From: joelle hoƯman
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2026 4:55 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Please do not approve Grocery Outlet for Sebastopol
Dear Sebastopol City Council:
I am a food broker, and my business and income are dependent on independent grocery stores’ sales throughout Northern CA I do NOT receive commissions or receive sales credit for national accounts including Whole Foods, Lucky’s, Safeway, CVS, and Grocery Outlet My job performance, and the success of my brands, are determined by the business generated by my independent grocery accounts such as Fircrest Market, Andy’s Market, Pacific Market, and Sebastopol Community Market, and other independent stores throughout Northern CA
I respectfully ask that you do not allow Grocery Outlet into Sebastopol, as it will negatively impact my income, as well as 50+ of my fellow food brokers If my independent accounts discontinue brands, or if their sales suƯer because the same products are carried by Grocery Outlet, my income will drop dramatically, as will my overall sales, which could result in me losing the brands that I represent Without brands to represent, I have no income
There are numerous Grocery Outlets a short distance away; Rohnert Park (9 miles), Santa Rosa (4th St , 8 5 miles), Windsor (14 8 miles), and Petaluma (17 miles) We don’t need one in Sebastopol As Grocery Outlet locations are corporately owned, they shouldn’t be allowed in downtown Sebastopol anyway The “operators” of Grocery Outlet are just that, just operators, not franchisees so they do not own the business Also, did you see the SF Chronicle and KQED articles about Grocery Outlet locations using Facial Recognition in their stores? https://www kqed org/news/12091161/grocery-outlet-scans-yourface-while-you-shop-critics-say-its-a-privacyproblem https://www sfchronicle com/bayarea/article/grocery-outlet-bay-area-facial-id-shoplifting22343639 php
My livelihood depends on you declining Grocery Outlet’s request to take over the vacant Rite Aid building Rather than Grocery Outlet, why not have a YMCA, a Maker space or something that will benefit the community, rather than have something that will hurt the businesses already here who have been supporting Sebastopol for decades, and independent businesses like mine, who will also suƯer
Thank you for your consideration
JH
Joelle HoƯman
Nor Cal Food Sales