Food Emporium

Food Emporium is a specialty grocery retailer with deep roots in New York City, tracing its origins back to 1919. The company began as Daitch Crystal Dairies and later transitioned into The Food Emporium brand in the late 1970s, building a reputation for blending everyday supermarket essentials with a curated selection of gourmet and imported foods. The brand became a familiar name in Manhattan, especially after its acquisition by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) in 1986, which marked a period of significant growth and integration into a larger grocery portfolio.

At its height, Food Emporium operated more than 30 stores, primarily in Manhattan and nearby boroughs, and was recognized for its urban store formats and ability to draw steady neighborhood traffic. However, the landscape shifted dramatically following A&P’s financial troubles and bankruptcy proceedings in 2010 and 2015. During the restructuring and subsequent liquidation, most Food Emporium locations were closed or sold, and the brand’s presence contracted sharply.

Following these events, select Food Emporium locations and the brand itself were acquired by Red Apple Group. Since then, the company has focused on maintaining a small group of legacy stores rather than pursuing new growth or franchising. As of November 2025, Food Emporium operates just three stores, all located in Manhattan, with no announced plans for expansion or new market entries.

Despite its reduced scale, Food Emporium continues to hold a place in the city’s grocery landscape, particularly in established, high-traffic neighborhoods. Its longstanding brand recognition, history of anchoring prominent retail corridors, and adaptation to urban retail environments contribute to its continued relevance in New York’s evolving commercial real estate market.