Sun rises on expanded Sierra Sundance

Sierra Sundance’s new expansion promises aisles of smiles. (Photo: Geisel)

By Katie Vane

Business is booming at Sierra Sundance Whole Foods, where owners Silena and Tanya Mandich have just opened the newest half of their expanded store. After two months of renovation, the place looks great. In addition to repainting and re-flooring the space previously occupied by Take 2 Video, sisters Silena and Tanya have also added a new produce cooler, as well as a five door refrigerator and freezer, and stocked them full of delicious, local organic and natural food products.

The expansion of Sierra Sundance is welcome news for locals yearning for greater health and organic food selection. As Silena puts it, “the community has really been begging for a change. Not only to expand what we were carrying, but people just wanted another option than Vons.”

The sisters hope that Sierra Sundance will ultimately become Mammoth’s second grocery store. To achieve this goal, Silena and Tanya plan to put up “tons more shelving — six to eight new aisles.” And they plan to stock those aisles with more of the staples—milk, cheese and eggs — and also include a Trader Joe’s-style line of products that aren’t necessarily organic, but are still all-natural, for a lower price. In fact, Silena says, “We’re dropping prices on everything. We’re going back to the prices everyone could afford.”

A Mammoth local, Silena has owned Sierra Sundance for six years.  Her sister Tanya joined her in the business a little more than one year ago, but the store has been in the family for 18 years. “We pulled our parents out of retirement to help us with the expansion,” Silena says with a smile, “so this has been a family affair.”

Renovation continues on the original store space next door, but it should be done, Silena says, “hopefully in three weeks.” Then all that will be left to do is knock down the last half of the wall between the two spaces, and throw a grand opening.