After months of delay, the new Zanotto’s Family Market location in Sunnyvale has set a grand opening date for April 12.
According to Zanotto’s Market partner Troy Tibbils, the opening postponement from summer 2014 to April 2015 was largely due to unforeseen PG&E infrastructure issues. Tibbils said the building sat vacant for 15 years, so many of the problems encountered can be related back to extensive disrepair.
“It’s taken us a lot longer than we originally thought,” Tibbils said. “When you have something that takes six months, there’s also the three months of engineering that comes before that.”
But Tibbils remains optimistic that the delay will actually benefit the store in the long run.
“It’s like a classic car with all new parts. Once we get it up and running, it’s going to be really efficient and nice,” he said.
Tibbils added that the postponement has likely built up anticipation in the community.
“More people know we’re coming now than they would have six months ago,” he said. “I don’t think they’re getting frustrated with us yet; it was empty for a long time.”
In the last 60 years, the building, located at 1356 S. Mary St. in Sunnyvale, has housed an Orchard Supply Hardware store, an Alpha Beta Market and a Lucky’s supermarket.
Consumers can expect products similar to the other two Zanotto’s Markets located in San Jose, which include soups, sandwiches, deli meats, seafood, more than 30 varieties of handmade salads, and a wide selection of beer and wine. Zanotto’s also features a specialty called Piedmontese beef.
At 23,000 square feet, the Sunnyvale Zanotto’s will be the largest of the three stores.
Tibbils is confident that the new Sunnyvale store will do well because of the presence of families and traditional households in the community.
“I think we’ll be successful here,” he said. “We’re not a big box store; we’re quality service, products and atmosphere. I think this neighborhood will be okay with that.”
The store will also offer a cafe-like atmosphere for customers to eat and even have a bottle of wine or beer with lunch.
Wine tasting and food pairing events, popular at the other Zanotto’s locations, will be carried over to the Sunnyvale location.
Above all, Tibbils is hoping the new Zanotto’s is a hit with customers.
“It starts with good products and great service, and it ends with the people that come here feeling like it’s their store,” he said. “That’s what we want.”
The grand opening will likely feature product samples, vendors and a ceremonial opening event.
For more information about Zanotto’s Market, visit zanottos.com.
