Chatsworth residents will soon have a new grocery store that is more than just the food and products sold inside.
Christopher and Lisette Herrera are opening Grocery Outlet at 9805 Mason Ave., in Chatsworth on March 25, and plan to use the business to follow their passion of giving back to the community.
Shoppers familiar with Grocery Outlet know the stores offer “name brands for less,” but what also attracted the Chatsworth couple to the company is their connection to the communities they serve.
Christopher and Lisette Herrera first met while working their first jobs in retail at Home Depot almost 20 years ago. At 19, Christopher Herrera didn’t know his career would continue in retail over the next two decades.
The two fell in love and started their life together. At the same time, his interest in retail began to grow.
Some key people in his life started teaching and mentoring him. Several pointed out his potential for advancement in the retail industry. Tony Coronado, a department manager, took Herrera under his wing and taught him about leadership and business.
“He gave me a perspective I didn’t see from the surface,” Herrera said. “He taught me the business side of retail.”
Herrera was taking business classes at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills. He was doing well and his interest in retail was growing. He was eager to progress in his career and soon became assistant manager at Home Depot.
As his career in retail continued, Herrera also worked as a store manager for Ross Dress for Less, Joann Fabrics and Crafts, and Party City.
“I take a store and do my best to make it better,” Herrera said.
He was excited to have more responsibility and enjoyed his work. He focused on his team and helping them, like the help he received.
“I help train and mold my team,” he said. “Teaching them to give it their best.”
Soon, as he grew older, Herrera started thinking about longevity and wanted to slow down and give back to his community. He and his wife joined a local church and started doing volunteer work. They assisted teaching an anger management class to help counsel adults. Christopher Herrera became a YMCA basketball coach. He also helped out at a juvenile camp and mentored troubled kids.
“Hearing (some of their stories) broke my heart,” he said.
Professionally the Herreras were enjoying their work and personally they were getting more involved in community service. The thought of giving back and helping others was “growing in my heart,” Christopher Herrera said.
“I wanted to fine tune this desire to help others,” he said. “(I wondered) how can I blend the two? Is there a way to involve that in my professional life?”
After a while of considering how to blend his two passions, Herrera connected with Grocery Outlet. He and his wife hadn’t been considering investing in a business opportunity, but after looking into the background of Grocery Outlet, they were on board.
“What spoke to me was their language about community and giving back,” Herrera said. “They are looking for people who want to be an intricate part of the community, who will connect with neighbors and nonprofits.”
Grocery Outlet, an extreme-value grocery retailer based in Emeryville, started in 1946 when founder Jim Read opened the doors to his first military surplus store. Leadership in the company has been passed down through the family for 75 years. There are more than 375 locations across the country, owned by independent operators in the communities they serve.
Since the company has been successful for so many years, Herrera thought it was a good business opportunity for his professional growth. And since the company also encourages the independent operators to be connected to the community, he also thought it was good opportunity for he and his wife to follow their personal passion of helping others.
“Everything we’re searching for we can do through Grocery Outlet,” he said. “This is bigger than just a grocery store.”
Grocery Outlet offers a full range of products including fresh produce, meat, deli and dairy, along with a wide assortment of natural and organic choices. Grocery Outlet also carries a large selection of beer and wine, health and beauty care, as well as seasonal items.
In Chatsworth, the Herreras are currently hiring 30 people and putting the finishing touches on construction. They hope to start merchandising the store on March 8 and open by March 25.
“We’re very excited,” Christopher Herrera said. “It is so fulfilling that I can take those talents (in retail and business) and use them to give back to our community.”
