultures — a major selling point for the South Side and Easton.
“It feels great because we will be able to bring what they need to this community so they don't have to be driving around to look for what they need in their home."Bravo Supermarket co-owner Grizel Mazariegos-Perez
The excitement leading up to the ribbon-cutting was palpable, as guests congregated in a cleared-out section of the store to try samples from Empanadas United, Chocolate Cortés, Goya, Café Santo Domingo and more, and to congratulate the family while exploring the variety of goods across the sizable market.
Endcaps and displays prominently featured brands normally relegated to the import section, with prominent displays for a myriad of products that form the basis of numerous cultures’ cuisines.
Commerce within the community
As Mazariegos-Perez and Perez watched the big event, they seemed ecstatic to see their more-than-year-long project come to completion.
The city has longed for a new supermarket for years.
“It feels great because we will be able to bring what they need to this community so they don't have to be driving around to look for what they need in their home," Mazariegos-Perez said.
"Anybody can walk here and walk back home instead of taking an Uber or taking the bus or waiting for family members to take them out to other places to do the shopping.”
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Association buses also pick up and drop off directly in front of the market.
Perez said the pair aspire to be not only be a new business, but a true part of the local community that aims to lift up everyone.
“It’s more than a store," Perez said. "We would like people to see us as a way for them to find the help that they need.
"Anytime they're in need of anything, to please approach us and if it's in our hands, we're here to help.”
Blessings, well-wishes, ribbon cuttings
Easton Business Association’s Mark Haldaman — a self-professed “ribbon cutter” — kicked off the ceremony speaking of his group’s volunteers who strive to build up the community with support from local businesses.
“And what we like to do is not just to advocate for businesses here in Easton, but help turn our businesses into neighbors and accomplish what we see here today, when everyone comes out,” Haldaman said.
After offering a quick invocation and blessing from a priest and commentary from visiting consulates from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Guatemala — who addressed the crowd in Spanish — a few guests from the Lehigh Valley offered comments and well-wishes.
“You know, like a lot of cities, Easton has been sort of a food desert when it comes to not having access to supermarket goods within the neighborhood,”Bob Freeman
“You know, like a lot of cities, Easton has been sort of a food desert when it comes to not having access to supermarket goods within the neighborhood,” state Rep. Robert Freeman said.
“So this is a really great groundbreaking effort to bring supermarkets back to the neighborhoods, to make sure that the people do not have to deal with driving way out of town to access foods, fresh fruits and vegetables.
"We are fortunate that we have a great farmers’ market and a great public market, but this is something that will be here to satisfy the consumer needs for groceries throughout the day.”
Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone reminisced, saying over his 45 years, Easton had almost always had a market catering to the diverse city, especially the South Side.
“We didn’t have one for a year, and we were a mess," Pintabone said. "We had to drive to Bethlehem and go to Giant and everywhere else.
"So I thank you for being here. I thank you for investing your money and your vision in our city and our neighborhood. We really appreciate it.”
Pintabone added that the store opening was among the first projects to embody the “build back” mentality of the Blueprint Community project.
A new future for the South Side
Pintabone later said the site had “always been the anchor of the South Side,” and its revitalization after it was shuttered around a year and a half ago is just one sign of “a lot of big things coming for the neighborhoods in Easton.”
Just before the ribbon-cutting, Mazariegos-Perez took to the microphone to welcome the crowd. She compared her and her husband’s journey to open their store to the tale of David and Goliath.
“We, like David, faced seemingly insurmountable odds. The market is vast and competitive with established players wielding enormous resources and influences, much like Goliath,”
“We, like David, faced seemingly insurmountable odds," she said. "The market is vast and competitive with established players wielding enormous resources and influences, much like Goliath.
“However, we believe in our vision, our team, and our community. Just as David’s strength was not in size, but in strategy, precision, and faith.”
Mazariegos-Perez said Bravo will emphasize “innovation, personalized service and community engagement to carve a niche” which focuses on the needs and wants of shoppers."
She again thanked the crowd for its current and future support, embracing the strong sense of community and building the neighborhood back up.
“This victory is as much as yours as ours," she said. "As we open our doors today, we invite you to explore and enjoy and be part of our history.
"Together we have shown that with heart and persistence, even the smallest prayers can make a big impact. Thank you, and God bless this project and everyone who is part of it, including every one of you who will be our clients.”
