New Astoria Supermarket Replaces Associated; H Mart Opens In LIC

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Two eagerly anticipated Western Queens supermarkets threw open their doors at the same time on Tuesday: H Mart in Long Island City, and the new Farm Country Supermarket replacing Associated in Astoria.

Here's the scoop on both.

Farm Country Supermarket (37-15 31st Ave.)

Farm Country replaces the longtime Associated Supermarket, which shut down in 2021 after decades on the corner of 31st Avenue and 38th Street.

Its spiffy, brightly lit replacement is part of a small chain with existing locations in Jackson Heights and East New York, Brooklyn. (A person who answered the phone at another Farm Country market in East Harlem said it was unrelated to the others.)

The interior contains few surprises: a full produce aisle, multiple frozen food sections, a half aisle's worth of Hispanic foods, a sizeable vegan section, and a deli counter near the front.

It will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., including Thanksgiving, manager Martin Tavares told Patch.

As for the all-important prices, here's a snapshot: a cart of a dozen eggs start at $4.99; pineapples are $3.49 each; an orange bell pepper costs $2.99; and a standard canister of Morton salt is $2.19.

While it's come under new management, Tavares said the owners of the one-story building are the same as under Associated; indeed, city records suggest the building has not been sold since 2019.

H Mart (34-51 48th St.)

Even more eagerly anticipated, the Asian grocery chain H Mart welcomed the first customers Tuesday morning to its sprawling space at 34-51 48th St., formerly home to Stop & Shop.

The 63,525-square-foot space features "a variety of fresh groceries, meats, seafood, health & beauty products, frozen foods, and quality services," the company said — all supplied directly from local farms and H Mart's New Jersey warehouse.

This is the 12th New York state location for H Mart, which is popular for its prepared food, Asian produce, snacks and seafood. The chain originated as a small Korean grocery in Woodside, though that location, currently closed for renovations, is now unaffiliated from the rest of the company.

It will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to H Mart's website.

"We assure that H Mart Long Island City, NY will be a destination where customers can truly enjoy 'Good food for all,'" company president Brian Kwon said in a statement.

Patch first broke the news that H Mart would be moving into the Long Island City space. Tuesday's opening comes only a month after H Mart took over the space in October, as Stop & Shop closed after a review of its "operating performance."

Related coverage:

• Astoria's Longtime Associated Supermarket Closes Permanently
• New Long Island City H Mart Opening Next Week, Company Says
  
• H Mart To Replace Long Island City Stop & Shop, Company Confirms