The parking lot is absolutely massive. This was the largest Albertsons I had previously seen, it was originally intended to be a Lucky-SavOn. And yes, it is jam packed. But you will always find a parking place within a minute or two of circling. It isn't impossible. It is also easy to park even as far as Home Depot and walk over.storewanderer wrote: ↑February 11th, 2024, 1:21 amThis operator executes and actually cares about its stores. Had any of the other small Hispanic chains tried this, I don't think the result would have been this good.ClownLoach wrote: ↑February 11th, 2024, 12:39 am Went back late this evening. I'm sure that everyone is assuming that this store must have died down by now, the cracks are showing etc.
The damned store is even busier now than when it first opened. It is absolutely the busiest supermarket I've seen in SoCal.
Over 100 customers in a line just for churros with a line stretching to the main entrance (the churros have a separate little storefront door on the left).
They've had to add dozens of additional cafe seating tables and it isn't enough. If this was a restaurant it would be the busiest in town.
Every department is open full service till at least 9pm, many till 10pm and they mean it - nothing is taken down or closed until the department is done for the day. And there are over 20 of them.
If you told me this store was doing $5 million a week I would believe you.
It proves that if you run a great store, everyone will shop there regardless of concept - at any given moment half the customers are not Hispanic. This store is the most authentically decorated and operated Hispanic grocery store in the US, but it appeals to everyone.
It proves Hispanic customers appreciate high quality and premium offerings, as they are selling much more expensive items than a conventional Northgate. For example I bought some of the last marinated USDA Prime Carne Asada Arrachera in the building, the most expensive such product versus lesser cuts. The expensive stuff sells first. The prices on hot, fresh tortillas either flour or corn have gone up to at least $4 a bag and many customers grab multiples packs despite being double or triple the price of conventional supermarket brands... They sample these for everyone and they're the most delicious tortillas you've ever had. I suspect many customers drive past multiple Northgate stores to get the unique offerings of this store.
And it proves you can run an insanely high labor, high service model. Pavilions couldn't do it. Whole Foods couldn't do it. Even Eataly in Century City has scaled back many offerings since first opening. But this store not only has maintained them, they've expanded the hours as well. Are there hiccups typical of food halls (tough to find seating, sometimes long lines)? Sure, but it works because it's also a great store.
Finally, it proves that you can spend a lot of money on a retail brick and mortar store experience and turn a huge profit even in 2024.
It is the perfect supermarket for today's California. It's not trying to be a Fred Meyer type operation with everything under the sun. It has minimal GM product, which makes sense because no one wants to buy it outside of Walmart/Target/Costco these days. It is very high security, but you can pick up and touch everything (Liquor is in its own walled off store, and self checkout is aggressively monitored with scan to exit doors).
And it is exceptionally well run. The food prep areas are completely open behind glass at the back. They are "cleaner than an operating room" and certainly superior sanitation than any other grocery store. Even at 9:30pm they were just putting out freshly made salsa and guacamole, restocking and culling produce, and baking fresh pan dulce. The store never gets messy, never has out of stocks, and it has been flawlessly maintained since opening with perfect cleaning, no burned out lights, everything working. They spent top dollar on every inch of the decor too, and it shows.
I think even the most stubborn critics (like me) would absolutely love this store. It's at least an hour drive for me to get there and I don't care. I probably spend more here than any fancy store. It's totally worth it. Cannot stop praising it (even though it is pretty darned crowded).
Have they done anything to resolve the parking issue? I've heard the parking lot is not big enough (it is a huge lot).
The bigger question is how many more of these can they open, and where?
I wonder where they can build more of these. I think the demographic is the key - they know they have Hispanic customers driving past half a dozen of their stores to get to this one, and they're spending so much more now that it is still a positive for the company. But they also have an incredibly exciting, exceptionally well done environment on the level of something I would expect from the Walt Disney Company, and that appeals to an even broader audience which explains Bentleys and Maseratis in the parking lot that drove up from Newport Beach past a plethora of Pavilions, Bristol Farms and Whole Foods.
I think maybe Torrance, close to the Del Amo mall would potentially work. Maybe Burbank and Northridge. Mission Valley in San Diego or the Sports Arena area near Old Town.
