Foodville Ready to Close Its Doors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Laura Teutschel
Community & Media Relations, Foodville/Bianchini’s Market
(650) 520-4934 Phone
(650) 591-1043 Fax
lteutschel@yahoo.com
San Carlos Tradition Foodville to Close
March 13, 2008- San Carlos, CA-Foodville Market, a downtown San Carlos tradition since 1941, will conduct its last day of business on Sunday, March 22, 2009. This marks the end of an era for the community, and for one of the Peninsula’s oldest family-run businesses.  Located at 616 Laurel Street, the store was San Carlos’s first full-service grocery.
Originally built and operated as Territo’s in 1941, Foodville was eventually acquired by the Bianchini family, who created customer relationships that are rare today. Particularly famous for its old fashioned, full- service butcher department, it has a loyal following that spans generations on the Peninsula and beyond.
Foodville’s closing comes approximately 8 months after the Bianchini family, who has owned & operated the store since the 1960’s, announced the lease of 810 Laurel Street, formerly Bell Market, which sat vacant for over 2 years.
Brothers Kevin and Chris Bianchini, both local firefighters who took over Foodville from their Uncle Jerry and late father Al, will operate their new location as Bianchini’s Market, the name of their sister store in Portola Valley which opened in 1998. The move will allow them to expand the 8,000 square feet at the Foodville location to a 20,000 square foot space, designed by renowned grocery industry contractor, Sutti & Associates. With the move will come a greater variety of merchandise, an updated look, and a new generation of customers.
The new store will still feature its traditional butcher shop, expand on its current selections, as well as feature more in the way of organic produce, gourmet & international items, house made prepared meals, and grocery items. There will be a full wine & liquor section as well. The Bianchinis want to be “the full service grocery store in San Carlos.” An opening date will be announced upon the approval of the store’s liquor license. Given the State’s budget and limited personnel, this process has taken longer than expected.
Despite the bittersweet closing of Foodville, the community has enthusiastically supported the new Bianchini’s Market concept. Since announcing the transition, the Bianchini family went to great lengths to gather input from the community regarding items and brands they would like to see there.
Foodville’s name and location change will also allow them to expand on their already active level of community support. Currently, Foodville is an elite supporter of the San Carlos Education Foundation, an e-script participant as well as a regular donor to service clubs, community events, and fund-raisers.