Frank’s Market & Refillery Gives Asbury Park an Eco-friendly Way to Stock Up on the Basics

By:  | September 25, 2025 |  | 

By Rebecca King

The old planet-saving adage “reduce, reuse, recycle” has been drilled into our collective consciousness for years. But, for many, the emphasis has always been on “recycle,” with the former two calls to action forgotten.

For those looking to increase their “reducing” and “reusing,” a visit to Frank’s Market & Refillery wouldn’t go amiss. The Asbury Park shop specializes in eco-friendly items and offers bulk refill stations, where you can replenish your supply of everything from dish soap to body wash in bottles you’ve emptied, effectively reusing old containers and reducing the amount of plastic you buy.

The Inspiration

“I must have had a really good Earth Day in school or something,” Frank Giardino, owner of Frank’s Market & Refillery, joked. Taking care of the planet, he said, has always been a priority for him.

But the initial spark to open his own refillery happened years ago when he was living alone. Giardino was shocked to see how often his trash can and recycling bin filled up. 

“I was all by myself,” he said. “It didn’t make sense to have that much waste.”

So, he started saving jars from condiments. He found a butcher shop with bulk spices customers could use to refill their old jars, prompting Giardino to wonder, “Why isn’t everything available like this?”

He started using reusable paper towels and eschewing plastic products for more sustainable items made of wood or stainless steel.

“I couldn’t understand why refilleries weren’t more widespread,” he said. “I was obsessed with the concept.”

When Giardino was laid off from his 9-to-5 tech job, he decided to take the leap into opening his own store. Franks Market & Refillery will celebrate its second anniversary in December.

The Refillery

Over the past two years, Frank’s Market & Refillery has gradually expanded its available stock based on customer requests. Giardino said he initially started off with the basics: huge tubs of shampoo, conditioner, and laundry detergent. He did some digging to find out what other refilleries were stocking and reached out to wholesale sights to expand his options. Customers surprised him by requesting unique spices like za’atar, and Giardino was happy to oblige by stocking a relative pantry of spices. Now, folks can stop in to fill their containers and bottles with everything from brown rice to popcorn to pea protein powder to rosemary mint shampoo to dishwasher rinse aid to liquid and powder laundry detergent and so much more.

Finding bulk items was the easy part. More challenging was figuring out which products were truly eco-friendly.

“If I’m creating a safe space where you can shop without worrying if something is good for the planet or not, I have to do the research,” said Giardino. “A lot of companies say they’re sustainable, but they’re actually not. There’s a lot of green-washing out there.”

Giardino took note of which items were sent to the store wrapped in too much plastic and researched products to ensure the ingredients were truly sustainable.

“Sometimes things that were supposed to be replacements for plastic items would come shipped in plastic bags. That says to me that company isn’t actually focused on reducing waste,” said Giardino. “In those cases, I’d have to find a different source for those items.”

Beyond the refill items, Frank’s also offers eco-friendly products that aim to reduce waste. Customers will find the store’s shelves stocked with reusable wool dryer balls, bamboo hairbrushes, toothpaste tablets, natural incense sticks, metal razors, beard oil, natural deodorant, face creams, lip tints and a whole host of sustainable personal care and home items. 

The Community

Frank’s Market & Refillery’s location, on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park, is a central part of the store’s success, said Giardino. He initially landed in Asbury Park simply because the Jersey City storefronts he was looking at were too expensive. And after participating in the Asbury Fresh farmers market on Sundays, he realized how ripe the area was for a store like his.

“It’s such a great community,” said Giardino. “They really do care about small businesses and want the money they spend to stay in the community. I also think people in Jersey Shore towns are more eco-conscious because they’re by the beach, and nature is a big part of their life.”

Another refillery previously operated in the area, as well, so a customer base was already there and eager to begin refilling again. For now, Giardino is focused on expanding the inventory and growing in the space he’s in. Frank’s also offers online shipping, so folks can get started living a more sustainable lifestyle even if they aren’t local.

“I have a community here that cares about refilling,” he said. “I would just tell anyone curious about being more sustainable to come down and see what we’re all about.”

Frank’s Market & Refillery is located at 658 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park. Go to franksmarketrefillery.com for more info.

5 ways to be more eco-friendly

Reach for stainless steel, glass, or wood items over plastic.

Giardino always asks himself while shopping, “What does the lifetime of this item look like?”

Stopping to consider where the item you’re about to buy will end up when you eventually toss it is a big (and simple) step in living a more sustainable life.

For example, a plastic hairbrush will wind up in a landfill and sit there for hundreds of years, said Giardino. But a natural bamboo hairbrush will more quickly compost and return to reusable material. 

When faced with a bamboo or a plastic hairbrush at the store, opt for the bamboo.

Use reusable paper towels.

“Everyone in this country is obsessed with disposable paper towels,” Giardino said. “Making the switch to reusable paper towels is a no-brainer.” These thin cloth wipes come wrapped around a roll, so they look and function just like disposable paper towels—except you can throw them in the wash and reuse them again and again.

“You save money doing this, too,” said Giardino. “Paper towels get more expensive every year. These you only have to buy once.”

Mend and repair the items you already have.

Giardino remembers his childhood, when his parents would reuse everything in the house. Every old paper turned into scraps for notes. When clothes ripped or items broke, they were mended. This type of frugality, said Giardino, is a lost art. Instead of tossing something at the first sign of wear, consider taking the time and effort to fix it. The less you throw away and the less you buy, the more you decrease your carbon footprint.

Compost.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food waste makes up about 24% of material sent to landfills. By composting your discarded food, you’ll be doing your part to reduce the amount of waste that winds up in landfills. Plus, Giardino points out, you’ll be saving money.

“You’ll buy less plastic trash bags,” he said. “A lot of people are also concerned about their garbage bins filling up and potentially needing to buy another one from the township. Composting is a way to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Don’t fret about mismatched containers or aesthetically pleasing cabinets.

As a general rule, the bottle you already have is the best bottle. While it’s true that buying glass, wood, and metal items over plastic is an eco-friendly practice, not buying anything new is even better.

Getting a shiny new set of glass bottles to begin your refill journey is appealing, but consider reusing the perfectly good plastic bottles you already have. Giardino’s practice of reusing old condiment containers and yogurt tubs might not make your pantry the most Instagramable place in your home, but it will help the planet (and your wallet).

Bonus: You’ll save money!

It’s not just the planet you’re saving by living a more sustainable lifestyle.

“If you make these changes, you’re going to benefit from them,” said Giardino. Though high quality and sustainable items may be more expensive at the outset, they offer long-term savings.

Reusable paper towels mean less trips to Walmart to stock up. Mending your jeans means one less trip to the mall to buy a new pair.

“If you invest a little bit more in the beginning, your items will last longer,” said Giardino. “Then, that reduces the amount of times you have to re-buy them.”