Grocery Outlet opens in underserved Marin County community

MARIN CITY, Calif. (KRON) — A community in the North Bay that many consider to be underserved now has a discount grocery store. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market is having its grand opening event Thursday in Marin City.

The 150 Donahue Street location, which was previously a CVS that closed two years ago, will employ 30 people in the community, according to Grocery Outlet. On Thursday, its doors opened to customers for the first time at 7 a.m.

The first 100 customers at the grand opening will receive gift cards ranging in amounts from $5 to $500, the company said. There is also a DJ playing music and a “spin and win” game for a chance to win prizes.

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Prior to its opening, Marin City residents would need to travel by car or bus down Highway 101 to reach the nearest grocery store. KRON4’s Will Tran spoke to locals who are excited about having a nearby place to purchase food.

“It was a real struggle,” Marin City local Cindy told Tran outside the new location. “Just having to catch the bus and carry all those packages.”

“I appreciate the Grocery Outlet being here because we don’t have to travel down the highway,” another local named Ricky told Tran. “I used to have to get on the bus to go to Safeway or to Mollie Stone’s, which is in Sausalito, which is more expensive.”

Grocery prices have gone up 25 percent in the past four years, outpacing inflation, which was at 19 percent. When Americans were asked in a survey what the biggest complaint with current prices was, groceries outranked gas as the No. 1 issue.

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