Visually, the store is very clean and beautiful in a modern way. The produce looks fresh and plentiful. The cheese island actually has wonderful hard-to-find cheeses, and it is a full-service grocery store in that there are fresh bakery items, a deli, etc.
The main reason I was interested in this store (other than location) was the independent COFFEE BEANS that were displayed in glass/chrome bins near the check-out stands. They had all kinds of roasted coffee beans, including some hard-to-find "flavors" like RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE beans, and "Amaretto."
Sadly, something happened with the vendor, and the store is no longer being regularly supplied with the Chocolate-Raspberry coffee beans, which are my fave (especially over the holidays).
While I love the selection of items, this store does seem to have the HIGHEST PRICES in all of Hoboken--at least on some items. When I checked, a lot of the prices seems more expensive than King's (which, to me, is like shopping for food at a jewelry store...)
So--good selection for the size of the store.
GREAT AAA+++ location in uptown Hoboken.
BAD: Prices seem routinely too high! If the Urban Market had more weekly "specials" I think they'd get more foot traffic...but once there is an image in the consumer's brain that the store is outrageously expensive, then that reputation is hard to shake.
I hope the store survives...but finds a way to bring back the flavored dark roast coffee beans (they FINALLY located the grinder in the right place next to the bins)...and and also find a way to be more "affordable." Just because it is in a relatively affluent neighborhood, does not mean that residents are stupid and willing to overpay for items they could wait and buy at Shoprite (or Walmart...)
Please bring back CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY coffee beans...and Hood cottage cheese (with CHIVES...)
Thanks and good luck! read more