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A Ralphs grocery for Ralphs ranch
By: PATRICK WRIGHT - Staff Writer | ∞
4S RANCH ---- Maxine Ralphs-Robinson remembers that years ago, when she was relaxing at the vast Ralphs family property south of Rancho Bernardo, there wasn't a grocery store for miles. Today, many residents will be able to travel a few hundred feet to go grocery shopping.
Maxine, 86, and her son, Tom, were in Rancho Bernardo on Tuesday to open a brand-new Ralphs grocery store called Fresh Fare at the 4S Commons shopping center. Maxine was married to Albert George Ralphs Jr., grandson of the founder of Ralphs grocery stores, George Ralphs.
George Ralphs' son, Albert George Ralphs Sr., bought the land being developed into 4S Commons.
Tom Ralphs, 59, the founder's great-grandson, said he found some irony in the opening of the new store.
"My grandfather (Albert George Ralphs Sr.) bought this property as a retreat to get away from the grocery business," he said.
The 4S Ranch store is the chain's first Fresh Fare grocery store in San Diego County. It offers the usual groceries with some fresh alternatives, and upscale items such as a sushi bar and a cheese bar. Including the new store, one of 28 Fresh Fare stores, the chain has 262 stores, all in California. Ralphs officials said it is the only store in the chain to have a special health product and vitamin section, what the store calls a wellness center.
The store had a grand opening celebration Tuesday with a catered lunch for store employees, employee families and store vendors. Customers identified as frequent shoppers at nearby Ralphs stores were invited to be the first customers. The store opens to the general public today.
Tom Ralphs said his grandfather bought the 17,500-acre land in 1938, and the family decided to develop part of the land instead of simply selling it. The family still owns 1,200 acres of the property, where it keeps a vacation home, Ralphs said.
Ralphs said it only made sense to put a Ralphs grocery store on the property.
"This is truly a welcome home for Ralphs," he said.
-- Contact staff writer Patrick Wright at (760) 739-6675 or pwright@nctimes.com.
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