by Maggie Avants, Senior Staff Writer
Two vacant storefronts in Murrieta are being transformed into expansive local markets and both are slated to open soon.
On Madison Avenue, Cardenas Market plans to open in mid-November just a few doors down from Big Lots, while Barons Market has leased the former Ralphs building on California Oaks Road with plans underway for a spring opening.
“We are excited that both Barons and Cardenas markets have selected Murrieta as the location for their next markets,” said Bruce Coleman, the city’s economic development director. “Murrieta continues to grow as a quality community and these two businesses greatly expand the consumer choices. The city has been working with both businesses as part of its business-friendly initiatives.”
Representatives from both companies said they sense the community will welcome the markets.
“We receive five or six emails a week (asking when we are opening), which is unique in the sense that we normally don’t get that much enthusiasm,” said Marco Robles, public affairs director for Cardenas Markets. The Murrieta location will mark the 32nd Cardenas Market, which is based in Ontario and has several stores throughout Southern California, plus four in the Las Vegas area, according to Robles.
Cardenas specializes in flavors from Latin America, but it is also the shopping experience they are proud of. According to Robles, a lot of work goes into the interior decor in order to give customers the feeling they are shopping in an outdoor plaza environment. “It’s a combination Disneyland, New York New York approach,” Robles said.
Among the 50,000 square feet of retail space, Robles said each department, including a juice bar, tortilleria and a bakery, will have separate, interactive themes that all tie into a traditional colonial Spanish flavor of architecture – all enhanced by the aromas of food preparation.
“As you move through the store, you will see that families with be walking and enjoying the environment,” Robles said.
Training of at least 150 employees has already commenced, he said. “We are looking forward to a long-term relationship with the city,” Robles said. “Cardenas is not just a business that commits itself to the grocery side and the retail aspect, but a true community partner.”
Come spring, a few miles away at Barons Market, there will be about 40 employees, according to Rachel Shemirani, spokesperson for Barons. She said a hiring fair will be advertised closer to the opening date, but that at this point, the company is finalizing its design plans for the 19,000 square feet of retail space.
The Murrieta location will be the sixth for the San Diego-based grocery chain that describes itself as a family-owned neighborhood market that carries organic, natural and specialty food selections at competitive prices. Barons Markets already exist in Wildomar and Temecula, and it was community demand that caused Barons to decide to come to Murrieta, said Shemirani, the daughter of Barons founder, Joe Shemirani.
The layout of the Murrieta Barons will be designed to accommodate a quick, 15-minute shopping experience that will include a soup station as well as a salad bar and other freshly prepared food items, she said. There will be outside tables for those who want to stop and get a healthy lunch, she added.
Similar to Trader Joe’s, customers will also be able to find all-natural household items such as toiletries. “Right now we are at 96 percent all-natural, with the goal to be 100 percent within 5 years,” Shemirani said.
Shemirani also wanted Barons’ future Murrieta customers to know that a lot goes into what makes it to the shelves of their markets. “Our food committee—all the managers—meet every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. to hand select and sample all the products,” she said.
To sum it up, Shemirani said: “When we seek out new locations, we seek out communities that have a very strong community feel…We like to be a hub for community activity and that is what is so special about us.”