ONTARIO — The line for the new Grocery Outlet at 876 N. Lexington-Springmill Road had wrapped around the store aisles Thursday morning.
The former OfficeMax, the sales floor in Grocery Outlet occupies 15,000 square feet. The store sells meat, produce, pantry staples, toys, decorations and more.
Franchise owners Ryan and Maria Buchanan celebrated with a ribbon cutting with the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development and Ontario leaders on Thursday.
“I personally want to thank the Buchanans for making the trip from the West Coast to invest in our community,” Mayor Kris Knapp said. “We are so excited, and thank you for choosing Ontario, Ohio.”
Grocery Outlet is a family-owned corporation founded in California in 1946. According to its website, there are more than 400 stores across the U.S. and more than 1.5 million shoppers each week.
“That makes Grocery Outlet the nation’s largest extreme value retailer — a feat we’re more than proud of,” the website states.
The Ontario store is the third Grocery Outlet in Ohio. There are 36 staff members who work at the store, located between Barnes & Noble and Mattress Firm.
The Buchanans are from northern California but moved to Ashland, Ohio to open the supermarket.
“We’ve lived in several different places around the U.S. but we’re excited to be here,” Ryan Buchanan said. “As soon as we stepped out of the car here, we felt like we were home.”
Todd Yuninger, Grocery Outlet senior manager of sales and merchandising, said customers can expect to find everything they would in a grocery supermarket at significant discounts inside Grocery Outlet.
“Jim Read founded the company on the premise that there was a lot of food out there that goes to waste, and he thought he could buy it cheaper and sell it cheaper to the customer,” Yuninger said.
“Now, we have independent owners like Ryan and Maria who are small business people coming together to be part of the community and continue to pass on savings to customers.”
Grocery Outlet is currently offering customers $3.99 frozen turkeys when they spend at least $35 in the store while supplies last. The Ontario location is also hosting a Gobble Gobble Scratch & Win contest all day Nov. 23 for chances to win free turkeys, store discounts or an insulated tote bag.
Grocery Outlet plans partnership with Catholic Charities HOPE Pantry
The Buchananas presented a $1,000 check to the local Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo at the grand opening Thursday. Grocery Outlet also plans to partner with its HOPE Food Pantry on Park Avenue to donate food and support the pantry’s operation.
“We went there and learned all about what they do for the community and it just warmed our hearts,” Maria Buchanan said. “We wanted to be a part of that because Grocery Outlet is a true community partner.”
Buchanan also thanked Grocery Outlet customers for visiting the new story on a snowy, cold morning.
“The community coming out to support us today and to see what we’re all about is amazing,” she said. “We really appreciate their support.
“We want to give people a beautiful place to shop and bring in whatever they ask for.”
The supermarket is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The local store is on Facebook and can be reached at 510-845-1999. Grocery Outlet Inc. is on TikTok @therealgroceryoutlet. Other social media and weekly ads are online at groceryoutlet.com
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