BUENA PARK : 4,000 Line Up for 600 Jobs at Fedco

More than 4,000 people showed up at the new Fedco store Monday, some lining up at dawn, to apply for 600 jobs.

“I suppose it’s a sign of the recession and the number of people looking for work in California,” said R. G. Biggs, Fedco’s senior vice president of human resources. “The good news is we’re going to be putting 600 people to work. The sad news is we just can’t hire everybody.”

Applicants lined up in the parking lot outside the former May Co. building at Buena Park Mall, waiting hours in hopes of landing a job as a sales clerk, cashier or cart runner.

Michael Gantes, senior vice president of Fedco Inc., said applications will be accepted today and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for full- and part-time positions, most of which pay $5 an hour. The store is at La Palma Avenue and Dale Street.

Biggs said about 200 of the jobs were filled Monday.

The new Fedco store, the Southern California chain’s 10th, will open Nov. 3. Fedco has one other Orange County store in Costa Mesa.

Many of those waiting in line said they lost their jobs and are desperate for work.

Christina Peterson, 37, of La Palma said she has been unemployed for 1 1/2 years and needs a job to make ends meet. “We’ve been on a real tight budget,” she said. “This job will give us extra money.”

Cherine Bedrous, 26, of Anaheim waited eight hours for an interview for a sales job. “I have two kids, a payment on the house, so I have to find a job,” she said. “If I don’t, I’m in big trouble.”

Some applicants were lucky enough to be hired Monday, including Marco Perez, 24, of Buena Park, who said he was laid off from his aerospace job 14 months ago. He was hired to work nights in the warehouse.

“I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait to start. It’s going to relieve a lot of stress because it’s really stressful being unemployed,” he said.

Fedco is spending $15 million to renovate the three-story, 240,000-square-foot building, which will be the largest in the chain, Gantes said.

The first level will boast a farmer’s market and food court with a Burger King, Panda Express, Numero Uno Pizza and Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors Ice Cream-Yogurt Store. The first floor will also feature a full-service delicatessen and bakery, butcher shop, candy shop, produce department and gourmet coffee shop.

The upper floors will feature general merchandise, including clothing, appliances, electronics and home furnishings.

Fedco officials said the store is expected to attract as many as 12,000 shoppers a day.