Vons facelift underway

Mammoth residents have undoubtedly noticed a change to the local watering hole over the past two weeks, as green fencing grew to enclose the 15-minute and handicap parking areas outside of the Vons grocery store.

A remodel of the store façade behind those fences is part of a larger Vons remodeling project, said Manager Rick Graham. “The outside of the store has been really weathered and needs to be refurbished,” he explained. In addition, he said, “We’re doing an expansion for the store, expanding into the [Minaret Village] mall.”

Vons will take over the space formerly occupied, for those who still remember it, by O’Kelly and Dunn’s. “Right now we’re going to move the pharmacy and Starbucks up there to open up space,” Graham said. “It’s an opportunity to increase our selection, and to make the customer’s shopping experience more convenient.” So far, he added, “Most customers are ecstatic about the change.” What will become of the old Starbucks and pharmacy space remains up to corporate.

The estimated cost of the remodel is $4.5 million, and the final product is expected to turn the place into a showcase store.

Construction will be ongoing for the next several months, with a projected end date before the Fourth of July. Temporary construction hours for customers are 6 a.m.-10 p.m., daily.

(Photo: Vane)