Photo: FLLewis / Media City G — Grocery Outlet to open at 1615 West Verdugo Avenue in Burbank November 25, 2016
A new grocery store will soon open in Burbank. Banners for Grocery Outlet are plastered on the old site of the Fresh & Easy store at 1625 West Verdugo Avenue. Grocery Outlet calls itself a bargain market and in its company statement claims:”We offer brand-name, quality products at up to 40-70% off conventional retail prices.” There are reportedly more than 260 independently owned Grocery Outlets in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and California.
Fresh & Easy shut down this store and a second Burbank location, at 2484 West Victory Boulevard, last November after the parent company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Another victim of the super competitive grocery market in Southern California. Some of the locals, near the West Verdugo site, campaigned for a Trader Joe’s, but no deal.
“Not exactly sure why Trader Joe’s passed on the old Fresh and Easy location. I suspect it’s partly because the store is close to two of their other stores. We are happy to have a grocery store at that location again. It’s important for neighborhoods to have shops and restaurants so people don’t have to drive to other parts of the city for basic goods and services,” Burbank Community Development Director, Patrick Prescott, said in an email.
Photo: FLLewis / Media City G — Burbank PD investigators returned to the scene of a pedestrian vs car accident in Burbank November 23, 2016
Update on that pedestrian vs car accident at the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Lima Street in Magnolia Park earlier this month. As reported here, an elderly woman was hit by a car at this intersection during the noon hour on November 17. Burbank Police have identified the woman as 86 year-old Arzelia Pisani. She suffered a serious head injury and died a few days later. The driver of a black Dodge Charger, which struck the woman, has been “cooperating with the investigation,” according to BPD Public Information Officer, Sergeant Claudio Losacco.
Investigators returned to the accident scene last Wednesday to collect more evidence. Burbank PD Detective, Sam Anderson, went door-to-door, checking with local merchants and shop owners for surveillance tape showing the accident.
Photo: FLLewis / Media City G — Thousands turn out for “Holiday in the Park” Burbank November 18, 2016
That intersection is considered a dangerous one for pedestrians. A day after that accident, the intersection was closed to traffic as part of “Holiday in the Park.” By the way, Sgt. Losacco says police estimate that “… about 10,000 people” attended the event.
More bad news for some employees at the DreamWorks campus in Glendale. The animation unit plans to lay off around 170 workers right after the holidays in January. Just two months ago, the entertainment company cut 200 jobs. All part of the downsizing that’s been going on since Comcast bought the company for $3.8 billion back in the summer. Details here.
