--
From: Jacob Resneck <
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 8:24 AM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Cc: Jill McLewis <[email protected]>; Stephen Zollman <[email protected]>; Neysa Hinton <[email protected]>; Phill Carter <[email protected]>; Sandra Maurer <[email protected]>
Subject: In support of a Grocery Outlet in Sebastopol
Sebastopol City Council:
I don't normally write letters in support of national chain stores but I have seen the opposition to a Grocery Outlet store in the former Rite Aid building downtown and I think it would be a missed opportunity to reject this business. As a single father with two young children I find it hard to find affordable bulk groceries in the West County. Even with a G.O., I would continue to shop locally at Fircrest, Andy's, etc. but they unfortunately don't sell the types of goods that a working class parent needs to feed their kids affordably. I find myself having to drive to Santa Rosa to FoodMaxx and others to fill that need.
I also think that having Grocery Outlet will bring needed competition to the Safeway and Whole Foods stores that could give downward pressure on prices, which would be a benefit to Sebastopol consumers whether they choose to shop at Grocery Outlet or not.
And lastly, what's the alternative? That Rite Aid building was originally a Safeway and designed as a downtown supermarket. If Grocery Outlet is precluded from moving in I fear it would become yet another box store blight like we have at Redwood Plaza on the north end of town.
Please don't block Grocery Outlet from repurposing the former Rite Aid building.
Sincerely,
Jacob Resneck
|
"But what is the difference between literature and journalism? Journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. That is all." -- Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)