Grocery store signs up

Grocery Outlet is seeking approval from the Orland Planning Commission to put up a new sign along Interstate 5.

The item is on the commission's agenda for Thursday, according to City Manager Peter Carr.

Carr talked about the request when attending the city's Economic Development Commission meeting last week and a recent Orland Chamber of Commerce gathering.

He said the sign would go up behind the Stony Creek Square Shopping Center, but its surface area is larger than city code allows without the Planning Commission's approval.

Assuming the commission approves the request, the sign could be cleared for construction five days after the planning meeting, Carr said.

"This is the only hurdle to jump for city approval of the project at this point," he said.

The existing shopping center sign would be redone but remain the same size and height, Carr added.

He anticipates a final lease for space in the center could be completed after the commission's sign approval.

Carr said he is staying out of negotiations between the store chain and Stony Creek Square owner Rick Thomas of Santa Rosa.

Thomas confirmed Thursday a tentative agreement is in place with Grocery Outlet to move forward as long as the permits are approved.

"We plan to renew the shopping center and bring in traffic to those already there," Thomas said.

The four current tenants are barely surviving in this economy, he said, but the grocery chain should tip the scales in their favor.

"They have hung in with us," Thomas said. "Opening their doors every day and working hard."

Vera Adams, owner of Buckaroo Bistro and Bargains, said Grocery Outlet would be good for the center and the town by bringing other businesses in there.

Her daughter, Marly, added it would "bring more jobs" to Orland as well.

Marly's college-age friends have to go to Chico for work, she said, because they cannot find jobs in Orland.

Having a major grocery there also would provide a landmark for Adams' business, she said.

"Nobody has a clue where we're at," she said. "There is no landmark to tie us to."

Marco Rueda of El Potrero Mexican Restaurant also is excited about the grocery store's interest.

"I think it will be great and turn more people in this direction," Rueda said.

His mother, Martha Rueda, has owned the restaurant two years , he said, but it has been at Stony Creek Square seven years with different owners. Many people still don't know it is still open, Rueda added.

Thomas said his goal is to have a full shopping center again like it was years ago before the Holiday Market closed and Long's Drugs moved.

He said he is getting calls from prospective tenants with word of Grocery Outlet's interest, and that is good for him and area residents.

The center has good freeway access off South Street and plenty of parking which benefits retailers, he said.

"It is a wasted resource, and we want to change that," Thomas said.

A proposal has been submitted to Dollar Tree stores to put one of its store in there as well.

Thomas said Grocery Outlet wants to open as soon as they can.

April is a reported target date to open, city officials said.