The grand opening of Farmer's Market, the long-awaited new supermarket in Glen Cove, took place on the morning of Tuesday, September 24. Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp welcomed the new business to the city, and she and members of the chamber of commerce participated in the ribbon cutting surrounded by a crowd of eager shoppers.

The customers were lined up outside the store, each with his or her own shopping cart, more interested in deli than discourse and ready to be among the first to stroll the aisles of the much-anticipated enterprise. Following the store design from produce to checkout, the crowd continued coming throughout the day.

Interfering with the gala atmosphere of opening day was a group of union workers from UFCW Local 342, holding signs and handing out fliers that read "Farmer's Bazaar [sic] is operating a non-union shop" and asked shoppers not to shop at Farmer's Market, but to shop at the competition next door. However, two signs on the door to the market stated "This is a union shop." One sign listed Local 338, and one named Local 342-50.

Police were called, as the demonstrators were standing on the property of the company they were picketing, and Sgt. Whitton asked the demonstrators to stay on the sidewalk, off Farmer's Market property, and not interfere with pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and the men and women readily complied. As of this writing, a call to the union communications director was not returned, and a spokesman for the busy supermarket could not be reached for comment.