Four Years Ago: Ralphs Given Keys to Downtown Store
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Time sure does fly... It was four years ago today that Ralphs was given the keys to its new Downtown grocery store at 9th and Flower. The 50,000-square-foot Fresh Fare would open six months later, on July 20.
Despite the store's economic success and years of pleas by residents for a Trader Joe's, the store opens 2011 as still Downtown's only full-size grocery. Two development projects that are slated to contain grocery store-sized spaces — L.A. Central near Staples Center and The Grand on Bunker Hill — are currently on hold as their owners search for funding.
Guest on January 11, 2011, at 12:30PM – #1
I can't stand Ralphs and do my best to shop for organic groceries at Figueroa Produce in Highland Park, Trader Joe's in South Pas/Silver Lake, and Woori in Little Tokyo (another full-sized grocery in Downtown that nobody knows about). The above all offer free parking, by the way.
The amount Ralphs charges on its food items is criminal.
Guest on January 11, 2011, at 12:44PM – #2
Four Years later, I still prefer to shop at the Ralphs at Adams and Figueroa.
Guest on January 11, 2011, at 12:45PM – #3
I meant to say Adams and Vermont.
Buzz Chatman on January 11, 2011, at 01:34PM – #4
I don't get all the Ralph's hatred. But I'm happy that there are those who stay away because it's got plenty of people as it is. For a grocery store, it's pretty darned nice and has great eye candy...
Jamie DeFrisco on January 11, 2011, at 02:03PM – #5
It's great to have a normal grocery store downtown. I was there when they first opened and it was a great improvement for downtown. Granted it's not my favorite Ralph's, it is very convenient.
I will go to the Little Tokyo Market sometimes, but the fruits, veggies and meat aren't always fresh. They also don't carry a lot of the regular foods I get at Ralph's.
Guest on January 11, 2011, at 05:19PM – #6
Here's the rundown...the cart runners are cool and flash nice smiles all the time. The woman who inhales car exhaust all day and deals with fools who falsely claim they validated their parking cards deserves a big prize for putting up with crap. The manager with glasses needs to pick up the pace. The shy cashier who recently started working the pharmacy is a keeper. The dude who doesn't get up from his chair needs to get up from his chair. The gossiping goofballs need to get back to work. Ponytail deserves a promotion, but I'm worried she'd get jaded. The fish guy needs to stop calling me dear (only my honey calls me dear). So overall they're alright, but could use some improvement.
Guest on January 11, 2011, at 05:49PM – #7
Oh I forgot to say that the pharmacists and pharmacy techs are all RAD!!!
Guest on January 11, 2011, at 07:35PM – #8
Nice to have for last minute purchases, however I have been waiting for a Trader Joes in downtown for 10 years now. After doing a price analysis per products or types of healthy food I prefer to eat, it is quite a bit cheaper to hop in the car and drive to the Silverlake or Hwood TJ's. Even after gas, wear and tear, and my time are calculated in.
J-M on January 11, 2011, at 08:57PM – #9
Time flies when you're having fun. Four years already?!? It's not quite as nice as it was when it opened, but that's mainly to do with the clientele (cracked out weirdos who verbally abuse the cashiers...not cool). If you like the Ralph's at Adams and Vermont, then you can thank the 9th Street store, because it was renovated after the new store opened. Before the renovation, that store was get-toe. We shop around a lot of different stores for different things, but 9th St Ralph's is good for last-minute errands or lazy days. It's never much fun these days though. The customers are weird and the staff seem dispirited or couldn't care less (a few notable exceptions are the people who've been there since the opening). Having said that, I wouldn't turn back the clock for anything. It's so much better having shopping options.
bill on January 12, 2011, at 05:54AM – #10
I'm SO glad it's here. The convenience is great. Prices, though, are astronomical. Much cheaper to drive somewhere else for the bulk of your purchases. Case in point: I bought a little assortment of sliced cheeses at TJ's = $4.50. The exact same tray at Ralphs on 9th? = $11!!!
Guest on January 12, 2011, at 07:34AM – #11
I'm a big fan of the Ralph's downtown. It has everything that I need plus a drop of dry cleaners. It also has many products that I find at Whole Foods. Parking is easy and efficient. I am a big supporter of doing business in my neighborhood.
Guest on January 12, 2011, at 08:34AM – #12
ditto #12. You said it right
Guest on January 12, 2011, at 08:40AM – #13
I go to this Ralph's for my groceries but since I never buy any meat or drugs and I am supershy I never have any contact with the people there except for the 2 guys at the automated cashier, they all seem nice.
I like it because I WALK there, bring my reusable bags and walk back home to 6th and Spring... PERFECT!
Oscar.
Guest on January 12, 2011, at 10:28AM – #14
That Ralphs is one of the best "meet markets" around. So many hotties!!
skidrowdude on January 13, 2011, at 10:20AM – #15
I go to Ralph's 9th St. location at least twice a week (I only buy as much as I can walk home with). I go there to buy the stuff I can't buy "next door" at the 4 markets next to my loft.
I would love some competition though- the Ralph's prices are crazy on some items (ground sirloin is $5.99/lb)
I think folks should support their local markets as much as possible (milk, trash bags, chips etc) as they are the real people that are making downtown a great place to live.