By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer
While Grocery Outlet is known for offering fresh foods at bargain prices, it was one of its newest locations that was the “big deal” as it opened last week.
Old school R&B music greeted customers and other supporters as they came out for the grand opening of Grocery Outlet’s first Black-owned franchise in Sacramento. Doors to the Arden-Arcade area store opened at 7 a.m., with excited shoppers forming lines that wrapped around the building.
The store is located at 1309 Fulton Avenue which was previously a RiteAid. Festivities included raffles for early customers, giveaways and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The anticipation was palpable as the store addresses a food desert in the neighborhood. While there are nearby international and halal-type markets and convenience stores connected to gas stations, residents expressed relief to not have to travel farther distances to shop for groceries and other household necessities.
Ladajia Johnson shopped with her friend, Rowena McDonald. Both typically have to travel a greater distance to shop at another Grocery Outlet location or a Raleys.
“To have one a little bit closer is amazing,” McDonald said. “It’s literally on the same block that you live on and it has fresh food all the time.”
Johnson agreed. “Grocery Outlet is one of our favorite stores,” she said. “I was just waiting for it to open, but then I saw that it was owned by people that look like me and it got me more excited. It’s nice, it’s clean, the atmosphere is friendly and there’s fresh produce for the people in this community, because we do need something like this right now.”
Independent owners Keith and Phyllis Johnson could be seen greeting the steady stream of customers, passing out coupons and putting out first-day fires.
“Opening this store is a dream come true,” Keith Johnson said. “Together we’ve built our lives on faith, family and service and now I’m bringing that same heart into this store.”
Beatrice Weston says the new store is heaven sent.
“I spoke it into existence,” said Weston, who has previously shopped at stores such as Safeway, WinCo or FoodsCo. “I said we need a new grocery store on this side of town and it popped up. I said, ‘Lord, that’s it.’”
EmClaire Knowles also lives in the area and is happy she doesn’t have to travel all the way to the Grocery Outlet on Folsom Boulevard.
“This is less than 10 minutes from my house,” Knowles said. “There are other markets in the area, but not a full service market with discount prices, especially vegetables.”
Knowles also encouraged others to come out and support the Johnsons, happily snapping photos on her phone of opening day festivities and sending them to her sorority sisters.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the growing community,” she said.