Nyack Fresh Market Brings a Fresh Opportunity for Grocery Shopping Downtown

Nyack’s downtown has nearly everything anyone could possibly want, but for the past 40 years there’s been one thing missing from the village’s business lineup: a supermarket. The grand opening of Nyack Fresh Market in late February saw that need fulfilled and a dream made real by longtime Rockland County entrepreneur Wilson Bermeo.

Bermeo, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador in 1995, started out in the food business by selling produce out of his minivan. “I would go house to house throughout Spring Valley, day-in and day-out, trying to get regular customers,” Bermeo recounts.

“After two years, the business had grown so much that I was able to purchase a truck, and then, eventually, my first supermarket in Spring Valley,” Bermeo added. “I named it Huerto del Eden, which translates to ‘Garden of Eden.’”

Building on that success, Bermeo’s American dream has expanded to include three more food businesses – a produce distribution company called D&K Produce, Spring Valley Supermarket and Pomona’s Mount Ivy Diner. Bermeo set his sights on Nyack prior to the pandemic because he has always loved the village and, especially, the diversity of the community.

Ongoing feedback from customers is key to Bermeo’s business strategy.

“As with all of my other businesses, my goal is to bring products to the community that reflect the desires of its people,” Bermeo said. “Nyack is very diverse, so we offer a variety of items from different cultures. We’re always encouraging our customers to tell us what they’d like to see so we can be sure to get it for them. We want to make sure everybody knows that they’re welcome here.”

Given Bermeo’s Ecuadorian heritage, the store carries a healthy helping of Latin American staples such as Tropicala's queso blanco, La Ricura pupusas de chicharron and crema de Honduras. In addition to Latin American specialties, longtime Nyack residents and recent city transplants alike can appreciate the Junior’s cheesecake and Urban Meadow coconut custard pies that Bermeo supplies.

Customers interested in special deals can check the store’s weekly circular and follow the store on their Facebook page for the most up-to-date promotions, which currently include a summer raffle event. For every $20 spent at the store, Nyack Fresh Market will give customers one free ticket toward the chance to win a 2023 Toyota Corolla SE. The winner will be announced on August 6th at 9:00 pm.

Since opening at the end of February, Bermeo has made it a priority to ensure that his customers are happy and sure to return. In addition to carefully curating his product, he’s reached out to the village to explore ways to enhance parking options near the store. As a result, the Nyack Parking Authority has adopted – on a trial basis – a policy of “one hour free parking” in the RiverSpace/Main parking lot adjacent to the Fresh Market.

The one hour free parking policy applies for one visit per day per vehicle. Shoppers using this option don’t need to visit a Munimeter or use the ParkMobile app, unless they want to extend their parking session or return to the lot later in the day during the hours of enforcement (10:00am, to 7:00pm, Monday-Saturday).

“The one-hour free option is in addition to the existing long-term metered parking available in the RiverSpace lot,” said Nyack Mayor, Don Hammond. “The intent of the new policy is to facilitate convenient access to nearby shops and, of course, the Fresh Market.”

“It’s an experiment,” added Hammond. “”The Village Board will be reviewing the change over the summer.”

Meantime, Bermeo encourages customers to download the ParkMobile app to their phones as a convenient way to cover parking as needed. (A one-hour stay costs $1.05.) He also reminds customers that parking in Nyack is free before 10:00am and after 7:00pm Monday-Saturday, and free all day on Sunday. What’s more, Bermeo has a dozen “customer-only” free spaces on the south side of his building.

"We’re excited to welcome the Fresh Market to Nyack, and we’re happy to provide support,” said Hammond.

“Having a grocery store will bring more business to town and benefit the many families who live in both the village’s longstanding residences and newly constructed apartments,” added Roger Cohen, President, Nyack Chamber of Commerce. “The store helps make Nyack more self-sufficient. What’s more, the synergy between the Fresh Market and the Nyack Farmers Market, which is held in the lot next door every Thursday, is a big plus.”

When Bermeo was asked what he was most excited about, it was the simple fact that he was finally able to open and provide this much needed service to the Nyack community – despite the many fits and starts created by the pandemic. “If you work hard, all of your dreams can come true.”