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New Smith’s Store: Smith’s Food & Drug Centers has opened a new market in La Habra, its 17th since re-entering the Southern California market last year.

The new store is at Beach Boulevard and Imperial Highway. Other Smith’s stores in Orange County are in Fullerton, Garden Grove, Stanton and Yorba Linda. As it has done in other communities, the chain has started a recycling program in conjunction with local schools.

The store opening also created 95 jobs that drew 2,200 applicants. Store officials say that the pay and benefits at the chain are better than those offered by some competitors, so it draws more applicants.

Smith’s is also planning to build a market at 17th Street and Tustin Avenue in Santa Ana. That location is slated to open in October.