By Julie Gallant | [email protected] | The San Diego Union-Tribune
Nancy Hilchey was the first in line for the opening of the new Amazon Fresh store in Poway at 8 a.m. Thursday.
"I've been waiting two years for this to open," said Hilchey, who arrived at 4 a.m. with her sister, Susie Johnson of La Mesa. "I live down the street so this is very convenient. I'm looking forward to the store's fresh and healthy groceries, and I think it will have good deals."
She received a $100 Amazon gift card and bouquet of flowers from store officials for being the Poway store's first customer.
The line for the opening wrapped around the grocery store at 14837 Pomerado Road in the Twin Peaks Plaza shopping center near Target. The store has been ready for occupancy since early 2022.
The 44,500-square-foot store is the first Amazon Fresh store in San Diego County. Customers can expect to find national brands, produce, meat and seafood items, prepared foods, grab & go sandwiches, salads, wraps and snack boxes in addition to Amazon's private-label brands like Aplenty, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Saver and 365 by Whole Foods Market.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony store Manager Mo Alhayti welcomed the large crowd.
"Thank you for your support - we are here for you," said Alhayti, who has 15 years of experience as a store manager and district manager at Walmart in the Southern California region. "Have fun and enjoy the shopping experience."
County Supervisor Joel Anderson also greeted the shoppers by announcing Amazon Fresh is donating $10,000 to Feeding San Diego. The donation will support the nonprofit organization's food rescue program by providing 20,000 meals to people facing hunger, said a Feeding San Diego representative Kate Garrett.
Amazon Fresh in Poway will also continue to donate food to Feeding San Diego on a weekly basis, said Amazon spokesman Griffin Buch.
Poway City Councilman Brian Pepin joined officials at the opening-day ceremony where he said he was impressed by the large crowd.
"I'm excited that the first Amazon Fresh in San Diego County is right here in City Council District 1," Pepin said. "I'm also glad to hear that they're employing local Poway residents."
He said he plans to shop at the store "all the time."
Douglas Robinson said he likes having options for shopping at another store besides Albertsons and Vons. The Rancho Bernardo resident said he was curious about the store that he had seen was empty for a couple of years.
"I'm retired and I'm a coupon cutter so that's why I'm here," he said.
Beatrice Thomas said she came from Rancho Penasquitos to see what the opening was all about after she received an Amazon Fresh flyer in the mail. Thomas said she arrived at 5:30 a.m. to shop for groceries and see if the store has better deals than its competitors.
The first Amazon Fresh store opened in the Woodland Hills community of Los Angeles in 2020. Other Amazon Fresh stores continued to open in Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York and New Jersey. Currently there are more than 50 Amazon Fresh stores open throughout the United States, according to the company.
Deron Thompson, regional manager of Amazon Fresh, said the new store offers a wide selection of national brands, high-quality produce and fresh-prepared meals. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
"We're thrilled to open our newest Amazon fresh grocery store right here in the heart of Poway," Thompson said. "This opening invites customers in Greater San Diego to experience grocery shopping with Amazon Fresh, both in-store and online."