Culminating a community-inspired petition drive months ago favoring a boutique grocery over a chain drugstore, Jensen’s Finest Foods debuted in Point Loma on Dec. 9 with a brief ceremony before doors swung open at 9 a.m.
Jensen’s replaces the retail space formerly inhabited by Fresh & Easy in the small shopping center at 955 Catalina Blvd. The lease for the former Point Loma Fresh & Easy was sold to CVS Pharmacy through a bankruptcy court in Delaware.
But that sale prompted a public outcry – and a successful petition drive at change.org – launched by Peninsulans to protect an existing mom-and-pop, Point Loma Cabrillo Drug, in the same shopping center.
Jensen’s Finest Foods original market was opened in Blue Jay, near Lake Arrowhead, in 1940 by Einer and Marie Jensen. It has been family owned and operated ever since.
Brothers Matt and Adam Zack are now involved in expanding the family business statewide. Noting the Point Loma site closed escrow April 1, Adam Zack said construction to refit the former Fresh & Easy began Aug. 1.
“We’re probably about 75 percent complete right now,” said Adam Zack, noting finishing touches remain that will take some time.
Zack said Jensen’s prides itself on its local-community focus.
“Our big mission is to be part of the communities we’re in – and we’ve been in them for a long time,” he said. “We really spent a lot of time talking to locals, to get a feel for what they wanted and expected in a store. We used that feedback to come up with our mix of what we feel the community is really looking for.”
What people are seeking, Zack said, is “great prices, quality and variety in seafoods and meats. We’re really what I would call a community grocery store. We’re not specialized or specialty-driven.”
Noting “nobody’s quite like us,” Zack said the new Jensen’s has a deli, self-service food and salad bars, even a poke bar with sushi chefs.
“We’re trying to solve people’s lunch and dinner needs, and our hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day,” said Adam Zack. “We’re taking this store kind of slow,” he said adding, “We’ll walk before we run. We’re going to go slow, so we get it right. The program that we do will just continue to get better.”
Jon Linney, Peninsula Community Planning Board chair, hailed the grocery’s stores opening as a major step forward for local community control.
“We took our neighborhood grocery for granted – until it was not there,” said Linney, who noted much of the Peninsula – La Playa, the base, Wooded Area, Sunset Cliffs – “is miles from a full-service grocery.”
Linney also pointed out the Jensen’s opening translates into 68 new jobs.
University students, perhaps half without cars, lost access to essentials, late-night munchies they craved and nearby jobs that helped pay their way through.”
Linney added the new Jensen’s was part of a renewed effort by the Point Loma community to “reach out to local business startups such as Jensen’s, Tech Outfitters, Sushi Lounge and West Side Tap House. These entrepreneurs are investing money and sweat equity into our community. They deserve our support.”
Linney also pointed out the Jensen’s opening translates into “68 new jobs and going after local suppliers,” as well as “nearby merchants benefiting from additional foot traffic.”
“Anything that can be done to streamline the processing of business permits will quickly pump money into our community as well as provide consumers new choices,” Linney concluded.