The building, vacant since 2013, will become a Lazy Acres by the end of 2026 and close again in 2027.
SAN MIGUEL RANCH, CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Since Albertsons closed their store at The Shops at San Miguel Ranch, residents in the northeast corner of Chula Vista have had a gaping hole in their choices when it comes to where to buy groceries.
“It’s basically a food desert,” says local resident Amber. “The Trader Joe’s is a couple miles away, but it’s a ten minute drive both ways because the 125 is in the way. And you can’t take the 125 because the exits are inconvenient for this route in particular.”
Amber is just one of many locals frustrated with the lack of options for buying fresh food. “Trader Joe’s never has everything you need, either. I guess there is a Sprouts in that shopping center too, but it’s, like, all the way on the other side…”
But residents have something to look forward to: Santa Barbara-based Lazy Acres Natural Market announced this week their intention to open a seventh location inside the vacant supermarket site, expected to stay open for approximately one year.
“It is a strategic move,” said Han Chae-yang, CEO of Lazy Acres’ parent company Emart Inc. “Southern California has a long history of opening new grocery stores and then closing them almost immediately. We want to expand as quickly as possible, even if it means subsequent contraction.”
Indeed, recent years have demonstrated a pattern of grocery stores growing rapidly and then facing bankruptcy. Fresh & Easy was founded in El Segundo, Calif. in 2007, and declared bankruptcy in 2013 and 2015. Separately, following the two companies’ merger, dozens of SoCal supermarkets owned by Albertsons & Safeway were sold to Haggen, who began opening their stores in March 2015, starting in Carlsbad. By the end of the year, Haggen announced their exit from the California market.
“We want to provide more Chula Vestites [sic] with organic produce options,” continued Han through his interpreter, “but for no more than nine months or so.”
The San Miguel Ranch location is gearing up to open by Fall 2026, as “Grand Opening” and “Liquidation Sale” signs were both spotted being loaded into the building en masse. It is just one of nearly 300 stores Lazy Acres plans to open in 2026 and close in 2027.
