Sherman Oaks Ralphs shoppers have had it! They are tired of having to go to other Ralphs stores or even competitor stores (which is never any good) to find the groceries and services they need. Our response?  It’s time to make the Sherman Oaks Ralphs a one-stop grocery store…it’s time for an upgrade!

It’s not ideal but it’s true, the Sherman Oaks Ralphs is one of the smaller footprint stores in the Valley.  The store is cramped, which means…

LESS

• room for groceries that you need to make dinner or pack the kids’ lunches
• store amenities like a sushi station, bistro and carving station
• variety in the meat and seafood departments
• of a selection of baked goods
• organic produce options

MORE

• stacking of products in the middle of the aisles
• placement of specials anywhere they can fit
• maneuvering around other carts in a narrow aisle
• fearing a cart collision at every corner

Though we know some shoppers appreciate the maze and would consider joining a defensive cart-driving class, we think a bigger, better Ralphs is the real solution to the problem. For those Sherman Oaks Ralphs shoppers out there who are excited about the ways the new Ralphs Fresh Fare will improve your shopping experience, you should talk to some of your neighbors!

Despite the community’s need (see reasons above) for a larger store having been lost on a few vocal residents who contest any significant change to the currently dilapidated Ralphs store, we cannot ignore the will of our Sherman Oaks shoppers who continually request a better, hassle-free experience.  But the reality is, in order for us to bring the offerings that so many shoppers have requested  and the new amenities that many are excited about– we need a bigger store.

We need YOU – the over 400 out there – to speak up and let the City Planning Commission know that a bigger store means easier shopping!  A bigger store means a better shopping experience for Sherman Oaks.  Visit our 400 page to see how you can make your voice heard! Let the Planning Commissioners know why YOU want a bigger store!

400. What is the 400 and why is it showing up on the Ralphs in Sherman Oaks? The Ralphs in Sherman Oaks is excited that we have over 400 supporters! That means over 400 people in Sherman Oaks and throughout the Valley want to see this store upgraded to a Ralphs Fresh Fare.

Moving towards our second public hearing, before the City Planning Commission, we want to empower our supporters and let them know that they are a part of a bigger movement!  When supporters speak up in support of the store, they are not only speaking on behalf of themselves or one or two other people; they are speaking on behalf of over 400 other supporters. The Sherman Oaks Ralphs will not be upgraded unless the over 400 supporters speak up – 400 voices loud!

Here’s how to make sure that you get the improved Ralphs Fresh Fare that you want!

Attend the Hearing:

Our next public hearing for the proposed Ralphs Fresh Fare in Sherman Oaks is with the City Planning Commission.

Morning of Thursday, September 23, 2010
Van Nuys City Hall
Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
14410 Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, 91401

Call 818-232-0760 for more information

Click here to see what else you can do!

(400 photo courtesy of http://i-l-o-v-e-fun.blogspot.com/2008/12/human-numbers.html)

The environmental document for our proposed Ralphs Fresh Fare in Sherman Oaks is being re-circulated given our recent redesign of the proposed loading dock area to address our neighbors concerns.  Why does our environmental document need to be reconsidered, you ask? It’s because adding a roof to the loading dock means we are adding lot coverage. Adding lot coverage means we need a Specific Plan “Adjustment.” This change in our requests, means we need a revision to our environmental document.

If you are interested in reviewing and commenting on the revised environmental document, you have from August 19^th until September 8^th to do so. Please reach out to the Planning Department (tom.glick@lacity.org or oliver.netburn@lacity.org) and mention the following case file ENV-2009-3463-MND-REC.

The main concern we heard at the July 19^th Zoning Officer’s Hearing was about our service area. Our neighbors adjacent to the service area expressed concerns about the noise from another open-air loading dock as it was proposed in the plans for the new Ralphs Fresh Fare.  We assured our neighbors that we would work to find a solution to their concerns, and we did.

After working hand-in-hand with the Council office and the Planning Department, we are happy to debut our revised plans for the loading dock in the new Ralphs Fresh Fare.  The new loading dock features the same bumper-seal technology mentioned in our earlier post that allows trucks to unload directly into the store, AND (drum roll please…) now the loading dock will also be enclosed!  The enclosed portion of the loading dock is the length of an entire truck and will be able to accommodate two trucks (side-by-side) at a time. This will help the trucks stay out of sight and out of mind.

We are happy to have worked with the community to address this concern, since we do want to continue to be a good neighbor!