José Luis and Lisset Ureña celebrated the grand opening of Compare Fresh at 159 Main Street in downtown Hempstead on October 30, 2026, joined by the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce and civic leaders. Building on the success of their Compare Foods in Brentwood, the family expanded its Long Island presence with a 17,000-square-foot supermarket featuring fresh produce, full-service deli, seafood and meat departments, an in-house bakery, prepared foods, sushi, a juice bar, and an extensive international selection.

Located within a 228-apartment residential development, the store brought convenient access to fresh, culturally diverse food to the growing downtown community. The opening was expected to create more than 50 local jobs and support Hempstead’s ongoing revitalization.

As part of Associated Supermarket Group’s network, the Ureña family’s investment underscored the role independent grocers played in strengthening neighborhoods through local ownership, personal service, and community connections.