Like walking through a ghost town, retailers at the Westfield Horton Plaza, a Downtown destination since 1985, are closing their doors as leases run out. These closures are a result of Paris-based company Unibail-Rodamco, which entered into an agreement with the Australian-based Westfield Corporation for a $15.7 billion purchase of its properties Dec. 20, which included all Westfield\u2019s 35 malls in the U.S. and Britain. It also adds to Unibail-Rodamco\u2019s 69 centers in continental Europe, making it the third largest real estate company in the world.<\/p>\n Though the future of Downtown\u2019s Horton Plaza is still unknown, the acquisition is part of Unibail-Rodamco\u2019s global consolidation of retail properties as retailers struggle with the continuing surge of online shopping moguls such as Amazon.<\/p>\n With few stores left in Horton Plaza and a tremendous drop in foot traffic, the Jimbo\u2019s…Naturally!<\/em> grocer continues to serve the Downtown area.<\/p>\n Kelly Hartford, Jimbo\u2019s director of marketing, said that as storefronts close at Horton Plaza in anticipation of its future redesign, Jimbo\u2019s remains open and is excited to be part of what might come with the redevelopment of this prime real estate.<\/p>\n \u201cJimbo\u2019s is not going anywhere,\u201d Hartford said. \u201cWe are here for the long haul. Jimbo\u2019s is locked in this location. We are alive and kicking here.\u201d<\/p>\n Store Manager Phillip Balderrama said that Jimbo\u2019s is now the destination spot in the former popular and unique shopping mall and its commitment in offering as much organic foods as possible is the heart of what makes it a key marketplace, along with its superior customer service.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you walk through the store, you will be greeted by associates in every department,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are trying to be as organic as possible. Our produce department right now is about 96 percent organic and our goal date is March 30, to be at 100 percent organic in produce.\u201d<\/p>\n Balderrama said there is not much difference in prices from regular grocery stores, especially in its produce section.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I look at our prices, [they are] not that expensive. You are talking about San Diego locally grown organic versus conventional products that were probably grown hundreds of miles away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Hartford said they do everything possible to make shopping at Jimbo\u2019s an experience that fits the needs of the local community.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we go 100 percent organic, we will be the only retailer in San Diego that can say that,\u201d she said. \u201cFrom produce to our food service department, we try to be organic as much as possible. Our food service is spectacular; we do everything from scratch.\u201d<\/p>\n All baked items in the bakery, and the food and salads in the deli department are all made in house. Hartford said while \u201cfrom scratch\u201d is labor intensive, it is the vision of Jimbo\u2019s that it serves the freshest products, using as many organic ingredients as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t get any fresher,\u201d she said. \u201cAt this store, the food service department is packed during lunchtime. Even if you find something \u2018packaged\u2019 in food service, we packaged it ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Jimbo\u2019s not only offers organic food, but fresh seafood, and a large selection of organic and all-natural meats, as well. There is a great assortment of gluten-free products and non-genetically modified organisms (non-GMO) products. Hartford said that \u201ctop quality and organic is always top priority.<\/p>\n \u201cOur \u2018Support San Diego\u2019 program is amazing and you will see the logo throughout the store,\u201d she added. \u201cThis means that the product was grown or the company is in San Diego County.\u201d<\/p>\n Jimbo\u2019s has a relationship with approximately 25 organic San Diego farmers it sources from.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s from farm to store,\u201d Harford said. \u201cIt\u2019s the freshest produce you can get. It\u2019s very difficult for me to buy produce from anywhere [other] than [Jimbo\u2019s], and I don\u2019t say that because I work here. I trust it, I know where it is coming from, it\u2019s the best quality and it lasts. We really cherish our relationship with our local farmers and that is where the store started with [founder Jim \u201cJimbo\u201d Someck] and the relationships have grown.\u201d<\/p>\n Hartford said management is working with the times and making it easier for customers to experience the grocery store in their own ways. Its online \u201cInstacart\u201d is utilized by many customers, delivering to doorsteps usually within the hour. It has its own designated parking level which brings customers directly into the store. Patrons also get two hours of validated parking.<\/p>\n Jimbo\u2019s \u201cIt\u2019s in the Bag! Wooden Nickel Program\u201d is designed to entice people to recycle their own bags. Customers can either get 5 cents off their purchase for each personal bag used or receive a wooden nickel to place in one of its four charity buckets at the front of the store. It selects four nonprofit organizations every three months. Each wooden nickel equals the 5 cents it costs to purchase a bag and that is passed on to the charities. Hartford said it is important to Someck that money it saves goes back into the community.The store is also committed to children, the community and the environment, actively involved with groups and in schools, and holds events that educate its customers on organic and natural foods.<\/p>\n Some in-store promotions bring in local farmer partners to talk with customers about the products they grow and the importance and health benefits of organic foods.<\/p>\n Hartford said Jimbo\u2019s has some great events coming up and re-emphasized that this neighborhood grocery store is not closing its doors anytime in the foreseeable future. \u201cRemember that we are here,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are not going anywhere and we are committed to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n To learn more about Jimbo\u2019s…Naturally!,<\/em> visit jimbos.com. Follow them on facebook.com\/Jimbosnaturally<\/a>, on Twitter and Instagram<\/a> @JimbosNaturally<\/a> or on YouTube.<\/p>\n![\"Horton](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/HPgroup2.jpg\")
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