Love In The Chester ShopRite Produce Aisle

For this month's Love In A Small Town feature, we asked Patch readers to tell us the story behind their romantic chance encounters. This is Kate Lieberwirth's story:

“The stars must have been aligned on a sunny Sunday morning, October 25, 2015, or my boyfriend and I might have never met at our local Chester ShopRite in the produce aisle. Actually, the story began two weeks before, when a string of events happened that led up to us meeting.

Having recently gotten divorced, my best friend and I decided to catch up at the Black Horse Inn. After spending over $120 on drinks and closing the place down, we went to the tavern side where we ran into some friends of hers. During the night, they invited us to a Halloween party there the following week.

Fast forward to the Halloween party. I went with my friend who went to the Black Horse with me, along with another good friend. Everyone was in costume, there were fortune tellers and tons of food and I met a nice guy who was dressed as Anna from ‘Frozen.’ He had the full wig, dress and all, and he was an entertaining guy. Nothing happened between us, but we did exchange numbers.

The next morning, I went to brunch with another good friend and her family to celebrate her birthday. Although I was feeling the results of the night before, I dressed up for the occasion and went. On my way home, I decided to stop at the Chester ShopRite to pick up a few things. While I was in the produce aisle, I saw this cute guy who looked just like the guy dressed as Anna the night before. (Keep in mind, the guy at the party had on a wig and dress, so I couldn’t be sure.)

We kept making eye contact as we picked out our fruits and vegetables, but I still wasn’t sure. I decided to text this guy from the party, but he didn’t respond. Finally, I made the decision to walk up to this guy and ask if he was the guy from the party the night before. It turns out I was wrong. It wasn’t the guy, but when I asked, ‘Are you so and so from the Halloween party last night?’ he responded, ‘No, but this guy sure is lucky if you’re looking for him.’ My heart melted, and I smiled my big smile. We exchange a few pleasantries, but we continued on our way.

Well, you know how it is in ShopRite. We kept bumping into each other in every aisle, and we would smile at each other or make a few comments. Finally, in the pasta aisle, he gave me his card with his number.

Later he told me he was on the phone in between the time he met me to this point with a friend who told him he needed to give me his number. Thankfully he listened. We ended up talking and blocking all sorts of traffic in that aisle.

It turns out we both went to Mendham High School, although he had graduated before me. I actually knew a few of his sisters, and believe it or not, he lived across the street from me.

We have been together two-and-a half years now, and I love telling our story. If I didn’t go to ShopRite on my way home from brunch; if I never met that guy dressed as Anna at the party; if I never got invited to that party; if we didn’t go to the tavern side; if my friend never invited me out for drinks, I wouldn’t have met the man of my dreams. Now if that’s not fate, I don’t know what is.”

—Kate Lieberwirth

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See all Patch "chance encounters" here.

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For next month's Love In A Small Town feature, we want to help you give Mom the best Mother's Day gift ever. Write her a heartfelt letter to tell her how much she means to you, email it to locallove@patch.com and we'll feature it in your town's newsfeed on Mother's Day. Get more details here.

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Image Credit: Kate Lieberwirth