Grocery shopping on Catalina Island will soon be an entirely different experience, thanks to a recent decision by the Avalon City Council. The decision allows Vons to begin construction on a brand-new grocery store, in the center of Avalon.
Located on Beacon Street between Catalina Avenue and Sumner Avenue, the new store will have off-street parking for both golf carts and full-size vehicles. It will replace a dirt parking lot and the shuttered Wilcox Nursery. The location was chosen to allow easy access for visitors and residents. With 20,000 square feet of space, the new store will offer plenty of room for grocery shopping on Catalina Island. The new Vons will however, be about a third of the size of an average Vons on the mainland. The new store will replace the two current Vons stores, both of which were dated and in need of extensive renovations.
Vons executives initially shared their plans for the new store about a year ago. Residents and visitors have both had extensive opportunities to review the plans for the store and its proposed location. Construction is expected to begin within the next few months.