This major Hispanic grocery store is planning a Fresno location, aiming for a prime spot
El Super, the large grocery store with food from all over Latin America, confirmed it is planning to open another location in Fresno next year.
It did not say where, but a liquor license application notice has been posted on the window of the former Sears store next to Manchester Center at Blackstone and Shields avenues.
El Super already has a location in Fresno, at Tulare Avenue and First Street.
It’s a full-line grocery store with a meat and seafood counters, a tortillería making fresh tortillas and a panaderia/bakery with all kinds of baked goods, including pan dulce, the Mexican sweet bread.
It carries food from Mexico, Central and South America.
Prepared foods are also available, including ceviche, burritos, pupusas and drinks such as aguas frescas.
El Super’s parent company also owns Smart & Final, which has several locations in Fresno.
Sears at Manchester Center
The former Sears closed in early 2020, after more than 50 years in business. Its escalators to the basement sit still and empty in the middle of the store.
Although connected to the mall, the Sears building has a different owner.
Sacramento-based Ethan Conrad Properties reported it had bought the 52,896-square-foot former Sears in March.
Ross and dd’s DISCOUNTS opened in a portion of the same building in 2021.
Any El Super opening could be a ways off, with the company saying it planned to open a new store in 2024.
No permit applications have been filed yet for work on the property with the City of Fresno.
Ethan Conrad Properties did not immediately return messages seeking comment Wednesday. El Super did not confirm if a lease had been signed.
Until a lease is signed, it’s not a sure thing that a business will move into a spot.
Since liquor license application notifications must be posted for at least 30 days, businesses sometimes get a jump on the process before a deal is finalized. Downtown rooftop bar Quail State did something similar when it sold to new owners.
At the former Sears, several smaller spaces are still available for rent on the northern end of the building, along with the former Sears auto center. A proposed 30,000-square-foot building that’s still in the planning stages is also available for lease closer to Blackstone Avenue on the property.
This story was originally published September 14, 2023 at 8:30 AM.
