Fresh and Easy Express Opens to 'Very Good' Response
Wednesday marks the grand opening of Fresh and Easy Express at University Gateway on Figueroa, the new next door neighbor to hungry college students at USC.
Construction for the new shop began in November, met with mixed attitudes from students who either wanted closer, higher quality groceries, or were content with the two local options – Superior and Ralph's.
Regardless of discontent, Fresh and Easy opened to “very good” business, according to store manager Jorge Anaya. He said that the store has been receiving the expected levels of business, from a mixture of both students and locals.
“Everyone seems very excited,” said Anaya. “There are no problems, everything is going fine so far.”
Fresh and Easy Express will be offering a greater supply of fresh and in-season fruits and vegetables, as well as other healthy produce. The “Express” in its name signifies a smaller version of their typical neighborhood market.
“There is a heavy focus on fresh items (prepared meals, meat, dairy, produce and bread), but it is still a grocery store,” said Brendan Wonnacott, Fresh and Easy’s director of neighborhood affairs.
Additionally, Fresh and Easy features a more consumer-involved shopping experience, with predominately self-checkout lanes.
Fresh and Easy Express is joining other eateries such as Freebirds Burritos, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Subway and Yogurtland at University Gateway.
As a celebration for their grand opening, Fresh and Easy is giving out a canvas shopping bag to every customer. Demonstrative of the steady business thus far, Anaya expects the bags to run out before the day’s end.
