The business gained valuable experience by running a self-service grocery store beginning in 1929.
Schaffer's first supermarket, called Empire Market, opened in 1933.
[2] The chain was acquired by Grand Union (supermarket) in June 1958 for approximately $8 million.
[4] Grand Union, based in East Paterson, New Jersey, operated 472 supermarkets.
At the time, Schaffer ran 41 grocery stores, the majority of which were supermarkets.