Expanded Vons opens its doors

Gretchen Hoffman

Workers painstakingly cemented bricks to the building’s outer

pillars and stacked apples and cucumbers one by one in the produce

section as they worked Tuesday to ready the newest Vons location for

its grand opening today.

Behind the photo counter, employees sorted through bags of name

tags bearing the names and departments of the more than 100 people

who will work at the store -- about twice as many as were working in

the Vons that stood in its place just months ago.

A 55,000-square-foot Vons has taken the place of the

25,000-square-foot Vons, a fabric store, dry cleaner and hamburger

shop that were demolished in late April.

The ribbon cutting is at 8 a.m. today and will include the

presentation of two $500 checks to Hoover and Glendale high schools.

The first few weeks of the new location will be marked by giveaways

and sweepstakes, including cash and travel vouchers.

The shiny new facade at 561 N. Glendale Ave. houses something

unique within the supermarket chain -- the store stocks more than 300

Armenian items that no other Vons currently carries, District Manager

Andy Barker said.

The shelves are lined with Sadaf lemon and pomegranate juice,

Ahmad teas and other specialties, and the bakery includes traditional

Armenian favorites.

“We’re trying to really cater to the demographic of the

community,” Barker said.

Other additions to the larger, more upscale store include the

addition of a Starbucks, dry-cleaner, one-hour photo mat and a Panda

Express. An expanded floral department includes fountains and

statues.

“The community kind of outgrew us,” Barker said. “We needed to

make the investment to better serve them.”