PHOENIX (By Yvonne Wingett, Arizona
Republic) June 17, 2005 - The supermercado known for its display
cases overflowing with pan dulce, beef tamales, quesos and Mexican sodas is
less than three weeks from opening a new store in central Phoenix.
And everyone, it seems, is talking about Ranch Market. At least in the Garfield neighborhood.
The former Kmart building at Roosevelt and 16th streets is filled with construction workers, trucks and dirt. By June 29, it should be filled with shoppers, store officials said.
This Ranch Market is the biggest in Arizona yet, coming in at 65,000 square feet of mariscos, tortillas and iced horchata.
An indoor restaurant with room for 250 and an outdoor plaza-mercado is also planned, but it will open later in the year, officials said.
Stephanie Albidrez and her neighbors will hit the store on opening day. They plan to fill their tummies with Mexican favorites like agua frescas and tacos al pastor.
"It's pretty festive and it's fun," said the 21-year-old college student who has lived in Garfield all of her life and shopped at the Ranch Market in south Phoenix. "I'm pretty excited about it. This has color and it's bright. You can tell they're taking time to make it a decent place."
The California-based ethnic grocery chain is drawn to the Latino buying power in Phoenix. Latinos are the country's fastest-growing ethnic group and are attractive to businesses because of their large families.
Arizona's Hispanic households spend an average $5,648 annually on groceries, while non-Hispanic households average $5,288, according to the Phoenix-based Behavior Research Center.
In the urban core of Phoenix, where Ranch Market has its stores, Latinos make up close to 70 percent of the population.
This will be the fourth Ranch Market in the Valley. The chain already has supermarkets at 5833 S. Central Ave. and 5802 W. Thomas Road in Phoenix and 6750 W. Camelback Road in Glendale.
Kim Moody, president of Garfield Organization, A Neighborhood Alliance, said the new store will bring jobs to the neighborhood, help raise the neighborhood's profile and pull the neighborhood together.
"Before, we've always been focused on Seventh Street," said Moody, 60.
"It's bringing the neighborhood from Seventh Street to 16th Street, and it helps complete that downtown feel. And I like getting my horchata and tacos."
Republic reporter Christine L. Romero contributed to this article.
And everyone, it seems, is talking about Ranch Market. At least in the Garfield neighborhood.
The former Kmart building at Roosevelt and 16th streets is filled with construction workers, trucks and dirt. By June 29, it should be filled with shoppers, store officials said.
This Ranch Market is the biggest in Arizona yet, coming in at 65,000 square feet of mariscos, tortillas and iced horchata.
An indoor restaurant with room for 250 and an outdoor plaza-mercado is also planned, but it will open later in the year, officials said.
Stephanie Albidrez and her neighbors will hit the store on opening day. They plan to fill their tummies with Mexican favorites like agua frescas and tacos al pastor.
"It's pretty festive and it's fun," said the 21-year-old college student who has lived in Garfield all of her life and shopped at the Ranch Market in south Phoenix. "I'm pretty excited about it. This has color and it's bright. You can tell they're taking time to make it a decent place."
The California-based ethnic grocery chain is drawn to the Latino buying power in Phoenix. Latinos are the country's fastest-growing ethnic group and are attractive to businesses because of their large families.
Arizona's Hispanic households spend an average $5,648 annually on groceries, while non-Hispanic households average $5,288, according to the Phoenix-based Behavior Research Center.
In the urban core of Phoenix, where Ranch Market has its stores, Latinos make up close to 70 percent of the population.
This will be the fourth Ranch Market in the Valley. The chain already has supermarkets at 5833 S. Central Ave. and 5802 W. Thomas Road in Phoenix and 6750 W. Camelback Road in Glendale.
Kim Moody, president of Garfield Organization, A Neighborhood Alliance, said the new store will bring jobs to the neighborhood, help raise the neighborhood's profile and pull the neighborhood together.
"Before, we've always been focused on Seventh Street," said Moody, 60.
"It's bringing the neighborhood from Seventh Street to 16th Street, and it helps complete that downtown feel. And I like getting my horchata and tacos."
Republic reporter Christine L. Romero contributed to this article.
