Calabasas : Gelson’s Readies New Market for Opening

Gelson’s Markets is putting finishing touches on a new store that will open next week in Calabasas.

The upscale supermarket, which a Gelson’s official says is lavish even by company standards, will include such amenities as two customer lounges with stone fireplaces and cable television.

The 40,300-square-foot market, which will open Jan. 31, will house a Wolfgang Puck takeout restaurant, a mini-branch of Home Savings of America, a Medicine Shoppe pharmacy, an upscale coffee bar and a party-planning service, the company said.

“We’ve taken this to another level,” said Robert Stiles, the company’s general manager.

The store is part of Gelson’s Village Shopping Center, a 58,277-square-foot complex at 22277 Mulholland Highway. The 12-unit, Mediterranean-style complex replaces an old shopping center that had fallen into disrepair.

Company officials declined to say how much the project cost, but Stiles estimated that it was three times as much as the average shopping center.

Stiles said he believes the store will do a sufficient volume of business to offset the cost, and that the store--like the eight other company markets--will develop a loyal core of shoppers. Also, he said, Gelson’s will not have to pay rent because the property is owned by its parent company, Arden Group Inc.

Company officials said other tenants at the center include a bagel shop, juice bar, video store, mailing and shipping service, women’s clothing store, nail salon, hair salon, gift and card shop, dry cleaner and restaurant.