Brick Farm Market is moving from East Broad Street as owners downsize the market’s business operations after facing challenges such as labor shortages.
In December, the founders will move the market from 65 East Broad Street to the Brick Farm Tavern campus on 130 Hopewell-Rocky Hill Road in Hopewell Borough.
The building on East Broad will be repurposed into a new use for the business.
“Like so many other businesses, we have faced some real headwind, especially through the closure of the bridge in Hopewell, the pandemic, and severe labor shortages,” the founders wrote in a letter published on the market’s Facebook page on Oct. 19.
“Through it, we have redoubled our efforts to get it right and spent countless hours to create a model that would support itself. We have tried to consolidate our labor resources (and lower waste) by moving departments around the market’s building.”
They noted that Ottoburger, a local business and burger shop, was brought in to improve the economics of the café and extend dining hours.
The closing of the market on East Broad Street is set to occur in December with the final day being Dec. 10.
However, people are still able to purchase what they need until the evening of the market’s final day on East Broad Street.
“While we have enjoyed and been privileged to pour you fresh coffee, and make you a smoothie, shake, taco or a sandwich over the years, our lives and business were impacted by continuous subsidy of these services,” founders added.
“And having all the extras such as mustards, oils, spices, groceries, supplies and more, had us competing with Amazon and supermarkets – which is not what we’ve ever been about.”
The new opening at Brick Farm Tavern follows on Dec. 14.
“We are going back to our core,” they wrote. “We will be delivering our Double Brook Farm meats and house-made products, plus those of a select roster of Hopewell farms, on a smaller footprint, one that is appropriate for the model and economics of a direct farm-to-customer operation.”
Brick Farm Market has been serving the community for 10 years.
The founders in their announcement about the closing, downsize and move did not give any specifics on what the plan is for the repurposed use of what will be the market’s former location.
“While we are shelving the café model, we have great local businesses that deserve your support: Boro Bean, The Peasant Grill, Aunt Chubby’s, Antimo’s, Tomatello’s, Nomad Pizza, Michael’s, and more,” they added.
There will be a soft opening for the new market, along with a question-and-answer reception at Brick Farm Tavern at 5 p.m. Dec. 13.
