Norwalk celebrates Sprouts’ new grocery store

The Sprouts Farmers Market will be built on the corner of Alondra Boulevard and Maddison Avenue. Norwalk officials break ground on the future location of the Sprouts Market on Nov. 19. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK – Norwalk officials and business representatives took part in a groundbreaking ceremony at the new Sprouts Farmers Market location on Friday. Construction on the area is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Mayor Jennifer Perez said she is eager to have a Sprouts location in the city to encourage residents to pursue a healthier diet.

“This is something that the city has been asking to have for a while; new, alternative, organic ways of eating,” said Perez. “It’s a good step in the right direction.”

The market would also aim to bring jobs to young workers since the market is on the same block as Cerritos College and nearby the Excelsior Adult School.

“I’m sure with our students, it’s a great opportunity for potential jobs, shopping, and lunch,” said Perez.

Cerritos College president Dr. Jose Fierro attended the ceremony and was also excited by the business development.

“I’m excited to see if it’s a nice store. Students and faculty can come and get healthy options for lunch,” said Fierro. “It’s good, not just for the campus but for our community.”

The president shared the mayor’s goal of getting students employed and bringing jobs to the community.

“As we continue to partner with the city and with developers, one of our goals is to ensure we can facilitate the employment of our students. We may have some people who need to work a few hours within walking distance of the college,” said Fierro.

The push for another supermarket in the city began in 2018, when Norwalk adopted the economic development plan and identified which “nodes” to prioritize its resources. The following year, then-mayor Margarita Rios activated node seven for staff to start coordinating potential developments.

Rios says her prioritization of node seven helped move along the development of the Sprouts Farmers Market.

“I think we are on our way to making more positive changes if we continue this momentum,” said Rios. “My goal is to sell Norwalk by drawing interest from potential relators, like Sprouts. This is just the beginning.”

The Sprouts Farmers Market, on the corner of Alondra Boulevard and Maddison Avenue, is expected to open in fall 2022.