WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Hot Topics => Topic started by: Tall Trees on Jan 11, 23, 02:34:28 PM
-
Went to Jensen's Market today and a public notice was posted at the entrance that it was for sale. I wonder if all the Jensen's Markets are for sale or only the Wrightwood store.
-
Not good news.
-
From Facebook
Angella Delynn
Change of ownership. Will take a min of 4 weeks for takeover. New name will be Wrightwood Fine Foods. Wrightwood, cedar glen and Running Springs stores were sold.
-
License application to transfer to new owner.
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
https://www.abc.ca.gov/licensing/license-lookup/single-license/?RPTTYPE=12&LICENSE=645114&fbclid=IwAR1tR5O-wGwvHdPXQd-w0i4eUn1ZvXHzwZKvOSLoEYgH-9hSO4OzhryT-Vk
-
A Quick Google search shows that Rasem ("Ray") Akari appears to own quite a few markets and has been in the business for several years.
https://inyocounty.us/Board_of_Supervisors/Agenda/2018-02-06.pdf (https://inyocounty.us/Board_of_Supervisors/Agenda/2018-02-06.pdf)
https://mountainenterprise.com/story/tradition-and-change-at-the-frazier-park-market/ (https://mountainenterprise.com/story/tradition-and-change-at-the-frazier-park-market/)
https://bishop-ca.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=534 (https://bishop-ca.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=534)
-
I really like all the employees that work at Jensen's and even have made some good friends there that I have met over the years. Even if the new owner changes the name of the store, it will make me happy to shop there and see the same faces of the employees that I have known for years.
-
I can remember when Jensen's market wasn't there and we had the little Market ( which is Mt high pizza now) and the big market which is behind Wrightwood Market.
-
(https://palmsprings.jensensfoods.com/emails/_special/2023-01-27/images/layout_01.gif)
(https://palmsprings.jensensfoods.com/emails/_special/2023-01-27/images/layout_02.gif)
-
Sale was complete today.
-
(https://wrightwoodcalif.com/misc/6.12.23.JensensSign.JPG)
(https://wrightwoodcalif.com/misc/6.12.23.WW.FF.Sign.JPG)
-
Hopeful that our market will be successful and community minded.
-
Has anyone else noticed a certain employee smoking by the front door of the market multiple times a day? I find it really off putting and offensive to walk through a cloud of smoke to get to the front door. When I said something to the checker she just shrugged her shoulders. Isn't there a law requiring a certain smoke free distance be maintained?
-
I haven't experienced that, but I don't go very often. Years ago when we visited Oklahoma, we encountered that everywhere and it wasn't pleasant at all.
The law in California prohibits smoking within 20 feet of any public building.
-
→ https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/environmental-tobacco-smoke/california-tobacco-laws-reduce-ets-exposure
-
So "public" seems to be referring to government buildings only and not businesses open to the public? Am I reading that correctly?
-
The law covers all "enclosed" places of employment such as public and private. Not sure what recourse anyone has. I would think that anyone could call the police but by the time they show up, the person would be done smoking. I’m just happy they took it out of restaurants.
-
So call the store and ask for the manager and tell them about it.
-
Not entirely on topic, but I was waiting for the DMV office to open and there was a sign that said "NO SMOKING WITHIN 20 OF THE BUILDING."
I didn't ask, but I wondered if it was 20 millimeters, 20 miles or 20 parsecs.
-
20 miles would be good.
It's a real smart thing to suck in smoke. ;D
-
I've held back on making quick judgments regarding the change of ownership as the new management needs time to adjust vendors and pricing.
Last week I was shocked when bought a 12 pack of Coors Light and the price had gone up $3 from earlier in the month. Today I decided to stop by the Wrightwood Market and compare prices and was pleased to see the same 12 pack of beer was $3.60 less.
Hopefully the $3 increase was just an isolated glitch.
(https://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/misc/MD_CoorsLight.8.8.23.b.JPG)
-
Hopefully, you showed them the receipts indicating the difference in the pricing?
-
Shopping weekly at our new market has shown many food items have dropped prices due to stocking of new items and new food selections are coming in.. in including organic AND soon...a fresh fish, crab, shrimp and etc cold case.
Its refreshing.
-
NewsPlus article. https://4newsplus.com/wrightwood-fine-foods-new-name-new-owners-new-items-being-offered-at-the-market/ (https://4newsplus.com/wrightwood-fine-foods-new-name-new-owners-new-items-being-offered-at-the-market/)
-
Thank you Don for a positive article on what seems to have become an issue to some folks in the village.
-
Is there an update on what is happening with the "upgrades" ?
Almost no frozen items. Seems like they have been working on this for a long time.
-
Today in store they have stocked freezers
-
I went to the Wrightwood fine foods Market, and they wanted. $21.11 for a twelve pack of beer that last week was 17.99 and the week before $16.00. A can of pedigree dog food I would purchase was $1.19 and now it is $2.69 for the same product. I just walked out of the store and did not buy anything. I will not shop there anymore the owners are gouging the customers with high prices and poor service.
-
I'm not shopping there either.
-
We have stopped shopping there as well which is really sad. It's great having a store in town but things are not improving.
-
My partner and I have stopped shopping there as well. It is such a shame. What's even more unfortunate is that they will probably get enough tourist traffic to remain profitable and will no longer serve the community. I had a look at the reviews on google. The majority of reviews are written by the owners and family. There are a number of negative reviews written by locals, and they have replied with bold lies about their products and services.
"we still have all the products that jensen’s had , we did not cancel anything, and we did not discontinue anything" Ya, right!!
See review and resonse below:
a month ago
This market was previously a Jensen's finer foods and was absolutely fantastic. Since it's recent purchase, product selection has decreased significantly alongside an increase in prices. I've personally witnessed the male management being extremely rude to the female employees multiple times. This store used to be so clean and tidy with perfectly organized shelves, but now all the disorganization gives me anxiety just waking into the store. The "upgrades" they have done have been poorly constructed and reduced the product selection. If I want budget goods, I'll spend the 10 minutes to go down to Stator Bros. The great selection and convenience is what made Jensen's great. Now we have budget goods at inflated prices. It also appears that most of the recent reviews have been made by the new ownership and family. Take that for what you will.
Response from the owner a month ago:
Thank you for your review
All the upgrades that we did lately is just to give you a better quality because the old freezers and the old coolers that Jenson‘s had it was too old and too bad
And now we are remodeling the market and it is going to be done soon
And we still have all the products that jensen’s had , we did not cancel anything, and we did not discontinue anything
Thank you for your review we appreciate you
-
Jun 09, 23
Sale was complete today.
Aug 08, 23
I've held back on making quick judgments regarding the change of ownership as the new management needs time to adjust vendors and pricing.
It's been 6 months since changing ownership and the shopping experience continues to be disappointing. (unorganized, cluttered, dirty, skyrocketing prices and lack of selection)
We used to spend well over $100 a week when Jensen's ran the store now it's only used for emergencies. We've been buying milk, OJ, bananas, ice and beer at Wrightwood Market and couldn't be happier with that store.
-
Well, as someone who shopped often at Jensen's for odds and ends for the last 15 years, I appreciate the efforts to update everything. Every time I had to buy something frozen at Jensen's it was disgusting. Either caked in ice crystals and tasting of freezer burn, or not completely frozen and tasting of freezer burn. The dairy and OJ aren't off, either. The quality of produce is markedly better. If I have to pay through the nose for something (Jensen's/Wrightwood Market were/are rarely Stater Bros midline prices), its nice that produce is not on the verge of turning bad every single time I want to pick up something I ran out of or forgot!
They're really sprucing up the market. It's a crying shame Jensen's Corp. didn't see fit to invest in our little store and treated us like the unwanted stepchild in their chain. I'm glad they sold it to someone willing to invest in turning it into something presentable (those 1990 circa floors are being redone, btw) with functioning, updated equipment and quality product. I was never fond of the 1980's style wallpaper, either. (Pink and teal splotches went out with Duran Duran and Wham...) It makes the store appear even more rundown and outdated. I look forward to seeing what the finished store will look like.
Suit yourselves and don't shop there, but I wish them continued success and appreciate still having a go-to when I need it.
-
P.S.,
I just had to go to the market. Bought some sour cream and--wait for it--it's not completely SOUR. There's actually some nice creamy flavor to it. I can make a strawberry jello desert recipe calling for a layer of sour cream on it, and it won't be ruined. :2thumbsup: I love their new fridges/freezers! I'm a little sad the only Arrowhead sparkling water they carry is lemon and black cherry, since I like lime the best. But, apparently, I'm the only one who buys it, so, it doesn't bother me. Much...
BTW, they have 10lb bags of potatoes for $1.99.
-
I'm glad it's working for some but count me in the not going back group. I gave them several tries and was extremely disappointed every time.
-
I've started to shop there now and think they are doing a good job. Their freshly ground beef (that morning) was $3 a lb cheaper than Staters, the prices are not high for what I buy and it was high time the improvements they are making are getting done. You could smell the mold in some cold cases at Jensens. So many times there the produce was spoiled and the dairy products turned. Things take time. If they leave WW I predict a large reduction in visitors and overnighters since they aren't going to have a place to shop and the WW market is extremely limited. Maybe you want to see more fast food garbage on the roads? Word will get around.