New grocery store to open in West Las Vegas neighborhood
In 2005, after a year of searching for a new grocery store tenant for the Edmond Town Center, the project's developer promised that "the people of West Las Vegas will have a supermarket again."
On Tuesday, a little more than three years later, local officials announced that they finally have found a company willing to pick up where another grocer left off, citing weak sales in a neighborhood challenged by low incomes and blight.
"It has taken four years due to a number of things," said Las Vegas City Councilman Ricki Barlow after announcing that Buy Low Market, which has several locations in Southern California, would open its first Nevada location at the corner of Owens Avenue and J Street.
"Whether it was not enough rooftops, or not enough traffic counts, it was just a plethora of reasons as to why various grocers chose not to come here," Barlow said.
Vons operated a store in Edmond Town Center until 2004. Buy Low Market is expected to open in that same space by the end of the year.
Buy Low Market is one of the grocery brands operated by K.V. Mart Inc., which has 22 stores in the Los Angeles area. The company specializes in inner-city neighborhoods and tries to cater to the ethnic communities around each store, according to the company's Web site.
The City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency provided incentives to entice the grocer, including up to $200,000 for equipment purchases and remodeling, and up to $50,000 through a program designed to help businesses improve facades and signage.
The store is expected to provide about 85 jobs with an annual payroll of $1.6 million.
The lack of nearby grocery options has long been an issue for downtown Las Vegas.
"With the high gas prices now, getting in your vehicle and having to pay that extra price at the pump, and fill your basket up, is most definitely pressing on the inner-city community," Barlow said. "Now they have an opportunity to leave their front door and walk across the street."
Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.
