February 6, 2008

Retail Roundup

Grocery Outlet opens near Willow Glen

By Carol Rosen
Editor

The cratering of the American economy is having a significant affect on all of us. That’s why the re-opening of the Grocery Outlet on Monterrey Road is a bonus for many who are living in the southern portions of San Jose.

Gian and Pam Rossini have owned and operated the Grocery Outlet for the past 22 years. John had worked for the company for 10 years in management, but in 1987, the group offered him his own store with his father. Over the past few months, John has rebuilt the store to make it larger and to provide more customer parking.

The store is unique in that it offers groceries, frozen foods and health and beauty aids as well as toys and housewares in older or different packaging at significantly lower prices. The Rossinis buy overstock and label changes with current freshness dates that offer up to 50 percent in savings. The store also offers customers fresh meats, packaged deli meats and fresh fruits and vegetables. These prices also are lower, but not as low as the groceries for frozen foods.

“It might be anything to do with the packaging, different sizes, or excess packaging,” says Gian. “Grocery outlet is the largest remarketer of groceries and health and beauty products in the United States. There are 130 stores in Western states, all of them all family owned,” he added.

The store has a huge wine department. Their buyers go to local wineries and buy excess or overruns.

The store has a huge wine department. “Our buyers go to local wineries and buy excess or overruns. We help both our customers and our suppliers by providing them with an outlet and our customers with the ability to drink the wines they like at lower prices.”

“We carry everything that can save our customers money. We have staples, a selection of organics, name-brands from the East Coast, gourmet cheeses, eggs, yogurt and milk, pet foods, coffees and teas, household cleaners and detergents, vitamins and health-care products, toys and housewares that change with the season, candles, small appliances, gardening items and linens including sheets, quilts and towels,” Gian said.

At a time when many stores are hurting financially and laying off workers, the Rossinis have increased their hiring. Since the new building has opened, the store has hired 30 percent more help.

“I like to think that we’re helping both sides of the economy. Giving our customers great bargains and hiring people who might otherwise not have a job,” Gian said.

While the store held a Grand Opening in January, it actually re-opened its doors last September, Gian said. The old building had to be torn down to provide more parking before he wanted to celebrate he said.

The Grocery Outlet store on Monterrey Road has gained space both inside and out. The new store offers overstock and label changes with current freshness dates that offer up to 50 percent in savings.

Store Manager Elsie Cardosa has worked at the store for 11 years and couldn’t say enough about how much she loves her job. “Gian and Pam are the greatest. And, I’m very proud of what I’m doing here. We are serving the public and are able to hire workers. It’s exciting for us,” she said.

A tour of the store showed off a number of bargains. For example, milk was $2.50 a gallon, various name-brand breads were as much as half to three-fourths less than the ones in big name grocers and frozen dinners more than 50 percent lower than typical prices. There also were name-brand vitamins, minerals and ibuprophen for less than half the costs in health food and drug stores.

Grocery Outlet is located at 2300 Monterey Road, phone (408) 292-2132. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.