Author(s): John Estrella and Ric Oliviera, Standard-Times staff writers
Date: December 21, 1995
NEW BEDFORD -- The former Almacs grocery store on Acushnet Avenue has been bought by Trucchi's of Taunton, three days after it had appeared closed for good and 85 jobs were gone.
Applications to work at the new store will be available just after New Year; the company plans to open the store Feb. 1, said David Trucchi, one of the family members owning the four-store Trucchi's chain.
Although the sale is subject to approval from a federal bankruptcy court judge in Utica, N.Y., Mr. Trucchi said Almacs and its creditors accepted the offer.
"Right now, we're just going through the legal process," he said.
Attempts to reach Almacs spokesman Tom Murphy in Albany, N.Y., were unsuccessful yesterday.
Once the purchase is final, there will be no job priority given to former Almacs employees, Mr. Trucchi said, hinting that management positions may go to current Trucchi's employees.
"We're going to have to interview people there just like there was no store there," Mr. Trucchi said. "Hopefully, there will be people from the former Almacs -- they know the people, they know the area. But we're a small company and some people who work for us would like to move up."
People living near the North End store reacted positively to the news.
Nancy Pontes of Wildwood Road at first reacted with disbelief.
"Oh, you are kidding," she said. "That is great news. We were regular customers there for many years. Now I won't have to go to Shaw's or Stop & Shop anymore."
Many of the neighbors said that having a supermarket nearby is convenient.
"This is very good for me," said Catherine Rapoza of Bowles Street. "Yesterday I had to go to Shaw's in the snow. That is no good. Almacs is very close. I went there all the time. I will try Trucchi's; maybe they will be just as good."
Robert Santos, who lives beside the supermarket, is happy that the lot will be used. "It is so close it would have been a shame for them not to use it," he said. "It is nice to have a place nearby to do the shopping."
Joe Roberts might not shop there but he is happy that the store will reopen because it is near his mother's house. "She won't have to walk far," he said as he shoveled her driveway.
Phill Racettte just moved Tuesday to the city from Tennesee. He said opening the supermarket that he can see from his front window will make his adjustment that much easier. "I like the idea of having one so close," he said.
The Trucchi family started its business on Tremont Street in Taunton; the family's patriarch was 16. Since then, they have opened a store on County Street in Taunton and stores in Abington and West Bridgewater. They run a distribution warehouse in Raynham.
"It's going to take us a while to restock the store and hire some people," Mr. Trucchi said. "And what it's going to take to make the store work down there is trying to maintain a nice, family atmosphere ... We're one of the last few family businesses around. We hope that we come across that way, that we care about the customers and the community."
Mr. Trucchi called his company "an unknown down there," referring to New Bedford. He would not disclose the price the company paid to purchase the store from Almacs, which declared bankruptcy and closed the store Dec. 17.