"This store has been tailor-made to embody the distinct culture that makes North Park extraordinary," says Barons Market Vice President of Marketing Rachel Shemirani. "We infused the character of North Park into every element of this store, from the parking garage to the ceiling, to bring the neighborhood a market that shares its passion for public art and local community."
At the core of this effort, Barons collaborated with five artists local to North Park and surrounding neighborhoods to create three custom murals - two inside the store and one in the parking garage below.
In addition to locally designed and crafted murals, Barons worked with Retail Designer Julie Dugas of Studio H2G to transform the 15,000 square-foot space with a style more akin to a modern-day market than a traditional grocery store.Behind its urban décor, Barons Market North Park offers features including products that cost 25-30 percent less than traditional supermarkets, a local coffee corner featuring blends from five local coffee companies including North Park’s Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, more than 400 microbrews with many San Diego craft beer options, an olive oil and vinegar tasting bar, an expanded selection of fresh and all-natural grab-and-go options, a hot soup bar, fresh salad bar and antipasto bar, and an in-store, squeeze-it-yourself orange juice press.
Formerly a Fresh & Easy, the location at 3231 E. University Avenue becomes the market’s seventh Southern California location, joining three San Diego County stores in Point Loma, Rancho Bernardo and Alpine, and three Inland Empire stores in Murrieta, Wildomar and Temecula. Barons Market North Park brings more than 40 jobs to the neighborhood -- for which it prioritized hiring locally. This opening comes on the heels of Barons Market’s Murrieta store, which opened in early 2016. This marks the first time the market has opened two locations in one year.
For more information on Barons and its North Park location, visit baronsmarket.com.
