Mom-and-Pops Win in Ralphs Remodel Closure

Ralphs management may be excited for its big 8,822-square-foot expansion project for which the store on El Camino Real is closed, but local independent grocery stores may be the ones jumping in on some of the benefits.

Now, almost two months into the project, locals in the southwest San Clemente area have been forced to seek out alternative stores for their weekly grocery shopping, though Ralphs has offered shuttles from Camino Real to its Talega location.

Independently owned stores in the area have seen an increase of customers since the December closure, and are doing all they can to keep the customers coming, even after Ralphs reopens.

Hanson’s Market, a natural and organic whole foods store just 1.4 miles away, was happy to welcome the wave of customers into their newly opened store.  Owner and San Clemente resident of 26 years, Ron Castruita estimated the store's seen a 15-percent increase in customers since January.

“We’ve been doing very, very well … a number of the customers that have started shopping here [since Ralphs closed] really like that we carry healthier options compared to conventional grocery stores,” Castruita said. “Some people just need a little push to start being more health conscious, and I guess this was their push.”

Hanson’s Market had its grand opening late last year, just two months before  Ralphs closed. Castruita saw a window of opportunity and targeted the area surrounding the Ralph’s El Camino Real location with direct mail marketing, encouraging residents to visit Hanson’s natural and organic whole foods store.

“Just earlier today, a customer told me, ‘You know, since Ralphs closed, I’ve decided to shop locally and see how it goes, and you know what? It’s not bad,’” Castruita said. 

Tony Duynstee, who owns El Camino Market, located just three minutes south of Ralphs, has also seen an influx of new customers.

Duynstee has been at the same location for more than 20 years and said he hopes that El Camino Market’s quality products and reasonable prices keep customers coming after Ralphs reopens in June.

“People don’t want to go far for the things they need,” he said. “I’ve been working here a long time and I know [to keep customers], it takes fair prices and really good customer service.”

Duynstee estimated that there has been a 20-percent increase in customers since Ralphs closed.

The new Ralphs Fresh Fare is scheduled to reopen June 30 with a wider selection of products and an expanded parking lot. The store is offering a courtesy shuttle service, shuttling customers to and from the El Camino Real location to the Ralphs Fresh Fare in Talega Village Center, from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.