Six months after ‘Great’ opening, Cardenas closes

Just six months after the store’s “Great Opening Cardenas Market on Monument Blvd. has packed it in.
Citing poor sales and “lack of community response” by a store manager, the Mexican supermarket closed its doors with very short notice on March 4.

When Cardenas opened last August 28, the store held a lavish grand opening, giving away tens of thousands of dollars to local schools and other organizations. The location seemed good for the store, as it was near one of the most successful Costco stores in Northern California on the busiest street in Concord:

“The crowds were there for weeks after the store opened,” said community activist, George Fulmore.

Many shopped there to enjoy the experience of loud Latin music, fresh tortillas and tamales and a buffet of Mexican delicacies, he said in an email to the Pioneer.

“But, from what I could see and hear, many of the early shoppers rotated back to FoodMax and other Monument markets, where prices were lower, and where the employees knew them.”