About Park N Shop
Our Company
Park ‘n Shop Supermarkets operates three full service Supermarkets, all located in Southern Worcester County in Massachusetts and known in our market areas for quality, service and commitment to the communities we serve.
Our History
It all began 100 years ago when we established our 1st Supermarket in 1918, in Webster, MA. with one man and one small grocery store. He came here from Albania, hoping to forge a new life for himself and his family here in America. It took years of hard work and perseverance and today, that one small store has become the very successful chain of Park ‘n Shop Supermarkets, owned and operated by the Pappas family. In the early 1900’s, Albanian born Alex Pappas owned a small grocery market on Pleasant Street in Webster, MA.
From the very beginning, the store was a family business. Alex’s sons, Peter and Charlie, grew up working in the store with their father, learning everything there was to know about the grocery business.
By 1950, after a couple of location changes and a name change to the present Park ‘n Shop, Charlie had gone on his own with the Dudley Park ‘n Shop branch of the chain. This quickly outgrew its building and was moved to the present location on Airport Road when that site became available.
Charlie has said, ” We enjoy the close, intimate relationship between the employees and the customers. That is the way my father ran his business, and that is the way that we will carry on the tradition. We are here to serve our customers the best way we know, not just as businessmen, but as friends also.”
The company presently operates three Park ‘n Shop Supermarkets in the towns of Dudley and Auburn.
Our Organization
Our corporate offices are located in Dudley, MA. All administrative, payroll, accounts payable and receivable and personnel functions are handled by this office.
Our Grocery buying office is located in our Dudley store. All matters having to do with grocery, DSD, produce, frozen, dairy, or health & beauty care items should be directed to Chuck Pappas in Dudley.
Our meat buying office is located in our Auburn store. Gerry Kunkel, our meat buyer, handles any questions regarding fresh meats, frozen meats, deli items, bakery items or the operations of those departments.