March 16,2016-
Bay Area-based Grocery Outlet-Bargain Market has taken out a sign permit to occupy the vacant Haggens grocery store in Los Osos. The building has been empty since last summer.
The closure left Los Osos, a town of 15,000, with only one supermarket and a big hole in the existing shopping center. The existing Ralphs down the block will now get some competition.
The shopping center owners had vowed to bring in another grocer to fill the void and it appears they have succeeded. The Haggen bankruptcy tied the property up for months and many thought the space would never attract a new food store. The Gambril family has filled most vacancies in the center now with Starbucks soon to open in the former BofA building
A deep discount grocer – Grocery Outlet has over 230 locations in the West including a store on Madonna in San Luis Obispo.
Los Osos residents hoping for a high end replacement like a Trader Joe’s to come in ( there was an on-line petition going around) will probably be disappointed as the store attracts bargain hunters and coupon clippers, less brand selection than a traditional grocery store but arguably cheaper prices.
According to the company website all stores are franchised to local people.
Their website says the business was launched in 1946, when Jim Read started selling military surplus for deep discounts and opened the first Grocery Outlet. The say that led them to become “the nation’s largest extreme value grocery retailer. We offer brand-name, quality products at up to 60% off conventional retail prices.”