With Pancho Villa Market soon closing its doors after two decades serving San Diego, nearby North Park Produce is hiring some displaced staff and adding a "Super Mercado" section with Mexican and Hispanic products to fill the gap.
North Park Produce, long known for its diverse selection of Middle Eastern and Central European groceries, is adding a robust Hispanic grocery section to its El Cajon Boulevard location. The Super Mercado expansion will include the addition of a tortilleria, agua fresca bar, prepared foods, and a carneceria, maintaining many of the cherished staples that Pancho Villa Farmers Market has been known for over the years.
To aid in the transition, North Park Produce is acquiring equipment from Pancho Villa, including their tortilla-making machine, and has committed to hiring several of Pancho Villa's employees. This move will help preserve the expertise behind some of the market's most popular offerings, such as freshly made tortillas and marinated meats. The addition of the Super Mercado highlights the market's dedication to diversity and innovation, ensuring that residents of Normal Heights and North Park continue to have access to the cultural foods and products they rely on.
North Park Produce has been a staple in San Diego's grocery landscape since its founding in 1980. Known for catering to the city’s diverse culinary needs, the market has earned a reputation for its fresh produce, specialty imports, baked goods, prepared dishes, and wide range of international ingredients. With locations on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park and Chase Avenue in El Cajon, North Park Produce has consistently evolved to reflect the communities it serves, and this latest expansion is a testament to its commitment to meeting local demand.
Founded in 2004 by Stephen W. Boney, a member of the family behind Sprouts and Henry’s Market, and named after the iconic Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa Farmers Market was a trailblazer in bringing authentic Latino products to San Diego. Its upcoming closure marks the end of an era, leaving approximately 50 employees searching for new jobs and the community without its only dedicated Latino supermarket. While rumors suggest a Sprouts Farmers Market may take over the location, the loss of Pancho Villa leaves a gap that will be deeply felt.
North Park Produce Super Mercado is expected to unveil by year's end at 3551 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit northparkproduce.com.
North Park Produce has been a staple in San Diego's grocery landscape since its founding in 1980. Known for catering to the city’s diverse culinary needs, the market has earned a reputation for its fresh produce, specialty imports, baked goods, prepared dishes, and wide range of international ingredients. With locations on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park and Chase Avenue in El Cajon, North Park Produce has consistently evolved to reflect the communities it serves, and this latest expansion is a testament to its commitment to meeting local demand.
Founded in 2004 by Stephen W. Boney, a member of the family behind Sprouts and Henry’s Market, and named after the iconic Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa Farmers Market was a trailblazer in bringing authentic Latino products to San Diego. Its upcoming closure marks the end of an era, leaving approximately 50 employees searching for new jobs and the community without its only dedicated Latino supermarket. While rumors suggest a Sprouts Farmers Market may take over the location, the loss of Pancho Villa leaves a gap that will be deeply felt.
North Park Produce Super Mercado is expected to unveil by year's end at 3551 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit northparkproduce.com.
Originally published on November 21, 2024. Photo of North Park Produce from Alexander Fazekas-Paul.
