Revamped Ralph's Plans On Hold For Now
Bids For Ralph's Renovation Come In Well Above Company's Planned Budget
Posted on September 29, 2011 by Matt.
With the exciting news we discussed in yesterday's blog that the new Target store will be opening in San Clemente next Wednesday, we were hoping to eventually bring good news about the planned renovation of the Ralphs store in Southwest San Clemente. The current Ralph's, located at 903 S. El Camino Real, has been the subject of intense debate over the past couple of years; there have been previous plans to redo the entire aging lot of which Ralphs is a part, and recent plans have called for renovating the Ralphs alone and turning it into a Ralphs Fresh Fare that would be almost 9,000 square feet larger than the current store. A few months ago, we posted a blog, "New San Clemente Ralphs Receives Thumbs Up From City Council," showcasing the San Clemente City Council and Planning Commission's support for the project. The plans were for Ralphs to accept bids for the renovations and attempt to begin work on the new store sometime in September. According to a recent article in the San Clemente Times, the project has hit a snag due to budgetary concerns related to received bids.
The Times' article, "Plans for Ralph's on El Camino Real Slow as Budgets Bust," claims that the supermarket chain had to put the project on hold because the bids that came in were 25% above the planned budget. According to the article, the proposals came in more than $1 million above their expected plans and that Ralphs is asking the City to help find ways of lowering the costs of the renovation. Items that Ralphs would like city officials to consider changing include sidewalk pavers, historic tile murals, exterior lighting, water fountains and features, and other aspects. The hope is, according to quotes in the article, that Ralphs and the city will know the status of the project within weeks.
Hopefully Ralphs and the city can find a way to make this project become a reality. As we have stated repeatedly in this blog, the current Ralphs is old and located in a rundown lot that could really use a facelift. A Ralphs Fresh Fare would be a great addition to the southern part of San Clemente as there are currently few grocery options for residents in this area. We will keep you aprised of the situation as it unfolds, so stay tuned!