Met Foods - 43 Years and Counting
Photography by Francesca Andre: francescaandre.com Courtesy The HILL Brooklyn
Thursday, March 11, 2010
There are certain businesses that every neighborhood has to have and among the most important is a grocery store. Like proximity to the subway, a good grocery store is something we New Yorkers look for when choosing where to live. It has to be clean, have the foods we want and be convenient. Met Foods has excelled at meeting the needs of Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy residents for over 40 years and has long been a fixture on Fulton Street (between St.James and Cambridge Place).
While speaking with Rocky Widdi, the trait that comes through most clearly is that it is a family business and the neighborhood is an extension of their family.
FAB: How long has Met Foods been on Fulton Street?
Rocky Widdi: We’ve been here since 1967.
FAB: What made you select Fulton Street for your business?
Rocky Widdi: My Dad noticed that there were no supermarkets in the immediate area. Although it was a pretty rough area back then, he believed that the neighborhood could not only support a supermarket, but that it would succeed. He found this building available and 43 years later, we’re still here.
FAB: What do you love about the area?
Rocky Widdi: The diversity. I love this neighborhood! There are older folks here who have known me all my life – since I was a small boy running around this store - and they are not only customers, but friends. I love being able to cater to their needs. We take care of our customers.
FAB: What would you recommend to other businesses on Fulton Street to help them succeed?
Rocky Widdi: Treat your customers like family. Also, pay attention to what the customers want and make sure you have it. For instance, we’ve noted the rise in concern for healthier foods and have begun stocking lots of organic foods. It’s what the community wants. Some of the restaurants have noticed this too, and are responding by selling meals with no MSG, and generally paying attention to improving the health of the neighborhood.
FAB: How did you get started in your business?
Rocky Widdi: I grew up in the business, since it is family owned. My Dad went into a partnership in the 1960’s with what was then a small grocery store, when we outgrew that we opened this store.
FAB: What would you like the community to know about the Widdi family?
Rocky Widdi: Just that we’ve been part of the community for several decades and are always open to suggestions from our friends and customers. It is what has made us a real “neighborhood” store.
FAB: What would you like the community to know about Met Foods?
Rocky Widdi: I’d like them to know that we’re part of their neighborhood and they’re part of the Met Foods family. We help our customers during hard times and we look out for them. One example of that is that we’re one of the few grocery stores that still have an old-school credit book. There are customers who have been hit by the economic downturn – whether they’ve been here for generations or just moved to the neighborhood and lost their jobs – and we try to help them by letting them eat now and pay us later. That level of concern for our customers is one thing that has made us such an integral part of the area.
Additionally, we’re changing our stock to reflect the changing needs of the neighborhood, as in the case of the new organic produce I mentioned earlier. We are also getting a whole new frozen food section and expanding our dairy section in the next few months to provide our customers with a greater selection. Most importantly, if our customers don’t see something they want, all they have to do is ask me. I’m always willing to order something new to meet our customers’ needs.
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While speaking with Rocky Widdi, the trait that comes through most clearly is that it is a family business and the neighborhood is an extension of their family.
FAB: How long has Met Foods been on Fulton Street?
Rocky Widdi: We’ve been here since 1967.
FAB: What made you select Fulton Street for your business?
Rocky Widdi: My Dad noticed that there were no supermarkets in the immediate area. Although it was a pretty rough area back then, he believed that the neighborhood could not only support a supermarket, but that it would succeed. He found this building available and 43 years later, we’re still here.
FAB: What do you love about the area?
Rocky Widdi: The diversity. I love this neighborhood! There are older folks here who have known me all my life – since I was a small boy running around this store - and they are not only customers, but friends. I love being able to cater to their needs. We take care of our customers.
FAB: What would you recommend to other businesses on Fulton Street to help them succeed?
Rocky Widdi: Treat your customers like family. Also, pay attention to what the customers want and make sure you have it. For instance, we’ve noted the rise in concern for healthier foods and have begun stocking lots of organic foods. It’s what the community wants. Some of the restaurants have noticed this too, and are responding by selling meals with no MSG, and generally paying attention to improving the health of the neighborhood.
FAB: How did you get started in your business?
Rocky Widdi: I grew up in the business, since it is family owned. My Dad went into a partnership in the 1960’s with what was then a small grocery store, when we outgrew that we opened this store.
FAB: What would you like the community to know about the Widdi family?
Rocky Widdi: Just that we’ve been part of the community for several decades and are always open to suggestions from our friends and customers. It is what has made us a real “neighborhood” store.
FAB: What would you like the community to know about Met Foods?
Rocky Widdi: I’d like them to know that we’re part of their neighborhood and they’re part of the Met Foods family. We help our customers during hard times and we look out for them. One example of that is that we’re one of the few grocery stores that still have an old-school credit book. There are customers who have been hit by the economic downturn – whether they’ve been here for generations or just moved to the neighborhood and lost their jobs – and we try to help them by letting them eat now and pay us later. That level of concern for our customers is one thing that has made us such an integral part of the area.
Additionally, we’re changing our stock to reflect the changing needs of the neighborhood, as in the case of the new organic produce I mentioned earlier. We are also getting a whole new frozen food section and expanding our dairy section in the next few months to provide our customers with a greater selection. Most importantly, if our customers don’t see something they want, all they have to do is ask me. I’m always willing to order something new to meet our customers’ needs.
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