3 Pathmark Stores To Close Friday In South Jersey
By Cleve Bryan
EDGEWATER PARK, N.J. (CBS) -- It's just about check out time for the Pathmark in Edgewater Park.
"Nothing's in there, it was shocking to me," says customer Leona Taylor, standing in front of signs advertising 90 percent off of products.
Three Pathmarks are slated to close September 6th - Cherry Hill, Camden and Edgewater Park.
Employees say the parent Company A & P Tea notified them 60 days ago that the stores were closing for good.
"So many good, hard working people trying to make this work and they just never could get it together," says Bob Van Sciver who is an assistant manager and the shop steward for Local 1360 retail clerks.
Van Sciver has worked at the store since it opened in 1969.
"My cousin owned the land and we used to hunt here as kids. They built this and I was the cart boy – 44 years and now it's over," says Van Sciver who blames over-pricing for the store's down fall.
According to the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, a total of 355 employees work at the three closing stores.
Labor Union officials say some of the meat, seafood and deli workers may be able to transfer, but all of the clerks, which represents the majority of employees, will be laid off.
"It's depressing," says John Forte whose been with the company for 37 years. He's receiving a severance package, but union officials say many of the workers who now earn $12-20 per hour will likely be looking for minimum wage jobs at other stores.
