Last updated on November 1st, 2016 at 11:41 am
G&G Supermarkets, with one store in Santa Rosa and another in Petaluma, California, is being acquired by Safeway, an Albertsons company.
In a statement Thursday, G&G said it had shared the news about the “new chapter in the company’s history” with employees, which will become part of the Safeway family.
“G&G has been proud to serve Sonoma County for more than 50 years,” the statement says. “Our Petaluma and Santa Rosa stores have served their communities with pride, offering the best in fresh products along with exceptional service, which are strong customer-centric values that Safeway shares. Safeway’s commitment to support local suppliers along with its unwavering loyalty to local charitable causes and groups will position our stores and teams to provide the best local offerings for customers. In addition, Safeway has agreed to offer employment to all our store employees.”
As the stores transition to the Safeway banner following the transaction close, they will be closed for a short period of time, expected sometime in December.
“We know this is a fantastic step for the Petaluma and Santa Rosa stores,” G&G says in its statement, “and we’re excited for the opportunities that being part of a great company like Safeway will offer not only to our associates, but to the customers who shop with us.”
Initial reactions from fans and customers on G&G’s Facebook have been generally negative, with one person commenting that “it is disappointing to see yet another local independent close and be taken over by a huge chain store.” Another urged Safeway to “study hard how G&G has won the hearts, minds and wallets of this beautiful county’s loyal customers and learn learn learn how you can improve YOUR business. Any moves to the contrary would show poor business judgment. G&G is solid gold.” Yet another noted that the community was “losing a few things. A great bakery, a real deli, a real butcher shop, a grocer that brings in local fresh produce, and the friendliest people in town. It is unfortunate to lose this wonderful piece of the community to a corporate chain store. I wish they would have sold it to the employees.” Many said they planned to shop elsewhere, at stores like Raley’s, Oliver’s Market and Pacific Market.
G&G opened its first store in 1963 when Gee Kai Gong and Robert Gong formed a partnership and opened at the original 901 W. College Avenue location in Santa Rosa. Today, that supermarket is 96,000 s.f. The grocer opened its second store, the 55,000-s.f. unit in Petaluma, in 2000.
