El Monte : Vons Plans ‘Superstore’ in Renewal Project Area

Vons Grocery Co. will remodel a closed Sears store in town to house the prototype of its new “superstore” and the headquarters and warehouse for its planned superstore chain. Harold Johanson, director of the El Monte Community Redevelopment Agency, said the Vons decision to participate in the El Monte Center Redevelopment Project was announced this week by the Alexander Haagen Development Co., which is overseeing redevelopment of the 57-acre shopping center at Peck Road and the San Bernardino Freeway.

Part of the old Sears building will be converted to a 60,000- to 80,000-square-foot Vons superstore that will sell clothing, drug items and other merchandise in addition to food, Johanson said. Another 100,000 square feet of space will house offices for Vons new chain and a warehouse, he said. Work is scheduled to begin in about six months.

Haagen, a Manhattan Beach developer, did not reveal the projected cost of the project and officials for El Monte-based Vons could not be reached for comment. Johanson said another major store and some smaller retailers are still being sought for the redevelopment project.