We are so excited to share that our very own Stockton, NJ is showcased in Aerosoles new fall 2026 campaign centered around the theme “Be Real.” Among those featured are Chef Bob Truitt of the Stockton Inn and Sophie of the Stockton Market, whose stories “embody the campaign’s commitment to celebrating the people and communities behind the places that inspire the brand.”
Photographed across Bucks County, Pa., Stockton, N.J., and New York City, locations personally connected to president and chief brand officer, and Stockton Market regular, Jimmy Gabriel, the campaign pairs fashion imagery with documentary-style storytelling led by creative director Jeremiah Hadjian, highlights local business owners, creatives, and community figures alongside the brand’s newest product categories. Now featured in Forbes!
“Teamwork makes the dream work”
Chef Bob Truitt, The Stockton Inn
“I’m grateful to be very tuned in to small moments, it’s a huge reason I enjoy what I do.”
Sophie wearing Aerosoles and locally made “Kid Sister” sweatshirt
Below are excerpts from a featured interview of Chef Bob and Community Manager, Sophie:
How did you find your way to Stockton?
Sophie: It’s more how did I find my way back! I grew up 10 minutes outside of Stockton in Sergeantsville, NJ, where my parents still are today. I’m lucky enough that some of my days still end with my mom’s cooking.
I grew up going to the previous iteration of the Stockton Market whenever I could, I loved the environment it brought to the community. Now working with Dana and the team of the reinvention of the space, I count myself very lucky to work here. I started in a more traditional management role and, over time, my position evolved into something much broader. I’ve gotten to work in the café, retail, catering, events, social media, photography, design, and the day-to-day experience of the people who walk through the door. So, technically, I found my way back to Stockton through a job opportunity. But in a lot of ways, I think I found my way here because I was looking for a place where I could be involved in community, and pour my heart into something meaningful. And Stockton is just that.
What does the Stockton Inn mean to people who have lived in this area for a long time?Chef Bob: The other day I had dinner at the inn with my children and mother. The man beside us was celebrating his 90-something’th birthday with his family and shared a story about how he waited tables as a boy when all the big band jazz parties were happening at the Inn – back when it was Colligans’ Stockton Inn. We have customers whose ancestors owned the inn centuries ago. To the community, Stockton Inn is a legacy as much as it is home.
They are actually SO comfy…
Find them HERE!
What keeps you here?
Sophie: What stands out the most are the people I work with and our customers. There’s something really rewarding about seeing the same people again and again, and knowing how special it is to be involved in so many people’s lives and routines. Not to mention, my family and friends visit often and I feel grateful to share what I do everyday so closely with my community.
Our team is so incredibly talented, they all inspire me so much. Chef Chadd Jenkins and Head Baker John Ward are at the helm of the culinary team here. John began full time recently and I am so in awe what he produces in the bakery. Chadd is a local legend (at least that’s how we see him) and we could laugh all day while simultaneously filling the prepared food case with some of the best quality meals in the area. Sous Chef Yari is one of my close friends and I’m lucky we look out for each other in work and life. Catering manager Eric is the fairy godfather of charcuterie boards and I truly love working with and learning from him. Dana is truly woven into the fabric of my life, and I feel so lucky that I get to know and work alongside her. And everyone else knows how much they mean to me, as I tell them regularly.
Was there a moment when it felt like the Inn had become part of Stockton again?
Chef Bob: It never really felt Stockton Inn stopped being integral to Stockton, it’s just that it had fallen into disrepair. The day we had our soft opening, with people from all around the area sitting out on the terrace, filling the tavern with warm chatter, it felt like we revived what Stockton – even if just for a window of time – had lost.
What does a typical day at the market look like for you?
Sophie: There really isn’t a completely typical day, which is one of the things I like about it.
Some days are very customer-facing. I might be on the floor helping customers, working in the café, answering questions, helping different departments, or working to solve whatever little problem happens to come up that day.
Other days are much more creative. I might be photographing food or products, filming something for social media, editing a video, writing our weekly email, designing something, planning our content, or thinking about an upcoming event.
And then there’s everything in between: inventory, staff communication, meetings, event planning, making sure the physical space feels good, jumping in wherever I’m needed, and generally keeping an eye on the bigger picture of how the market feels to someone walking through the door.
You’ve worked in kitchens in Philadelphia, New York, Spain and elsewhere. What’s different about doing this work in a town as small as Stockton? And what’s something about Stockton you’d want someone from New York or Philadelphia to understand before they came here?
Chef Bob: It feels like you’re truly getting away; it can feel disconnected from the chaos of the rest of the world, while still being very much a part of it in food, culture and people. There’s a quiet here that’s hard to come by. There’s something special about this small town life and especially the property.
What has changed since you first came to the area, and what has stayed the same?
Sophie: There has definitely been a change, I would say for the better after quite a lull in the town beginning when businesses in the area closed before and around the pandemic. Now into 2026, Stockton has a small but mighty heartbeat. Businesses have evolved, people move in and out of the area, new ideas come in, and the way people experience the town changes over time.
Alongside thoughtful preservation, I hope that’s what continues. People are bringing new energy into the area, but there’s something worth protecting about the feeling that makes people fall in love with Stockton in the first place.
How much does where you are influence what you cook?
Chef Bob: The place affects how i cook pretty significantly. I try to cook with what is best around me (what’s in season, the terrain, what’s growing, who the purveyors are), and that is always in location.
If someone had one day to spend in Stockton and the surrounding area, where would you send them?
Sophie: Thatttt depends on the season! I’d definitely tell them not to over-plan it, but here is a little
“for any season” breakdown of what I’d do:
I’d start them in each season with a morning trip to the Stockton Market (of course…) with a good coffee and breakfast or a pastry (or both) to eat, and I’d encourage them to spend some time making conversation with tables beside them, quietly people watch, or bring a game of cards to play as they settle into the day. Then if they head out by 9 AM and let’s say it’s a Saturday, head over to The Golden Nugget in Lambertville, and tell them otherwise bring cash! They’re going to want to flex their bargaining skills, respectfully of course, to the local vendors. Take your time with this and only get things that make your heart glimmer! Next park in Lambertville and go to my favorite vintage stores, The People’s Store and Bear Bone Vintage both on Church Street where many other shops call to be explored. Next I would go to Lambert + Hope for all things homewares and finds you can’t really find anywhere else! I always leave there with a little (or a lotta) something.
Next no trip is complete without a trip over to Union Coffee. From iced teas to a cortado, they simply do it right. There I would sit at the bench across the street for round two of leisure and people watching. Sometimes I find myself blending into the surroundings, other it feels like a constant stream of people I know. Either way it’s just nice to “be”.
Next it’s time for a little jaunt through Lambertville towards the Bridge into New Hope to visit some of my favorite stores, Wild Hart Paper, Squarehead Industries, The Meanings of Things, and Wilson Haus! All run and curated with so much care, you feel it the moment you walk in. Next take a moment for a walk to Karla’s, a longstanding local gem for lunch and a good chat. There’s something for everyone there!
I’m going to stop there, because when I tell you I could go on, I could go ON!