My Trip To The New Livoti’s Old World Market In Brick
Livoti’s Old World Market finally opened their first Ocean County store in the Laurel Square Shopping Center on Route 88 in Brick.
Yesterday, March 7, 2024, was the grand opening of one of the best Italian markets in Monmouth and Ocean County.
What Was I Thinking Going On Opening Day?
I made sure I was briefed earlier that morning by WRAT sales dynamo, Marie Daley, who braved the huge crowd waiting online for the doors to open.
She was there to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony as well as to check out this 30,000-square-foot behemoth of a store.
I asked her to take pictures and send them to me so I’d have some idea of what to expect later that afternoon for my shopping trip.
I have been a huge fan and customer of Livoti’s for over a decade. My husband grew up in Hazlet and lived in the Holmdel area when the first Livoti’s in Aberdeen opened their doors in 2010. When we started dating a couple of years later, he took to me to Livoti’s to pick up a few things and I fell in love.
The produce was gorgeous! The store was filled with fresh Italian bread, homemade stuffed bread, baked goods, and gourmet items. On display, are butchered meats, chicken, and fresh fish. A deli with high-quality cold cuts and cheeses and homemade salads galore. Also, a few refrigerator cases of ready-to-heat and-eat food such as eggplant rollatini, chicken Francese, pasta dishes and a plethora of other cooked ready-to-go meals.
Aisles filled with an assortment of imported items such as pasta, canned tomatoes, sauces, imported oil and vinegar, spices, and other pantry staples.
The store was clean and orderly, and the staff was helpful and friendly. I knew that I had to go back again and again. I’ve been to nearly every store John Livoti and his family have opened. Englishtown is the only Livoti’s I’ve never been to.
Fast Forward to March 7, 2024
OMG! You would have thought people had never seen food before. I get it, the excitement of having a full-service Italian market of that size and caliber in the neighborhood can be life-changing for some people, including me.
The store is laid out beautifully. They also have a liquor store in a completely separate area in the building, a first for Livoti’s.
Employees with rolling carts of meat, prepared foods, baked goods etc, constantly replenishing inventory as hundreds of customers roamed through the very crowded space.
The bakery was packed with people in wide-eyed amazement trying to figure out what to buy from the huge assortment of cakes, pastries, cookies, and other sweet treats. The pizzeria was hard to get to as well. So many people looking to try the variety of gourmet pizza.
A few WRAT listeners approached me to say hello. Shout out to Becky Crease-Thornley, the Richter boys, and a few other familiar faces.
I stopped by the coffee counter to grab a cup of dark roast. After a nearly 10-hour work day, I needed a boost. The young woman who served me was lovely. Most everyone working there was friendly and helpful.
LIVOTI’S BAKERY
My Haul
Nearly 11 lbs of thin sliced chicken cutlets, on sale for $3.99 a lb. Livoti’s has the best store-bought chicken cutlets I’ve ever eaten. They cook up beautifully, always tender good quality chicken.
5 varieties of Livoti’s store-made chicken sausage – provolone and parsley, hot chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, grated parmesan and parsley, and fennel.
Store-made chicken burgers with cheese and parsley, a few sweet potatoes, a rainbow cookie layer roll, a pork roast stuffed with spinach & mozzarella, a package of stuffed chicken breasts, a bunch of asparagus, and a small cup of raspberry rugelach.
TOTAL COST: $139.39.
After I got to my car, I looked at the receipt and discovered I was charged $7.99 a lb. for asparagus. The sign in the bin said .99 cents a pound. It’s opening day, mistakes are bound to happen.
I made my way back into the store and called the error to their attention and was issued a refund.
I believe that Livoti’s has the magic to revitalize this somewhat barren shopping center and give a much-needed boost to the businesses already there.
You can check out the new Livoti’s Old World Market located at 130 Route 88 in the Laurel Square shopping center.
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