On the heels of the opening of the new Rite Aid in Exeter a few months back, the company immediately started work on its Farmersville location, due to open in October.
They are currently working on the inside outfitting and have some more landscaping to go, said Farmersville City Manager John Jansons. The building has a Western-feel, fitting well into the city’s general plan, he added.
The new facility is located at the corner of Farmersville Blvd. and Walnut Ave., and is expected to bring several part-time jobs to the area. It will be much like other Rite Aid stores with a full-service pharmacy, assorted sundries, paper goods, school supplies, baby goods and household items.
Currently, the town of 10,720 is without a supermarket. The former La Princesa Market at 250 E. Visalia Rd. has closed, and the property has been sold to someone with experience in the supermarket business, Jansons said. The city is working closely with the new owner on plans for the market to be gutted and rebuilt on the inside, as well as work on the exterior of the building including a new facade.
If plans are approved and work begins in the near future, it is possible that the new full-service market could open in December, Jansons said.
“A job like that may take three to four months,” he said, “so it could potentially open by the end of the year.”
This would return a much-needed supermarket to the city, while not the size of a Save Mart or Walmart, he said, it will have fresh produce, a butcher and meat department, and bakery.
Farmersville does have some smaller markets, including the new Vista Market, where the former owner of La Princesa Market has opened a much smaller store. It is easier for her to manage, Jansons said. There are several locations in town to pick up a gallon of milk, or paper goods, but currently residents must travel to Exeter or Visalia for full-grocery needs.
“The community needs a place to shop here in town,” he said.
The new market, too, will bring some more jobs to the area.
“Every job is important,” Jansons said. “We can’t create 200 or 300 jobs, but five or 10 in town at a time is important.”
Jansons added that he hopes the Rite Aid development will help to attract other potential businesses and builders to the North Farmersville Blvd. area. Currently, Red Rock Plaza, kitty-corner from Rite Aid has a few empty business suites available.
“We are currently talking with some interested [business] possibilities,” he said. “With the completion of the roundabouts [at N. Farmersville Blvd. and Highway 198] and work done along N. Farmersville Blvd., you never know, we may get someone interested.”
Like most towns and cities in Tulare County, Farmersville is continually looking to increase business traffic to its community.