Shoppers walking by Echo Park’s Save-A-Lot market on Sunset Boulevard this week have been greeted by closed doors and papered over windows. It’s not clear what led to the sudden closure of the market, which shares a shopping center with a Walgreens drug store at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue. A letter from the property manager posted on a window said the locks had been changed after the market “ceased operating from the premises.” The closure comes a few months after the sight of barren store shelves before Thanksgiving prompted speculation that Save-A-Lot, a franchised outlet connected to a national chain, was about to close the Echo Park store. The shelves were eventually replenished and the store remained in business until this week.
The Eastsider has contacted Save-A-Lot and representatives of the property owner to find out more details.
The Echo Park Save-A-Lot opened in part of the building that was once home to Pioneer Market, which closed in 2004 after more than 60 years in business.
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I agree with Chris L! We should take out the parking lot, and replace it with a lawn or gardens. Make the gardens be the produce section.
Also, in order of preference:
1. Fresh & Easy
2. Super King
3. Jon’s
4. Vons
5. Mini-Target
6. Temple
7. Giant Bar/Discotheque
I hope we get one of those
That would make for a great location for a night club! there’s no close neighbors that would hear the music. lots of night time parking. Echo Park needs more good places for music! and they should serve sandwiches!!
Actually, I was just thinking that this space would make for a great strip club location. Echo Park only has one other and it is pretty run-down. I would love to see a good one open here.
@Chris L
Agreed… It looks like Pioneer did just the opposite to their original market in the eighties (http://www.historicechopark.org/id72.html) to build that lot up front and it sits half empty 24/7. They should have just left the parking in the back, like the buildings across the street.
I read the letter posted on the front of the market and it appears that Walgreens is leasing the whole building as Sav A Lot was under a sublease to them. I seriously doubt someone like TJ’s would start a store under a sublease like that but I really feel like it’s the only store that would bridge the gap and be a place that every demographic would want to shop at in Echo Park. I love the Chinese market for produce but I’m thinking of starting a facebook page to try to bring a TJ’s to Echo Park. Any thoughts or information?
i just went ahead and did it if anyone would like to join that would be rad!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Trader-Joes-to-Echo-Park/203104919712092
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