By Thomas K. Pendergast

Plans for a new Andronico’s Community Market in the former Fresh & Easy grocery space, next to the CVS Pharmacy at Clement Street and 32nd Avenue, were submitted to the San Francisco Planning Department. 

Location of the planned Andronico’s Market at Clement Street and 32nd Avenue. Photo by Michael Durand.

The overall envelope of the 16,664-square-foot building will not change. The interior layout will be similar to the old market, with various food storage coolers, employee room, office and food storage taking up roughly a third of the space. The rest of the space will be for the general public with rows of product. 

The initial estimated total construction cost to move in is $2.7 million. 

Plans show at least seven rows of metal shelving plus a “deck” for dairy, beer and produce at each end, along with a cash register area near the front entrance and a small flower stand. 

Outside, the market will continue to use the same two parking lots, on the ground floor and also on the rooftop, for its customers, which total 135 spaces according to the project application document. 

That document notes that the existing space has been vacant since late 2015 and the proposed project would not displace any neighborhood-serving retail uses. It would also operate as a “union” grocery store and provide new employment opportunities for neighborhood residents. 

The project sponsors, Safeway Incorporated, purchased all of the Andronico’s locations in 2016.  Founded in Berkeley in 1929, at its peak, Andronico’s had 14 stores in the Bay Area, according to Berkeleyside.com.

Andronico’s declared bankruptcy, however, in August, 2011 and was bought by Renovo Capital, along with A.G. Ferrari, another local food group. 

In its application document, sponsors claim the project will have no impact on existing housing. They seek to occupy an existing vacant retail store with no physical expansion, and to maintain the current facade. 

Since both the previous and proposed uses are formula retail grocery stores, the project is not expected to alter the existing neighborhood character. 

Additionally, the site is located in an area served by Muni’s #1-California, #2-Clement, #18-46th Avenue and the #38-Geary bus lines.

The sponsors also say no changes are proposed that would impact parks, open space or their access to sunlight or vistas. 

Safeway opened the first supermarket at this location back in the 1970s, taking up the entire building. At some later point it became an Albertson’s, but it moved out in 2004. 

The building stayed vacant until 2011, when the space was divided up and opened with Fresh & Easy and CVS Pharmacy as occupants. No date is set for the store’s opening.