“Tragic” was how grocery clerk Alex Zuno described the impending closure of the Vons grocery store at 1129 Fair Oaks Ave. where he has worked for 12 years.
“I’m heartbroken,” Zuno said Sunday while saying goodbye to customers.
Vons has been a favorite for local shoppers since opening on Fair Oaks in November 1978, according to the South Pasadena Library archivist. It recently lost its lease and will close on Sept. 17, according to Laurie Wheeler, president of the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.
Pavilions, a sister store to Vons across the street at 1213 Fair Oaks Ave., has recently been remodeled. Vons and Pavilions had been operated by Safeway until both were purchased by Albertson’s in 1997.
“They had their customers and we had ours and it had worked out great,” said Zuno, who will move from his current job to a new one at Pavilions.
Zuno said that the employees had been told officially just over a month ago.
“Everyone was in shock,” Zuno said. “And then, we had to go out and tell our customers. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people who shop here and I look at them almost as friends.
Some people really took it hard. Emotions spoke louder than words.
“In some ways, we have been part of the heart of South Pasadena for a lot of years.”
The Vons grocery store has been the anchor for the cluster of shops, which until recently included Roundtable Pizza, Supercuts and Grassroots health food market.
Several other new businesses in the complex have either recently opened or have signs that they will soon begin operation.
Wheeler said that she had heard the names of several stores that might lease the Vons space, including Trader Joe’s, which currently has an outlet on Mission Street in South Pasadena.
A spokesman for Trader Joe’s said that no decisions are considered final until a new location appears on the company’s website. She said that Trader Joe’s is consistently in the process of evaluating new locations all over the country.
There was a report from a clerk that representatives from Stater Bros. Market had been in to look at the Vons space.
Meanwhile, there is sign on the door of the location formerly operated by Grassroots Natural Foods Market that Huntington Catering, which operates The Lost Parrot Café at 1929 Huntington Dr. in South Pasadena, will move some of its operations to the space.
It will also continue to operate the Lost Parrot as a sit-down restaurant, and also offer what it calls The Daily by HC at its new location.
The Daily will offer “grab and go” options such as sandwiches, salads and smoothies from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Huntington Catering offers a full-service catering operation, which includes custom menus, event staffing, bar service and rentals.
Editor’s Note: For further information about Huntington Catering and The Daily call (626) 705-4200, or email info@hxmenu.com.
First published in the Sept. 1 issue of the South Pasadena Review
