Grocery Outlet, a discount grocery chain known for selling name-brand products at reduced prices, is preparing to open new locations in San Diego at 6939 Linda Vista Road and at 7224 Broadway in Lemon Grove.
The company has recently submitted documents to the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality to open a new location in Linda Vista Plaza. Additionally, Grocery Outlet filed paperwork in March for another site in Lemon Grove, located directly across the street from Lemon Grove Plaza. No timelines for opening either location have been announced, and the Lemon Grove site is still pending inspections. Both new locations will replace now-closed Rite Aid sites.
Both locations are part of the company’s ongoing expansion across the region. Grocery Outlet operates as an opportunistic grocery retailer, sourcing surplus and name-brand products to offer customers savings of up to 60 percent compared to traditional grocery store pricing. The company partners with Independent Operators who run each store, manage hiring, and select much of the product mix based on local demand.
The Linda Vista site will bring the concept into an established retail corridor that already includes a mix of neighborhood-serving businesses and national chains. The Lemon Grove location similarly sits in a commercial area with strong everyday grocery demand, particularly near Broadway’s retail cluster. Both spaces are former Rite Aid stores, continuing a broader trend of pharmacy-to-grocery conversions across San Diego County.
Grocery Outlet was founded in 1946 and has grown to more than 560 stores nationwide, according to company information. The chain has built its model around flexible local ownership, allowing operators to tailor inventory and merchandising while maintaining the company’s core discount pricing structure.
The company’s Independent Operator model also emphasizes community involvement, with operators encouraged to support local organizations and manage store operations independently. Grocery Outlet’s broader business approach focuses on rotating inventory, allowing stores to carry a changing selection of surplus goods and seasonal items depending on availability.
With two San Diego County locations in development, Grocery Outlet continues to expand its footprint in Southern California’s value-focused grocery sector.
