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Uploaded: Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 7:55 AM
Updated: Friday, October 26, 2012, 7:40 AM
New Leaf to open market at Vintage Hills Center next year
Old Romley's store vacant for last 15 years
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by Jeb Bing
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Photo
 | New Leaf Community Markets, an independently-owned grocer known for carrying locally grown, organic foods, will open a store at the Vintage Hills Shopping Center in mid-2013, replacing a store once occupied by Romley's Market that has now been empty for 15 years.
The new store will be the anchor of the center, which is located at the intersections of Bernal and Vineyard Avenues and Tawny Drive. The center is owned by Sim & Yoon LLC.
The 19,000-square-foot store will be the Santa Cruz-based grocer's eighth market with the others located in Santa Cruz County, Half Moon Bay, and most recently in the Evergreen area of San Jose.
The full-service store will include a deli, fresh salad bar, antipasto bar, hot bar and juice bar. Sushi, gourmet cheeses, and local wines will also be offered.
"We are very pleased that we will be able to serve the residents of the Pleasanton area and to give back to the community in a variety of meaningful ways, including programs to support nonprofits and classes on health, cooking and nutrition," said Scott Roseman, founder and co-owner of New Leaf Community Markets.
Added co-owner Rex Stewart: "We look forward to establishing relationships with local producers of all kinds, from growers to bakers."
"New Leaf Community Markets will be an excellent addition to the Pleasanton community," said Pamela Ott, Pleasanton's economic development director.
"New Leaf will offer its own unique shopping experience, focused on providing a selection of local and organic food. And, as the community supports New Leaf, in turn New Leaf will support the community by contributing over 10% of its profits annually to local nonprofit groups."
Pleasanton Councilman Jerry Thorne, a candidate for mayor in the current municipal election, agreed.
"I am very pleased that we will finally be able to provide this neighborhood with a quality market," he said. "New Leaf will be a great addition to the neighborhood and our entire community."
Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio, also a candidate for mayor, said, "I am delighted to see this community-minded, neighborhood market locate in Pleasanton. New Leaf Community Markets has an emphasis on organics and sustainability. It is an excellent fit for the center and the nearby neighborhoods."
New Leaf has been receiving an enthusiastic response from other retailers and service business located n the Vintage Hills Center, which at one time seemed destined for the wrecker's ball as proposals to the Pleasanton City Council asked that it be replaced with affordable and market rate high density housing.
"We look forward to New Leaf bringing new energy and shoppers to the center," said Hannah Kim, owner of Vintage Hills Cleaners, a 28-year tenant.
New Leaf Community Markets was first opened in 1985.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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| Comments
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Posted by Deborah, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 8:15 am Anxiously awaiting the New Leaf Market to open .. the people of Pleasanton have been very patient and hopefully this projected date for opening stays on track.
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Posted by Ptown native, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 8:23 am I've been wishing for a WholeFoods or Lunardi's there.
So this will be a good fit. We go all the way to Danville
when we need organic greens and foods. We love the
store in HalfMoonBay. Gene's is good too. But it will be
nice to have another organic place in Ptown.
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Posted by former employee of Flair Market that was there, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 8:33 am I have long hoped that something like this would move in there. I'm not holding my breath until I see it actually open, though. Been disappointed too many times.
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Posted by Mary Mele, a resident of Livermore, on Oct 23, 2012 at 9:13 am so excited that this will be on the East side of Pleasanton so those of us in Livermore can enjoy it too!
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Posted by Claudette , a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 9:34 am Looking forward to the opening of this "independently-owned grocer known for carrying locally grown, organic foods" store. The only thing that might be better is a Trader Joe's :) I'll be there Every Friday after my Art Critique meeting, just a few doors down at Coffee Ali's. I hope the community shows support for this Organic Foods Store, and believe they will.
Filling this Large empty spot will give a much needed look to the Vintage Hill Shopping Center. Leaving it empty is such an Eye Sore ~
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Posted by Suzie, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 2:11 pm Looking forward to it opening and hopefully I can get hired there.
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Posted by Wendy, a resident of the Vineyard Avenue neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 2:21 pm I am just thrilled about this organic market. I will go to the new place because it is so close to home but I want to acknowledge what a fantastic job Raley's and Gene's have done in offering as much organic as they do. I know it isn't easy. I hope we can all support the new market so they will be able to stay. I go to the gym up there and they are already doing the construction!
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Posted by oldtimer, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 3:07 pm I'm pleased that New Leaf is moving in but how on earth did this get approved so quickly (and quietly). It is amazing that Walmart works for months fighting to get approval and this store just magically gets approved.
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Posted by Vineyard Foodie, a resident of the Vineyard Avenue neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 4:46 pm This didn't magically get approved. It was actually announced last year in the Weekly. Just took this long to get it started. New Leaf will be a much welcomed new neighbor for the Vineyard area. Great location, good parking--it's a win-win. Glad to see its construction actually underway.
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Posted by Julie, a resident of the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on Oct 23, 2012 at 11:42 pm I'm so excited to have New Leaf moving in so close to me. I know it will be successful. We've needed a market along these lines for years.
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Posted by Doug, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Oct 24, 2012 at 10:43 am YES! I love the one in HMB.
Not sure what TJ's was thinking, seems like it would have been a perfect fit for them.
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Posted by ajay dhillon, a resident of the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on Oct 25, 2012 at 10:20 am This is very welcome news indeed.Never heard of it for so many months and thought the whole deal is dead. We always try to buy organic.Will save time and gas in not having to go to Whole Food plus the tax dollars will stay local. Hope the new owners read this.
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Posted by Wendy, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Oct 25, 2012 at 11:07 pm Something about eating pesticides has always turned me off. I'll shop at New Leaf regularly. Safeway is pretty pathetic when it comes to organic produce.
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Posted by Shelia, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Oct 26, 2012 at 7:31 am Isn't this the area that candidate Erlene DeMarcus wanted tear down and build high density housing? That is what she said in her letter to the editor in today's paper.
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Posted by Shelia, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Oct 26, 2012 at 7:44 am Wait that was back when it was a "fallow" shopping center. Good thing that developer didn't get their way. The Vineyard area has more than their share of traffic, crowded housing and apartments.
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Posted by Kristine , a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2012 at 8:06 am Live right across the street.! so excited now we have Coffee Ali and a market close to home!!!!! but agree believe it when it actully opens....
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Posted by nick, a resident of Livermore, on Jan 29, 2013 at 8:47 am you folks are lucky!! best grocery chain period for Organics
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Posted by Chris, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Jan 29, 2013 at 7:50 pm Did anyone else notice the story headline and the estimated store opening date in the article differ? Which is correct? Opening this summer or next year some time?
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