California grocer opens first Arizona store this week

Vallarta Supermarkets, a California grocery chain known for its ready-made foods, cut meats and fruit drinks, will open its first store outside of the state this week.

A new store will celebrate its grand opening in Glendale on Wednesday. Starting at 7:15 a.m., the celebration will include a live mariachi band, ballet folklorico dancers and free food samples.

“For Vallarta Supermarkets, expanding into Arizona felt like a natural next step after (building) such strong communities in California for the last 40 years,” a representative for Vallarta Supermarkets said. 

The new Arizona store will feature all of the signature items that the chain is known for, such as fresh-made tortillas from the in-house Tortillería, Vallarta’s carne asada, and hand-decorated cakes and pan dulce in the Panadería. 

The stores have brightly colored walls, intricate mosaics on central food stalls and a modern feel. The company has renovated a former Goodwill store on Camelback Road near 59th Avenue. 

The “La Cocina” department will be a hot food bar that offers a variety of traditional favorites from Mexico and Central America for breakfast, lunch or dinner, according to the store’s website. Their most popular items are tacos, burritos and quesadillas. La Cocina also offers quick bites, ready-made meals and catering for large gatherings.

Bakers at “La Panaderia” will craft fresh Latin American breads like conchas, puerquitos, mantecadas and bolillos throughout the day. The department also sells muffins, cookies, donuts, churros and conchas, as well as large cakes, cheesecakes and flan. 

Another department to make a stop at is “La Isla.” The tropical getaway in the middle of the store will have aguas frescas, horchata as well as fruit and vegetable juices.

Vallarta Supermarkets first opened in Van Nuys, California in 1985, originally selling traditional Mexican cuts of meat. The chain now operates more than 60 stores and remains family-owned.

“We are thankful they chose Glendale as their first [Arizona] store,” Glendale mayor Jerry Weiers said in a Facebook post. “Welcome to Glendale!”

Vallarta Supermarket

Opens at 7:15 a.m. on Jan. 14
5836 W. Camelback Road, Glendale