GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — For 30 years, Sap's Produce and Custard Shack has been serving up one of the best salad bars around. Everything in it is fresh, and it earned praise from Gloucester Township Patch readers who nominated it for Business of the Year.
But like everything else in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on Sap's, shutting down the salad bar until further notice.
"It was one of our main things," said Sap's co-owner Mario Saponara, who said it would have to remain shut down until the Department of Health gives them the go-ahead to open it back up.
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Sap's is fortunate it didn't have to shut down completely. As an essential service, it has remained open throughout the pandemic. Gloucester Township residents know that, as they have been able to since 1990, they can visit the market at 700 South Black Horse Pike in the Blackwood section of the township to get fresh soup, produce, fruits, vegetables and lunch food.
And, as they have been able to since 1985, they can go next door for some ice cream and custard. That's how the business — run by Saponara, his brother and his mother — began.
"We were both in college at the time, and my mother needed a job," Saponara said. "We found this half-garage door on the Black Horse Pike, and we decided to try that."
The business was successful. His father spent years in the produce business, and helped them expand their ice cream business to a full grocery business six years in. Sap's continued to grow from there.
His father is now 86 years old, and although he can't be directly involved, he's very proud of what his family has accomplished.
"It's a very small store, and we're able to keep on top of everything," Saponara said. "Everything's fresh all the time, and we make sure we keep up with it. We make everything, we don't buy anything."
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Sap's Produce Shack on Thursday, September 21, 2017
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During the school year, teachers and bus drivers are among Sap's biggest customers. Their patronage has slowed as schools go full-remote or limit the amount of in-person instruction amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Overall, there have been fewer people coming in, Saponara said. In fact, Sap's cut its hours briefly. With the coronavirus pandemic just hitting in March, Sap's missed out on its usual catering of graduation parties and other typical events that happen during that time of year.
"We missed the whole spring," Saponara said.
To compensate, Sap's had to reposition itself a little. It still uses all the same fresh ingredients, but now they are pre-packaged, and they offer curbside pickup.
However, Sap's is now back to its normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays; and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.
They did well for Thanksgiving, and Saponara hopes for more of the same when Christmas rolls around. Their Christmas cookies are a big seller.
Sap's Produce can be reached by phone at 856-227-7700. The Custard Shop is open seasonally through October, and can be reached during the season at 856-227-6251. For more information, visit sapsshack.com.
December 04, 2020 at 11:27PM
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Salad Bar Puts Saps Among Gloucester Twp.s Best, Readers Say - Patch.com
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