By Sunayana Prabhu
LITTLE SILVER – When Sickles Market shuttered last year after declaring bankruptcy, it left behind not only an empty storefront but also bruised feelings. Employees said they went unpaid. Customers lost money on gift cards that couldn’t be redeemed. An iconic family-run business that had stood for generations closed its doors following a contentious period.
Now, the Harrison Avenue property has reopened as 1663 Market under the ownership of three longtime customers who said they stepped in to preserve a piece of history despite the challenges left by its troubled closure.
“We were not just customers – our families shopped here every day,” said Dennis Devine, co-owner and chief operating officer of 1663 Market. Along with Devine, co-owners Jennifer Karp and Timothy McCooey are residents of Rumson. Devine spoke on behalf of the partners several weeks after the soft launch of the new market.
“Sickles was where we gathered ingredients for dinner, bumped into neighbors, and taught our kids about great food. When it closed, it left a hole in our routines and in the community. This property is iconic. We saw more than the challenges; we saw an opportunity to preserve and reimagine a beloved destination,” Devine said.
The new name carries weight. “1663 is the year this land was first settled and officially deeded by the King of England,” he explained. “We chose the name to honor that rich history of farming and gathering while signaling a fresh chapter for the market. It stands as a bridge between deep roots and new beginnings.”
Still, the partners admit they inherited not only the market’s loyal following but also the frustration and mistrust left behind. Rather than sidestep the woes, Devine said they chose to meet them head-on. “Trust is earned one interaction at a time,” he said.
“As an immediate and concrete step, we have paid all employees their full claims plus two weeks of severance. We are also starting with open communication, honoring commitments like gift cards, and creating a welcoming space that immediately feels different. Our actions will speak louder than words.”
One of the most immediate questions from former customers was whether 1663 Market would honor old Sickles gift cards. The answer is yes. The new owners are “under no obligation to honor gift cards,” Devine noted, but “will honor outstanding gift cards because keeping good faith is essential to rebuilding trust.” According to Devine, gift cards can be redeemed in 20% increments at each purchase until the full amount of the gift card is reached. “Given the large amount of outstanding balances, that is all our business can offer at this time,” he said.
A handful of former staff have also returned to work in the store. “Yes, a few familiar faces and many trusted local vendors are returning,” Devine said.
Five-Year Vision
Shoppers walking through the market today will notice a brighter, more open layout with “a curated mix of local and specialty foods, an upgraded prepared foods kitchen, and faster checkout technology,” Devine said. “We are refreshing every part of operations while our award-winning Michelin star chef introduces a more nutrition-forward menu.”
New features are also on the way – a coffee, tea, smoothie and bakery counter, plus a year-round garden center seating area designed to serve as a community gathering place.
Devine said the new team has taken lessons from Sickles’ painful collapse. “The key lesson from the past is simple: Financial discipline and customer trust must stay at the heart of every decision,” he said, and that led to keeping some of the old while introducing the new.
The management team also addressed the fact that former owner Bob Sickles, other Sickles family members and former Sickles market manager Maria Carrigan were retained to assist the new team because “institutional knowledge matters,” Devine said. “Certain family members and longtime team members bring unmatched expertise in sourcing and growing. We have paired that with experienced retail and hospitality leaders to create a balanced and forward-looking team.”
Devine said the market will “honor the best of the past, such as seasonal produce, fine foods and horticultural know-how, while creating a fresh and welcoming shopping experience. Our brand is heritage reimagined: Timeless flavors and warm hospitality presented in a vibrant, modern way.”
The owners say their five-year vision is ambitious: to make 1663 Market “the premier food and garden destination on the Jersey Shore.” That includes culinary events, seasonal festivals, chef collaborations and educational programs. Community activities are already planned, from pumpkin painting and yoga classes to cooking workshops and food tastings. “We will sponsor and host The Light of Little Silver, benefiting the Little Silver PTO, and turn our greenhouse into a holiday hub throughout the season,” Devine said. “Our goal is to make 1663 a welcoming place for the community to gather, share ideas and grow together.”
According to Devine and his partners, saving the market wasn’t just about nostalgia; it was also about safeguarding a property “from a development that would no longer include the market and would have been terribly impactful to the community.”
A weathered red tractor rests in the garden outside 1663, its chipped paint catching the autumn light, while a faded blue one greets visitors inside the entrance, dressed in fall décor. The machines, relics “probably from the 1940s,” Devine said, once sat forgotten behind the old market. Now, they’ve been brought back into view, repurposed as nostalgic centerpieces of the market’s fresh start.
“We will keep what people cherish and introduce inspiring options that meet today’s tastes,” Devine said. “We invite everyone to experience the new energy, meet the team and taste what is fresh and exciting. The best way to understand 1663 is to come see and savor it for yourself.”
The article originally appeared in the October 2 – October 8, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
