Citizens Seek Replacement for Albertsons

An Orange County-based grocery store is showing interest in replacing the former Albertsons site at 18555 Devonshire St. following the efforts of a few community members who want to quickly find a replacement tenant.

Northridge West Neighborhood Council Member Tom Johnson has reached out to several grocery chains, but so far only the owners of Fresh Choice Marketplace, located in Garden Grove, have visited the store that closed last fall.

"They liked the site, they looked it over, they thought it was a good size," said resident Brian Reff, who gave an exterior tour of the shuttered' Albertsons alongside Semee Park, a field deputy for L.A. City Councilman Mitch Englander.

Reff said he's now trying to arrange a showing of the 35,000-square-foot property's interior.

Fresh Choice Marketplace is a family operation run by patriarch Mohammad Kaskas. The business sells produce, meat pastries and has a food court offering Mediterranean cuisine, Mexican food and Chinese dishes. The owners did not return phone calls for a comment at press time.

Johnson said he's also reached out to other grocery store lines, like Gelson's Markets, which declined the opportunity, and Whole Foods Market, which hasn't said no yet, but already has a location up and running at 19340 Rinaldi St.

Johnson added he's open to seeing some other kind of business take over Albertsons, but the community would prefer to have another grocery based on feedback he's garnered.

He said he'll keep up the search for a new tenant because he doesn't want the property to suffer the same fate as many long-closed establishments.

"We're trying to keep the facility from being overrun by graffiti," Johnson said. "We're trying to find a good fit for the folks."

Fresh Choice Marketplace is located at 9922 Katella Ave., Garden Grove.