Yesterday I read on the Lofty Thoughts blog that the LH Vons was closing down, but I didn’t believe her, that just seemed crazy. But I apologize for my skepticism because today I found out that yes, it is indeed closing down, Vons will be gone and suppossedly Smart & Final is going to take over the space. That’s pretty messed up. Lots of the people shopping there tonight were also surprised and saddened that this local supplier of food items was closing down on us when it seemed like it was doing pretty well, at least judging by the long lines and packed parking lot. But no doubt the Corporate Kingpins have other calculations in mind (mostly consisting of profit margins) and this particular outlet is expendable. It’s certainly going to be an inconvenience not having that store around, but I kinda don’t care if they leave. For as long as I can remember, that store has cultured an antagonistic relationship with the neighborhood, so fuck ’em. Click ahead to see some of those reasons.
Looking Lonely. 12/4/08
Some mentions of Vons on Chanfles.com:
I first took a shot at Vons for their installation of anti-looting gates, right after the 92 riots. The beginning of the siege mentality. People don’t realize how that simple act altered the perception of the neighborhood, for those within and those outside of it. Those are the kind of actions you can never forgive.
Next up in their distrust of the community was the locking up of toothpaste and deodorants. I should’ve boycotted your dumb ass on principal, but the hussy vons in S. Pasadena was even more distrustful of my presence. I guess you were talking shit about us, huh?
You were an okay site for refilling my water jugs, and getting some funny snapshots while I waited.
And for dead birds, nodding tecatos, or pan handling winos, you sure were tops!
Wells Fargos ATMs being removed. 12/04/08
Probably the only aspect of the Vons I’ll miss are the workers, they’ve always been helpful and friendly, some of them even hilariously super honest. We respected your ill-fated strike back in 2003, even donating some bottles of wine and a frozen turkey (don’t ask) to some late night picketers. Some of us can tell the difference between a corporation and the people they employ, and to those employees I give my warmest thanks for their service to Lincoln Heights. Too bad you have to leave the neighborhood now just because of those stupid bosses. Good luck to you all.
The cashier said the last day is Dec. 13, and as is to be expected, there is no signage anywhere alerting customers of this fact. There’s no mention of closure anywhere, just the empty shelves. They close in just over a week but can’t be bothered to let the neighborhood know, even after all these years. Seems like the appropriate respect they have for us. Typical.
So long Vons, R.I.P. And a hearty Fuck You as well. I piss in the general direction of your grave, knowing full well that some other shitty shop will fill your void. The Ramen Soup specials you pioneered will live to see another day.
PS. Fuck You Again.
Chanfles RSS Feed
There is a Von’s walking distance to my house and I have to say, sometimes I stop there, but not often. I drive twelve miles to Jon’s, a small chain that serves our community. Their produce is cleaner, cheaper, and fresher than the Von’s The manager of the department is always there tending the product and will chat with you about one thing or another.
They have an open meat case with a butcher who will sell me one pork chop if I want and he does it with a smile.
You should lobby to get a Jon’s Market there, much better.
Von’s sucks big time, they despise the people of LH and showed it in their actions as you have described. I know it’s tough on the people of LH not having a large supermarket available but that corner of 5 points has had in my lifetime probably a dozen supermarkets and none have stayed more than a few years. Maybe it’s too busy traffic wise, and you can’t get in and out easily enough, it’s a pain in the ass at rush hour.
Curious though that after seeing numerous grand openings and grand closings at that same location all during my life, the scruffy old Bi Rite on Griffin and N Broadway is still there plugging away.
My wife has always gone shopping out of the area to stores in So Pas, Pasadena, or even the Von’s on N Fig because the prices are cheaper, the produce is fresher and the selection is wider, and you never see the toothpaste or other items locked up. Estoy con ti Chavo, Fuck Em!
PS, BTW Smart&Final is a good store, they have lots of good bargains and the store in Highland Park never has the toothpaste locked up either.
I overheard about the LH Vons closing at the bougie Vons at Fig and Colorado on Wednesday. I went last night to the LH Vons as well and saw big areas of it completely roped off with nothing in it. I asked the cashier if they were closing and she said “They haven’t said anything to us about it.” Lame. Then I asked the bagging guy and he said yeah, they’re closing. I asked if it was for a renovation or permanent. He said permanent. Sounds like you were able to get more info out of them than I was. I’ll have to see what Smart & Final is going to have, but it sure was nice to be able to walk to Vons to pick up a few things in the morning for breakfast. The thing that’s a real shame is I see so many people in the neighborhood who walk there with their carts. Where are they going to go? As much as I like the smaller neighborhood markets, they don’t carry all the same stuff as Vons does.
A couple of years ago Vons/Safeguey started doing makeovers on most of it’s stores. The one’s I go to (Silver Lake & Glendale) were fixed up pretty nice. There’s faux wood flooring, carpeting in the produce section, a sushi bar (with 2 sweet diminutive japanese ladies who look like the ones who sing out to Mothra) and lots of other niceties. I see from your photos that this LH Vons never got the “star” treatment.
That sucks.
I googled Vons to find some photos of the fixed up Vons interior and I found this ladies’ page where you can see what it looks like:
http://www.firstcampingtrip.com/06-camping-meals.html
Well said. I haven’t shopped at a Von’s in years. I only shop at Trader Joe’s and the farmers’ markets and at the corner mom and pop store now, shoot me for being white and too middle class if you will, at least I don’t shop at Wholefoods. The Mexican conglomerate owned markets don’t care much for the neighborhood either, they move in and out with no notice either. Grow your own vegetables, and if you have extra sell them in front of your house. When the city comes and tells you it’s illegal, tell them to fuck off, everyone at once.
That’s an awfully big space for a Smart & Final, their footprint is usually smaller. I wonder if we’re gonna get a monster wannabe Costco (lucky us) or if they are going to chop it up and lease space to other businesses.
The management at that Vons have always been dicks, every encounter I’ve had with them has been unpleasant. The employees are decent but they are stretched pretty thin. It’s such a marked contrast with the Vons on the HP/Eagle Rock border–that place has fancy lighting, there’s never a long line, and it’s always well staffed.
Did they have alot of stuff marked down? Cuz I’d go there to get some crazy deals before they close. Knowing them and the contempt they’ve had for LH they’ll probably just dumpster all the stock they don’t feel like moving and then park a security guard outside it so people can’t pick it.
I’m just looking at that extra (meaning wasteful) coupon they always print out for you, which I don’t think I’ve ever used, and on it says “Your local Vons welcomes you: 4520 Sunset Blvd, LA 1342 N. Alvarado, LA” So they’re telling me about new Vons to go to without even letting me know they’re closing the LH one? Every day I hate you more and more.
Yeah!!!! Long be Gone-
don’t know if you know the name the community had given it:
=GHETTO VONS=
I can talk to you about Vons on Pasadena Av I was in talks with theyre corporate office for the past 4 years…. and it was to be Upgraded…I mentioned that our community needed the Vons to be just as nice as all the others…and that it was unexceptable
They sold food that was essentially ready to expire and that market is so filthy/dirty…
I moved to LH from Silverlake and I used to shop at the other nice Vons before.
Lincoln Heights deserve better…
I’d love it if they opened a satellite Super King!
The picture “Looking Lonely. 12/4/08”, looks like one could park a couple of Vons trucks (loaded up with a good variety of food and produce) in between those aisle’s. Just pitiful.
Where are you Bill Davila, we could use you right now! In 1985, Bill Davila was named Chairman and CEO of Vons, the first Mexican- American to be CEO of an American supermarket chain. He practically grew up in Vons’ produce department. He worked there as a teenager and then, after a four-year stint in the Air Force, he returned to supermarket life and worked his way up to manager of the produce department at Vons’ Fairfax Avenue store. As president, Davila was the spokesman for Vons. His face appeared in television commercials and his voice was heard on the radio. He was polished in his role. It was hard to tell sometimes whether he was is speaking from the heart or was rehearsing for an ad.
Davila, retired in 1992 because he wanted to have time to give more back to the community, and, in particular, reach young Hispanic children who were growing up in troubled homes and in troubled neighborhoods like he did.
Yes, LH deserves a lot better.
Ahh, man. I remember that Vons. Near Five Points, right? I hope I remember it correctly. My grandma, now 97 and living in an old folks home in Alhambra (she insisted, I swear), sold her Lincoln Heights house in the Avenues in 2003 while I was out of the country and I’m still pissed that I didn’t get to give it a proper goodbye. It was the only home my dad ever knew growing up, the one my grandfather built in the ’40s. And now the Vons we used to go to when we’d call Grandma to ask if she needed anything from the store when we came to visit from OC is about to be no more? Man, rough.
Oh well. It’s a pretty crappy store anyway. Life will go on.
I worked at Vons 4 years when I was younger, it used to be reasonably priced and when they offered double coupons I used to get all kinds of deals, but after a while the prices went up and they eliminated the double coupon program. They remodeled most of the stores as well as the “Lifestyle” stores
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5247/is_/ai_n29179778
But I seen they left some ghetto lol weird but I guess they don’t think certain areas should have the lifestyle store. Anyway yes Vons employees have to be super nice because we used to get secret shoppers and we would get scored on that every week so it was critical we greet every single customer and ask them if they need help finding something and help out carrying their groceries, but yeah we had to greet EVERYONE it was annoying. The strike was crazy and we used also get food and stuff from people in the community it was quite a time in grocery history though.
FUCK VONS!!!,
Ever since they ruined 5 points by putting up that ugly ass fence! I only shop there if my co-workers force me to and the store sucks! Good Riddance!
However, if the Smart and Final deal is not set in stone maybe the community can get it stopped and have another grocer come in and occupy the property? I could see a Super A or even a chino based market prospering in the area!…. But rember good old Bi-Rite still chugs along.
FUCK VONS!!!!…Greedy bastards, may the corporate assholes “eat shit and die”
i live “soo close” – since late ’89. they use to be 24 hrs, w/birds living in there. at first i never bought produce because of the birds – and the pantry moths.
never crossed the picket lines during the strike.
the employees have always been great, + the store, itself, improved greatly.
i was shocked when i went in for some tea tj’s no longer carries – bargain qty!
the only solace was that the cashier i spoke w/said they’d all been relocated rather than laid off.
my cashier was even tempered about it.
hey, she still has a job. (i considered applying before this all). – and she’ll be closer to home…
still sad and scary.
Anyone know if the Smart and Final they are talking about is the super smart and final, like the one that was moved into the old Albertson’s space in Montebello on Wilcox?
Theres some photos in today’s (12/11/08) LAT Business Section of folks lining up at the LH Vons for some going out of business 50% OFF discounts.
discount = + one day.
i’ve already got my tea.
after that; dis = dis.
as much as i’ve appreciated the employees & the (however comparatively slight) improvement in the store, von’s has still continued the dis of LH.
even considering the current situation, we still will buy groceries as long as we can. do they think they’ll keep our biz by making us travel further?
el chavo, (et al) – i completely respect and appreciate your (el chavo’s) blog and views of our lives and the different areas we experience. plz do not misinterpret my previous post as a nostalgic disagreement w/ec’s & other’s posts..
As far back as I can remember (and I can remember as far back as when I was 2 years old) Vons (Safeway) has always been there in that same location. That’s at least 33 years now so what other supermarkets were there, or in that intersection before?
Personally, I will miss Vons when it’s gone. That was the closest Supermarket to my house and was very convenient even for the Wells Fargo. I’ve seen it go through its many changes, and not one of them ever kept me from going back to it. I’m sure the same goes for most of you reading this. I didn’t like the locking up of the tooth paste and whatnots, but that didn’t stop me from buying it there. And I thought the iron fence around the property made it look a bit defensive, but that never kept me from going there either. Regardless of the “politics” the store might have played, or how management sucked or lacked, another business will take its place and have it’s one “politics” and it’s own sucky management in someone’s eyes. And the other markets in the neighborhood that have been there during all this time, well, let’s see… Bi-Rite has changed owners since my parents would shop there years ago. El Rancho Meat market across from them, who so many consider the neighborhood Latino-based market, is now Asian owned. Big Saver Foods has gone through so many changes over the years and management there fucked their own employees years back when my aunt worked there. They didn’t care much for the neighborhood either. They’re in it for the money just like any other business. La Chapalita is probably the only market that still has the same owners since as far back as when I was born. My family personally knows the family that owns it.
I could also understand why Vons, or any other business in LHTS, would not invest too much money into remodeling or making their store look like the store on Silverlake & Glendale, for example. It’s because of the people who live here. How many times have you seen a business fix up their property and give it a face lift, only to have it tagged up within days. Keep an eye on KFC. They just remodeled it. See how long it takes before it looks like crap again. A lot of people who live in the area don’t respect other’s property much. And that applies to homes as well. Most people here rent, which is why so many homes look like crap. Because the people don’t care.
Back to the topic… Vons will be missed by many, for many reasons. And when Smart & Final moves in (if it actually happens) then that will become my new Market. I will support it just the same.
Yeah, the Von’s has always been a Von’s or a Safeway for at least 45 years (according to my memories). Safeway withdrew from southern California and southern Nevada in 1988 and sold most of its stores to Vons in exchange for an ownership stake. In April 1997, Safeway exercised its option to acquire control of the company, and Vons has since operated as a subsidiary. Most of the Safeway brands and advertising campaigns are used by the Vons stores.
I always liked the Safeway store more. Had better deals and better overall community feeling.
I think the closest large supermarket is a Food 4 Less (subsidary of Ralphs/Krogers) on 4910 Huntington Drive in El Sereno. Good prices although you have to bag your own groceries.
There already is a Smart & Final in the LH area. It’s at 2019 Pasadena Ave…just about four blocks away from the Vons. It’s a small store but it is always busy and has good prices. My uncle says it used to be where the firestation was. I used to go to the large Smart & Final on 6th Street before they closed earlier this year and a Goodwill Industries store replaced it. Had a lot of great stuff but didn’t have a fresh meat department and only had a small vegetable selection.
I’m going to miss Vons. Wish they would bring in a Super King. The one on San Fernando Rd. is always crowded and the merchandise there is plentiful and cheap.
Get ready for the “Sombrero” symbol, it’s going to be another “Big Saver” foods (oh the horror)
Is it?? The sign I saw there is just to tell people that they can shop at the local Big Savers now that Vons has closed. I don’t think it’s actually gonna be a Big Savers though.
“Get ready for the “Sombrero†symbol, it’s going to be another “Big Saver†foods (oh the horror)”
Why the horror? Big Saver isn’t bad although I’d prefer another Super King but I don’t think LH has the right demographics for that chain.
One of the managers told me It would be a super Smart & Final or something like that. Smart & Final has been in the LH neighborhood since the 1930s, I think. I’m not a shopper of that store but I’m sure other people in the area might like it.
You know the place is bad when the bus driver tells you as you get off at the corner… “That’s the GHETTO VONS”. I said… “Yeah, it kind of sucks.” This was 7 years ago.
The main issue I had with the place was that it was more expensive than Ralphs…yet they didn’t have the good produce / selection that other Vons’ do substantiating the higher price.
Jeez… is it too much to ask to get more than 4 kinds of beer or some wine that isn’t pink and comes in a box? Sunny D isn’t juice either and can we get some milk that they don’t also sell at the 99 cent store? All the eggs were always broken and whenever you’d by a smoothie, it’d be bad or congealed. God forbid if you needed some condoms. They’d have to announce it over the PA that they needed a key and while all of your neighbors stood angrily while you held up the line, they’d bring you the wrong kind 4 times. Jeez. …and don’t get me started on how the service desk was never effin opened or having to ask for a token or pay to use the bathroom.
Lincoln Heights is looses its Von’s, and Highland Park looses it’s Big Lot’s. –Which coincidentally was a Von’s before becoming a Pic N Sav, in the 1980’s.
See its not so bad. That Von’s closing over 20 years ago on York Blvd & Avenue 56, made it possible for a little mercado to open across the street. Which in turn, made it possible for a humble aerosol-enabled sign painter to bless that corner with the signs of ALZA!!!
and now since big lots is closing, anyone know what’s going in to replace it at york and ave. 56?
So is it official now that this place will now become a Smart&Final?? I drove by today and I thought I saw a sign hanging off the roof with their name on it. Am I right or am I seeing things now?
Its going to be a smart and final extra!Which means it Half resale items,Half Grocery market with fresh produce and meat.It ‘s about fucken time this smart and final store gets its due.
Hey, awesome site you got here, this shit is funny as fuck!!! Even the anti-spam words are hilarious. Consider adding extras like “Pendejo” or even two word ones like “Come Caca” or “No Manches” Haha!
I stumbled upon it from googling “new smart and final lincoln heights.”
Have you seen what’s been happening in HLP? Fucking white people!!! I hope this doesn’t happen in LHTS.. but it’s already starting, have you seen the bike shop near the La Abeja on Fig? Hipsters! I’m 100% sure they come down from Silverlake via Riverside Dr. What’s next? Morrissey having drink at Le Blanc’s? I heard he was spotted at the Little Cave so who knows?
Keep up the good work! You should blog about the new tacos that just went up on the side of the Mini Mart Island on Pasadena.
I forgot to mention, even York has hipsters now. Ay cabron…
THE VONS IN LINCOLN HEIGHTS WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THE AREA HAS LOW INCOME FAMILIES ,AND WITH THE PRICES SO HIGH THEY CAN NOT AFFORD IT.I THINK ITS A GREAT IDEA TO PUT A SMART AND FINAL……BUT I WOULD HAVE PREFERED A BIG LOTS!!!IT HAS GREAT PRICES …..WELL HOPE THE SMART AND FINAL IDEA GOES WELL!!!
I frequent my local Vons. And the post is two years old. It still in the works or are they that good at keeping it hush-hush?
Yo Chico, I shop at Big Saver Man. Sucks for u fools tho