Avalon closer to welcoming a new Vons to service boaters, residents, tourists

AVALON — Lines that stretched from the register to the back of the store during summer months and an aged refrigeration unit no longer working in one of the aisles were among the issues plaguing one of Catalina Island’s two Vons locations, according to a corporate representative of the store. Bringing a new Vons location to Avalon has been something local leaders and residents have been discussing for the past few years. In November, a new Vons serving Avalon’s boaters, residents and tourists took one step closer toward becoming a reality. On Nov. 19, the Avalon Planning Commission supported the Vons project with a few caveats, including scrapping plans for a café and studying a better way to load deliveries at the backend of the store. According to Brian Braaten, Vons’ vice president of real estate, there are currently two Vons stores serving the island: the main location a few blocks from the harbor and an “express” store two blocks away. Both stores combined to be about 10,000 square feet in size and a few blocks away from each other. A barge from Palos Verdes makes deliveries three times per week to the main store. It is not uncommon for customers, whether a boater,...