Raley's opens with fanfare
by Justin Lafferty
Nov 04, 2009 | 3680 views | 38 38 comments | 27 27 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Shoppers navigate the aisles of the new Raley’s store on Tracy Blvd and Valpico Road. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
view slideshow (8 images)
The first Raley’s supermarket in Tracy opened its doors this morning in front of hundreds of customers, employees and local dignitaries.

The grocery store at the intersection of South Tracy Boulevard and Valpico Road has about 120 employees, Raley’s spokeswoman Amy Davis said, and between 80 to 90 percent of them live in Tracy. The building takes up 58,500 square feet, and decorations that echo Tracy’s police department and the city, Tracy and Kimball High Schools are found at the end of some of the aisles.

Raley’s anchors Red Maple Village, which also has 40,000 square feet of commercial buildings. Right now, Chase Bank, Wells Fargo, SuperCuts, Subway and Queen B Nails and Spa have “coming soon” banners displayed. Raley’s is the only store in Red Maple Village open for business at the moment. No tenants have been announced for about 40 percent of the rest of the vacant space.

The shopping center has been under construction since January.

“In the midst of this economy, in the midst of the kinds of things going on around us, this is really a bright spot for this community,” mayor Brent Ives said.

At the ceremony, Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Ray Saracino praised the store for its earth friendliness. He said Raley’s has motion-triggered lights and an efficient refrigeration system, cutting back on energy and water use, and he gave Raley’s an award.

Raley’s chief operating officer Dave Clark said the store will save about 85,000 gallons of water a year.

The store’s parking lot, which was nearly full for the grand opening, also has spots reserved for fuel-efficient vehicles.

“This is the most impressive store I’ve seen across the country,” Clark said. “I think the store is inviting and filled with wonderful merchandise, and I know you’ve taken steps in Tracy to be a green city, and we support that.”

The Raley’s in Tracy will be just the 14th companywide to have the eCart system, where customers can order all of their groceries online and pick them up drive-through style in front of the store.

While the grand opening ceremony was at 8:30 a.m., Clark noted that people were lined up at 5 a.m. for a fresh cup of Peet’s Coffee, also located inside the store.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, former Oakland Raiders linebacker Rod Martin will be on hand to sign autographs. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, the store will have a grand opening party with free food sampling and reusable bag giveaways.

Contact Tracy Press reporter Justin Lafferty at 830-4269 or jlafferty@tracypress.com.

comments (38)
« newtotracy wrote on Monday, Nov 09 at 01:26 PM »
I loved the "soft" lighting...made shopping less stressful! If I want harsh lights, I'll go to a hospital or someplace of that ilk. I want to grocery shop and not have to be all stressy the whole time...which is why I have shopped at Safeway 2x in the last year!

But, I'm really happy that "high prices" and "low lights" are turning people off...leaves shorter lines for those of us who like it...and there seem to be enough to keep it running! ;-)
« SOFT LIGHTS wrote on Monday, Nov 09 at 11:26 AM »
I think the soft light gives everything a romantic glow, even everyone looks good in it! :)

CN

Peets!! Great!

Did you see any brownies there, shelly13? Fudge?:)

« MarleyNMe wrote on Sunday, Nov 08 at 10:28 PM »
By the way, I wouldn't compare it to "dusk", but I do understand it was brightly lit. They are just using warm colors which give the perception of low light because they are not as reflective as the white floors at, let's say SaveMart. Now, if you happened to look up at the Raley's ceiling (even, in the pictures that Glenn took) you will notice there are plenty of lights and lighting.
« MarleyNMe wrote on Sunday, Nov 08 at 10:18 PM »
By the way, they were giving away more than just "reusable bags". I don't know why the local paper never get's it right. They were giving away free dinners in those bags. And twenty dollar gift certificates. And some lucky winner(s) got a free dinner for a month.

Bonus points for anyone correctly guessing why they were building delays involved? The local paper, again fails to discuss why the delays.

I just love this newspaper!
« MarleyNMe wrote on Sunday, Nov 08 at 10:11 PM »
http://tracypress.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Raley-s opens with fanfare &id=4321211-Raley-s opens with fanfare&instance=home_news_bullets#

« MarleyNMe wrote on Sunday, Nov 08 at 10:09 PM »
You know, Shelly, I'm looking at the picture in the newspaper and there is a sheen from the lighting on them apples?

Did you notice the brightness in the picture taken by the Tracy Press?

O well, I guess that must have come from Glenn's flash-photography?

Thanks for pointing it out! I guess I wouldn't have seen it that way.
« shelly13 wrote on Sunday, Nov 08 at 10:07 AM »
I didnt say that their lights only come on at dusk. I made an analogy of the amount of light in the store, to me, is comparable to the light outside at dusk. Just an observation.

Yes, I can see fine in there, I simply prefer more brightly lit places. Just my preference.
« MarleyNMe wrote on Saturday, Nov 07 at 09:40 PM »
shelly,

I've only just been there this week, but I could see and talk to people just fine. The lights were on the whole time. They don't just come on at dusk. Even the outside is well lit. Don't take it personal, but I'm not an eye doctor either.

« shelly13 wrote on Saturday, Nov 07 at 09:20 PM »
Marley, are you their marketing agent? If so, you are doing a great job.

I do really like the store, but sorry it is still a bit dark in there for me. That's just me. I dont like dimly lit restaraunts either. It's like trying to shop or eat outside at dusk right before the streetlights come on.
« MarleyNMe wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 09:43 PM »
I didn't think it was a "little too dark". I could clearly see all the smiling faces of others I know from Tracy smiling back.

And the free sample guy was able to point out which foods were spicy and what not. It was clear to see all the food.

But, that was the best part. Just seeing all their smiles clearly shining through. Even on a rainy day.
« MarleyNMe wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 09:37 PM »
To "adios",

Winco got sued in Tracy by the duo affectionately known as the LAWSUIT DEPOT. That's why you have to drive to Stockton to shop at your Winco store.
« newtotracy wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 03:22 PM »
Just got back from the maiden voyage to Raley's and it was SO nice to enjoy grocery shopping again! The store is wonderfully clean and contrary to earlier comments, well lit. I think the dark look is an optical illusion because of the dark ceiling. Besides, who really wants to be able to perform surgery while grocery shopping?

As to the high prices. I shopped Nob Hill in Livermore and nowhere else. I tried the others, but the experience was less pleasurable (employees you can tell hated their jobs, out of stock groceries, long lines) and the food was inferior. I'm happy to pay a little more and have a wonderful meat department that will cut a prime rib in half if you need a little one...or will offer to cut and crack the crab even though it's not included on the sale price...or will get a product in that you want! I never found it to be significantly more...maybe a bit here and there, but if you shop the ads and stock up on sale items...you are a winner!

SaveMart, Safeway and even Wal-Mart should take heed. Look at the to-do over a grocery store opening in this town. If we are all that miserable shopping for necessities, what does that say about the places we were shopping?

Viva La Raley's!!! :-)

ps...they HAVE my Smart Puffs AND the Prime Rib Seasoning (in the meat department) that is AWESOME!!!!
« gregnvicky wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 02:31 PM »
very nice store. Its out of the way for where I live, but its a great addition to Tracy. I thought the prices were actually low! ...although I was only shopping for steaks that night and bought ribeyes for $4.99/lb. ...cant beat that! doubt if that price will continue. :(
« shelly13 wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 11:11 AM »
Super Wal Mart in Stockton. Not impressed. It was dirty and yucky. I went down the isles and looked at the prices and saw that some of the prices were the same as Save Mart. Even some were higher. I was very surprised and dissappointed. I will still go to our Wal Mart for toiletries, cereal etc. But it is not worth the gas to go to Stockton, no way.

And dont forget Grocery Outlet for some items. It's small, but I get some things VERY cheap there on a regular basis and then finish my shopping somewhere else.
« shelly13 wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 11:08 AM »
It is more of an "upscale" store. Raley's/NobHill have been known to generally have higher prices. However if you look out for the sales you can get good prices.

Also their deli, meats and produce is better.The addition of Peete's is great too. I will probably alternate getting items from Save Mart on Schulte (they have a great, friendly staff), Wal Mart and go to Raleys for their produce, deli, quick fixes and to catch their sales. Oh, yes, Costco meats are awesome!

The whole center is beautiful. I hope they get some new great businesses in there.
« adios wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 10:31 AM »
Prices are REALLY high!

Will still be shopping at Win-Co and super Wal-Mart in Stockton.
« mellymotown wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 09:22 AM »
My only complaint about the store is the prices. They are exceptionally high compared to even Safeway. That being said I will pay them so I can shop the natural food section. What a treat it was to walk in and find many isles of natural and organic foods. You can even grind your own organic peanut butter. Being an organic gardener I am happy to find a good selection to compliment what I grow. The store was neat, clean and the staff friendly. They did just open so lets wait and see if that lasts. Safeway was the same back when. The addition of Peets coffee in Tracy is welcomed. Starbucks service has gone downhill and I can handle not so great service if the coffee is good, but Starbucks isn't. I prefer local coffee shops, but if I am grocery shopping I'll take Peets any day! It was a nice shopping experience yesterday!
« NOTTHATIMPRESSED wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 09:18 AM »
The stores okay. As one person wrote, a little too dark and the isles too small. Nice to have some variety..but pricing is RIDICULOUS. Other than the Wells Fargo in the new center Im curious what redundancy will make its way into the center. Safeway, IMO, is a much nicer and bigger store. I personally could care less if a store has 30 varieties of Grey Poupon..give me what I want/need at the lowest prices w/out being a ghetto store(like food max) w/ 30 people in line with food stamps and Im a happy guy. Its closer to us than Save Mart so will more than likely will go there for small shopping needs..but my $ is still with Costco (best meat in town at best prices) and hopefully that Winco Foods will come thru. WIth the new expanded food section at WalMart we already are buying quite a bit there...prices are untouchable
« shelly13 wrote on Friday, Nov 06 at 07:50 AM »
tracynative209, I agree and I do not go to Safeway because I have had the same experience with the staff. It is not a friendly, helpful atmosphere at all.
« tracynative209 wrote on Thursday, Nov 05 at 09:41 PM »
ive been in tracy for so long its nice to see such an upgrade from stores such as savemart.(how do they pass health inspections?!) the deli is horrible. also people at safeway seem to be stuck up and very judgemental. and seems as if they have a problem if i ask where something is. i went to raleys the first day it opened and it was great. the employees were very friendly.but people were shoulder to shoulder it was so packed. but the store is gorgeous. i went to the deli and they are so clean and food is always good. they seem to take important care of cleanliness and i noticed them always taking temps on their food. one thing i know, they will have my business for sure .yay for peets!welcome raleys!!


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