After months of uncertainty and rumblings around town over what store would replace the old HOWS Market at the Trancas Country Market in western Malibu, center representatives have confirmed the successor as Vintage Grocers, a new independent market.
Several banners went up on Wednesday displaying the new name and center representative Scott Rozier said he is hoping for a March 1 opening, with possibly a soft opening around Feb. 19.Â
Rozier had originally estimated a January opening but said he faced “a lot of delays during the holiday season.”Â
The banners detail services to be offered at the grocery store: brick oven pizza, sandwich bar, juice bar, hot buffet and salad bar.
Rozier could not estimate how many people Vintage Grocers would employ, but a management team should begin the hiring process in the next few weeks.
“We’re trying to keep the old taste of Malibu,” he said.
Erewhon Natural Grocers had agreed in principle to occupy the former HOWS space in 2012, but backed out of the deal in September 2013, citing prolonged construction delays.
