Salem Grocery

Having just recently moved to the JC area, I had passed by here a few times on my way home from Grove Street PATH. For a few days I had been trying to find some spices to make dal (lentil) curry in the grocery stores to no avail. Then, one day, it occurred to me that despite looking like a random corner bodega, based off the name, it just MUST be a semi-​Indian store too! Boy, was I right & am glad I popped in here (and have been back a few times already).
As a warning, it’s a smidge divey, but it is clean, and the two older gentleman are super nice. I even had a great conversation about curry recipes with the one gentleman.
So, they have juice, soda, snacks, toiletries, cigarettes, assorted household cleaners, and, most importantly, Indian spices & grocery items! From turmeric, coriander, curry or garam masala to coconut slices, jordan almonds (actually any nut it seems) or dates, Darjeeling tea to ginger tea, ginger paste or garlic paste, Salem has you covered. As well, all the Indian grocery items are priced reasonably well, some even cheap!
I made away with rather large bags of curry powder, chili powder and coriander for less than $ 8! At Trader Joe’s it would have been $ 8-​$ 12 per bottle (at least ¹⁄₈^th of what is in the bags).
Overall, the staff/​owners are nice, it’s clean, has a rather random assortment of things, and is most certainly a good place to pick up various Indian groceries.
It’s a random bodega! Not the best and not the worst, yet it serves its’ function. Don’t set the bar so high folks. Just appreciate the quaintness, simplicity and convenience. Enjoy!

A sure cover up and worth making a «watch’ call on.
Shadyness is all over this place…

I’m not sure who shops here or how they stay open. The don’t have much selection, and the stuff seems to have been one the shelf for a while.