Jubilee Marketplace Grocery Store Is Listening to Customers and Lowering Prices | Eater NY
"A local New York grocery-store chain most known for its Greenpoint location has taken a bold step by listening to customers. Owner Young Kim's shop already had a loyal following that gained momentum over a year ago due to its wildly inexpensive (and actually good) $2.75 burger; later, Kim added equally affordable deals on rotisserie chicken and a bibimbap buffet, particularly in its FiDi outpost. But some complained on channels like Reddit that, while the prepared-foods deals couldn’t be beat, the groceries — no matter how vast the selection (including New York–based brands otherwise hard to find) — were too high-priced. This week Kim posted to Instagram: "I’m sorry for the shitty high prices and you were right. I thought I was putting the right mark up but if the majority of the community is saying it’s too expensive, then it’s too expensive, end of story." The timing is spot-on as consumers brace for another round of price hikes — in part because of President Trump’s whiplash tariffs — and so far Young has lowered some prices around his shop, though he still has about "20,000 items" more. The move drew attention from the New York Times; Kim told the publication, "Jubilee’s prices tallied to $30 more expensive than a nearby chain store," and added, "That’s a number that you can’t really ignore." On whether he can stay in business as he cuts prices to match bigger stores, videographer Rob Martinez — who also sat down with Kim — told Pete Wells, "I assume he does." - Melissa McCart
