The Safeway at California Street Closes

Before 4 p.m. Friday, empty shelves greeted customers. After 4 p.m., it was a store employee telling customers that the store was now permanently closed.

There were mixed feelings by customers of the now "old" Safeway at California St., now replaced by the new Safeway at 649 San Antonio Rd.

Los Altos Hill resident Alexander Nesbitt didn't think he would patronize the new Safeway because it would lose the country-feel that he's grown accustomed to. He's also upset that the Safeway closest to him in Los Altos at 160 First St. will close on May 4th for a year to be renovated. Instead, Nesbitt said he'll frequent the Safeway at the Blossom Valley Center on Miramonte Avenue in Mountain View.

That wasn't the case for Mirtes Frediani. The Mountain View resident welcomed the new store because while she would drive to the 2580 California St. site, now she can walk.

Store manager Jaime Antonio, who's worked at the store for eight years, shared that he personally had been waiting for this moment since he started working. He and every employee could have transferred to the new store, according to Safeway representatives; however, he plans to return to school. 

The manager did feel bad that the store, which had been in the same location for 30 years, and which was within walking distance for neighboring residents at The Crossings would close. However, he called that "the only bad thing."

Will you miss the old Safeway? Have you been in the new Safeway yet? What did you think?

Related on Mountain View Patch:

• New Safeway at San Antonio Shopping Center Hiring
• 5 Retailers Lease in The Village at San Antonio Center
• A New $180M Facelift for the Old San Antonio Center

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