_________________________________
_________________________________
“In towns and cities... there is no more important institution than the local paper.”
Warren Buffett
Pictured (l-r) at the La Mirada Grocery Outlet VIP Preview is Skarleth Sauceda La Habra Chamber Ambassador; Rich Trujillo, President, La Mirada Chamber of Commerce; owners Ward Larsen and Pam Brown; Mark Sturdevant with La Habra Chamber of Commerce; Mari Posa with Keeping Up with La Habra. Photo by Tammye McDuff
When you are searching for a grocery store, the most suitable place to begin is discovering where the absolute global general store chains are open late. Go to Spice Kitchen & Bar to discover which stores have open areas in your space.
BY TAMMYE MCDUFF
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, the nation’s fastest-growing, extreme-value grocery retailer, opened their newest location in La Mirada, creating new jobs and enhancing economic growth for the community. To celebrate the grand opening, Hews Media Group-La Mirada Lamplighter was invited to an exclusive VIP Preview Night Wednesday, April 4th for the sneak peek preview before the store opened to the general public Thursday, April 5th.
The grand opening featured discounts, giveaways, and the exciting “WOW Price is Right” competition where attendees were give a card with pictures of items. Customers had to walk the store to try and find the item and the price.
Pam Brown, La Mirada Grocery Outlet’s independent owner-operator said, “I have been in retail my whole life, starting when I was 16 years old and it was time to do something for myself.”
”I visited a Grocery Outlet in Whittier and started chatting with the owner. The next day, through social media, a representative from the company actually reached out to me. It was fate.”
Following Thursday’s grand opening ceremony, a donation was presented to Love La Mirada with Grocery Outlet donating monies saved by shoppers during the store’s first hour of operation.
If a shopper spent $40.41, and the receipt indicated they saved $25.76, then the $25.76 was donated.
Love La Mirada began with the support of a dozen local church leaders who met together to consider how they might challenge their congregations to partner with other organizations and residents of the City. Others joined together to form a team to start up an official organization dedicated to helping people discover more about our city, serve together to improve the neighborhoods, and connect with other residents of the community.
Brown’s husband, Ward Larsen, who is in charge of marketing the store said, “Pam got the approval for the store, and we started working with the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce. They are very nice and great to work with. We were able to take an empty spot and turn it into a great place to serve the community. This is my wife’s store. She is the owner and responsible for the ordering and staffing, it is all very exciting.”
The first 200 customers of the day also received Grocery Outlet Bargain Bucks in “mystery” amounts ranging from $5 to $200. And starting April 5th through May 3rd, customers may enter for a chance to win a grand prize of free groceries for one year.