Natural Grocery 'Annex' Seeks Commission Approval

The in-progress "Annex" of the El Cerrito Natural Grocery – a new wing that will add a cafe and service counters for prepared foods – goes before the Richmond Planning Commission Thursday.

Although the grocery's sidewalk and mailing address are in El Cerrito, the business's buildings are in Richmond and thus subject to Richmond planning regulations. The commission will hold a public hearing on the permit application before taking any action.

The new wing, named Annex, is being installed in a former 7,000-square-foot paint store next door to the grocery. The Natural Grocery is seeking a conditional use permit for the Annex to serve as an eating establishment with sales of beer and wine and culinary classes.

Robin Valerie Low, the grocery's project developer for the expansion, said the previously expected opening date of the Annex this past January was delayed by an unanticipated delay in work by the PG&E engineering department.

A "soft opening" is now expected in August and possibly a "grand opening" in October, she said.

A staff report for the planning commission, prepared by Associate Planner Kieron Slaughter, recommends approval and offers this description of the Annex:

The prepared food annex will provide prepared foods for take-and-go, hot coffee, a wine and beer section, freshly squeezed orange juice and minimal seating for grocery store customers similar to arrangements found in Safeway and Whole Food Markets, but on a smaller scale. Additional products will be rotisserie chicken, a large vegetarian deli section, hot and cold prepared foods, sandwiches, soups, salad bar, olives and pizza. Additionally, there will be ice cream, baked goods, and artisan cheese counters. The applicant plans on contracting with Whole-Being Health to provide certified massage therapists so customers can relax with chair massages, similar to wellness programs at Pharmaca lntegrative Pharmacy and Alameda Natural Grocery. ln the future, the applicant plans to introduce catering and a boxed lunch program to local individuals and businesses. Lastly, if ihere is demand, the applicant would like to offer periodic culinary classes, wine-tasting events and catered receptions for special events. ... For many years, customers of The Natural Grocery Company have been requesting wine and beer to complement the existing grocery selection.

The estimated employment at the proposed prepared food annex is 65 employees of which an estimated 25-30 would be on duty during any given time. The business is proposed to operate seven days a week starting at 6;00 AM for coffee and pastries, with the remainder of the store opening at 9:00 AM. The normal closing time will be 10:00 PM with occasional special events that may require extended hours until midnight. The events would occur approximately 24 limes per year, and until 1:00 AM annually on New Year's Eve. Lastly, the Natural Grocery Company principals would like to occasionally hold community fundraising events that would be planned to end at 11:00 PM. ln light of these requests, staff recommends that the prepared food annex be granted permission to open at 6:00 AM and be open no later than 1:00 AM on a dally basis.

The report also notes that Low, the proposed operator, "has a background as a classically-trained chef and restaurateur, and was the former chef-owner of Post Meridian, a 49 seat restaurant in Kensington. The operator has performed a variety of food-related roles over the past 20 years including chef, caterer, event planner, food writer, teacher and recipe taster." 

The owner is identified in the staff report and meeting agenda as "Chou William Hong-Yee, c/o Gordon Lu."

The conclusion of the staff report calls the proposal "an attractive, vibrant, and safe prepared food annex store in a visually prominent location. The project will be compatible with the surrounding area and will provide positive benefits to the local community and Richmond in general by providing economic investment, jobs and a variety of shopping choices. The operation of the prepared food annex with on-sale and off-sale beer and wine sales and an educational facility will make the subject site vibrant and eliminate a vacant building.

"Based on the safety and security measures proposed by the applicant, and the proposed conditions of approval, staff is confident that on-sale and off-sale beer and wine sales will be handled with responsibility, sensitivity and in a professional manner."

Low said the Natural Grocery encourages community members to email the planning commission is support of the proposal and to attend the meeting. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Richmond City Hall.

The staff report on the Annex application and the roster of the commission members are attached to this article.

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