WILSHIRE : Market Planned at Wiltern Site

The neighborhood around Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue has long suffered from a lack of markets, but relief may be on the way.

Developers recently announced a deal with Ralphs Grocery Co. to build a 46,000-square-foot, $7.5-million supermarket on the site of the landmark Wiltern Theater’s parking lot. Construction is expected to begin in September, with completion by spring.

The new development will include a four-level parking structure for theater patrons and shoppers.

The developer is the Ratkovich Co., which 10 years ago restored the 1931 Wiltern Center--the theater and its office tower--to its original grandeur.

The supermarket’s design will include art deco elements to match the historic theater.

The store will replace an aging Ralphs at Western and Olympic Boulevard. Until now, residents have had few other market options.

Its proximity to the Wilshire commercial corridor will also make the store ideal for people who work in the area’s high-rises, said Clare DeBriere, development manager for the Ratkovich Co.

“This will not only serve the community that lives here, but also the people who work here,” she said.

The new Ralphs will offer several amenities to workers, including adeli and coffee bar. A landscaped pedestrian plaza will connect it to the Wiltern Center.