Grocery store ‘celebrity’ moves to Georgia

There’s something missing at Glen Cove’s Stop & Shop. Actually, someone. Brooke Moore, who bagged groceries for 23 years at her hometown store, has moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, to live with her brother, Brett Moore. Her last day was June 30.
Brooke, 52, who is intellectually challenged and can’t live alone, had to leave Glen Cove because her mother, Colette Moore, died suddenly on Jan. 14. Brett lived with Brooke in the family’s Dosoris Woods home on Tulip Drive since their mother’s death to prepare for the move.
Nicole Biancamano, a neighbor, said the people who live on Tulip Drive are very close adding that Brooke was always part of her family. Biancamano was a close friend of Colette’s and has known Brooke since she was born.
“Her mother helped her to be independent,” Biancamano said. “Her disability was something we never thought of. Brooke walked to work and could take care of herself. She’s a lovely person who always wanted to take care of people.”
Brett said Stop & Shop was the perfect place for his younger sister to work. “Stop & Shop created a great environment for her to do her thing, be herself and help people,” he said. “She loves routine and that is why I asked them to let her work until the end.”

Brooke said she enjoyed bagging the groceries and being friendly to customers.
“I know a lot of people there and I know their names,” she said. “They say, ‘Here comes the mayor of Glen Cove!’ It made me very happy.”
Brooke was very popular at the grocery store, said Lucy Meola, the store’s customer services assistant manager, describing her as a “ray of sunshine.”
“She was like a celebrity. Everyone knew her,” Meola said. “Even if she didn’t bag someone’s groceries someone would say, ‘Hey Brooke!’ as they left the store.”
People liked Brooke, James Nemeth, the store’s manager said, because she always went out of her way to help them and the other employees at the store. “She has an overwhelming positive outlook toward life,” he said. “She’s always smiling and she was a great asset to the customers and to me.”
Brett said his sister was always early for work — often by three hours. She could be found in the breakroom before her shift talking to the other employees. Brooke was extremely proud of her work and loved the people she worked with, Brett said. And she had a great work ethic.
“I’ve seen her in action,” Brett said. “If there was a spill she advised the customer to stay away from it, she put cones down and found maintenance. Brooke always took charge.”
Biancamano said Brooks’ love for life was contagious. “People knew of her good spirit, and she was a person who would bring that spirit to other people,” she said. “She wasn’t guarded, and was friendly and outgoing.”
Brett arranged for a party for his sister on her last day. He bought her a cake and presented her with a banner signed by 40 people. It now hangs proudly in Brooke’s room.
“Her life has been turned completely upside down but she’s happy,” Brett said. “Moving her has worked out great for her.”
She has already been hired by Publix Super Market, which is walking distance from her new home. Brooke said she’s looking forward to making new friends there. She began her training on Wednesday.