Food 4 Less — a discount market owned by Kroger – is closing March 15, according to employees at the Santa Ana store, which is located at 17th and Grand Ave., according to the O.C. Register.
I visited that store tonight, and several employees verified that they will be closing on March 15. I asked them if they will be having a clearance sale. Apparently they will blow out the meat, but everything else will be transferred to other stores.
Food 4 Less is owned by Kroger, which also owns Ralphs. They closed a Ralphs that used to be on 17th and Bristol, awhile ago. Now they will also be closing a Ralphs in Anaheim, at 2809 E. Lincoln, on March 10.
I don’t know the reasons for these closures, but I do know that the Food 4 Less on Grand and 17th faces a lot of competition from Big Saver, Northgate, and Superior. My wife hates shopping at Food 4 Less as it is hard to find what you are looking for.
What will go into that center in place of Food 4 Less?
A Wal Mart Super Center would be awesome, as residents could save up to 20% on store merchandise and groceries, but the Santa Ana City Council effectively banned big box superstores in 2007. “Under the new regulations, big-box retailers must apply for a conditional-use permit and identify the benefits and costs to existing stores within a three-mile area,” according to the L.A. Times.
Too bad. A Wal Mart Super Center would bring a lot of jobs to Santa Ana. Click here to contact the Santa Ana City Council. Now is the time to ask them to reconsider this silly ban.
The ban exists to protect union supermarket jobs, but those are disappearing quickly. Besides, we should not be encouraging folks to make careers out of bagging groceries. These jobs should be for young people and the semi-retired.