10:01am | Long Beach Post Managing Editor Allison Jean Eaton was on hand during the Tuesday, May 17, grand opening celebration of Smart & Final’s 36th Smart & Final Extra! store in Lakewood.
The company’s Smart & Final Extra! stores offer a mix of bulk items for its regular customer base of small businesses and organizations while at the same time featuring a wide array of over 5,000 items in family-friendly sizes that one might find at his or her local grocery store. Unlike regular Smart & Final retail establishments, Smart & Final Extra! stores offer a full produce section, fresh meats, frozen food, dairy, deli and basic grocery items like cereal, yogurt, bread and snacks, all of which are priced “extra low.”
These are select photos from the private-party celebration attended by several scores of Lakewood dignitaries, officials and Smart & Final employees and their families, who gathered on the eve of the first day the just under 32,000-square-foot store opened its doors to customers for the first time Wednesday morning.
The store is located in the new shopping center on the northwest corner of Carson Street and Woodruff Avenue.
Check back in later today for the full story.
All photos by Allison Jean Eaton.
