Earlier this month, the merchant Joe celebrated the great inauguration of a new store located on the ground floor of an apartment complex in Sherman Oaks.
However, the chain is not new to the neighborhood. On the other side of the street there is another merchant Joe, a “legend” that has served customers since 1973, said the representatives of the stores.
The initial plan was to close the previous location when the new branch was ready; Both are out of highway 101 in Riverside Drive. But in the end, the company decided that it could be “fun” to keep both open, according to Matt Judd, manager of the new store.
“Our business in this city has been so tremendous, so we decided to keep them both,” he said. “The city deserves it.”
The new store is approximately 40% larger than that of the street, with a large selection of products and more corridors for customers to sail, Judd said. It also offers parking in an underground garage, a great attraction for customers who distrust the old narrow parking lot.
On Friday around noon, customers flowed inside and outside neighboring stores.
The new store is approximately 40% larger than the street.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
“This is much better,” said customer Steve Emrick while grabbing a shopping cart to go to the new store. “The other store can be quite congested, and the parking lot was not so tight here.”
Another buyer, Jacob Ruiz, said he frequented the oldest location, but was excited to visit the new for the first time. He said the parking lot was very easy, and when he left, he swore that “he would never return” to the other place.
But I also did not believe that the expansion was completely necessary for the area.
“Not here. They must venture to other neighborhoods,” he said.
Both stores were still full of people. Judd said he expected many clients to remain faithful to the 1973 Joe's merchant.
Olga Virov said she has bought in the smallest store for about 20 years. I was impressed by the parking options offered by the new store, but as it usually walks towards the supermarket, it did not see the need to make the change.
“This is more convenient. It is cozy, and it is easier for me to arrive, so I prefer to go to this,” he said about the oldest location. “I don't plan to go to that unless you are buying in the mall.”
Melany Figuero-García stopped in the oldest merchant of Joe's in a career of groceries. She said she plans to continue buying there, calling him more comfortable. In addition, he said that he believes that the parking system in the new location is confusing. But he liked the option of a larger location.
“If this location does not have something I want, I walk to the other location and I understand it,” he said.
In a statement to Times, the merchant Joe's said that both stores are expected to remain open.
“Our goal is always to bring delicious products to large values to as many people as we can,” said the statement. “The best way to do it is to open more stores.”
