Ladera Ranch Gelson's Grocery Store Closes

LADERA RANCH, CA — Gelson's of Ladera Ranch is closing leaving residents in a quandary as to what is happening to local stores. Two years after Gelson's opened the 60 employees will be offered new jobs at the expansion Sendero Marketplace of Rancho Mission Viejo and other area stores, according to management at the store.

"Despite this transition, we are very pleased to offer all of our Ladera Ranch employees a position in other stores, to remain part of the Gelson's family," President and CEO Rob McDougall stated. "We look forward to continuing to serve the Ladera Ranch community and the surrounding market iwth our beautiful new store in Rancho Mission Viejo, just under 3 miles south of Ladera Ranch."

The Ladera Ranch Gelson's will start discounting merchandise April 24, 25 and again April 27, 28 when prices will reach 50-percent off.

Shoppers weren't that enthusiastic of driving into Rancho Mission Viejo, according to impromptu on the scene interviews.

"I guess I'll go to either Laguna, or to Pavilions, I still like Gelson's but I don't know," one Coto De Caza shopper said, as she put her groceries away. She had just discovered the store was closing when talking to workers inside. "We finally get a good grocery store and now they're taking it away," she said.

Gelson's other stores are located in Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Irvine.

As far as the empty space left in Gelson's wake, shoppers are now hoping for a Whole Foods to move into the space.

What store would you like to see in it's place? Let us know!

Addresses: 30721 Gateway Place, Rancho Mission Viejo; 25636 Crown Valley Pkwy., Ladera Ranch.

Photo, courtesy Amy Spurgeon Hoffman