Zody’s Stores Converted for Ralphs Giants

The $50-million remodeling of 12 former Zody’s department stores into Ralphs Giant supermarkets is nearing completion, according to a spokeswoman for Koenig & Wood Development Co.

The stores average 70,000 square feet and have about 16,000 square feet of mall shops called the Marketplace, the spokeswoman said. Koenig & Wood is the developer in cooperation with Ralphs Grocery Co.

Rothenberg Sawasy Architects, Los Angeles, is the architect for the Marketplace element of the stores, which typically feature shops of 1,000 square feet or less, facing the check stands.

Meanwhile, the Sterik Co., Los Angeles-based developer, has purchased 25 of the former Zody store sites and Ralphs already has leased 14 buildings as warehouse supermarkets known as Giants, according to Michael J. Navarro, retail specialist with Grubb & Ellis, who represents Sterik in leasing the satellite shops.