Savers, a for-profit thrift store, is taking the place of a former 99 Cents Only Store in Rancho Cucamonga.
Progressive Real Estate Partners inked the 10-year lease on behalf of the landlord at 9640 Baseline Road. Savers Value Village, its official name, is leasing a 23,500 square-foot anchor space.
Shoppers can expect to find an abundance of pre-owned clothing, accessories and housewares in Savers’ aisles.
The thrift store should be open by late 2025, Progressive reps said.
The retail center at the intersection of Baseline and Archibald Avenue includes US Bank, Dairy Queen and a variety of shops and service merchants. Progressive another anchor tenant is coming, but wasn’t prepared to name the merchant.
Savers operates a number of stores in Southern California, including locations in Riverside and Murrieta. This appears to be the first location for Rancho Cucamonga.
Vallarta Supermarkets opens in Hemet
For its 40th birthday, Vallarta Supermarkets is celebrating the opening of its newest store in Hemet.
The Van Nuys-based, family owned chain opened March 26 in a former Marshall’s at the Village West shopping center.
In addition to the usual pantry staples, Vallarta features a variety of small shops within the grocery store where customers can shop fish, desserts, tortillas, cheeses, fruit and marinated meats. The store even has a guacamole station, where shoppers can customize their favorite avocado mash.
The Hemet store also has a space shoppers might not expect at a grocery story: a tap room. The Sayulita Tap Room is the just second for the company. It offers customers a place to sit and watch sports on giant TVs, eat ceviche, tacos, hamburgers and more while sipping cold chavelas (beer cocktail).
“Every new store is an opportunity to provide fresh, quality ingredients, a taste of home, and a welcoming space for the community to come together—Hemet is no exception,” said Lizette Gomez, Vallarta’s director of marketing, in a statement.
The supermarket chain has 48 stores in California, including Hesperia, Victorville and Indio.
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American Fire Glass has rebranded as American Fire Products, marking a 20-year milestone for the Lake Elsinore company started by Matt Doll and his wife, Kelly, seen here with their family. The family-owned company’s core products include fire glass, used in fireplaces and patio fire pits, and other parts and accessories. (Photo courtesy of American Fire Products)
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American Fire Glass has rebranded as American Fire Products, marking a 20-year milestone for the Lake Elsinore company started by Matt Doll and his wife, Kelly, seen here with their family. The family-owned company’s core products include fire glass, used in fireplaces and patio fire pits, and other parts and accessories. (Photo courtesy of American Fire Products)
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Rebrand and a celebration for fire glass maker
American Fire Glass is rebranding as American Fire Products, part of a 20-year milestone for the Lake Elsinore company.
The company got its start in Matt Doll’s garage back in 2005 with his wife Kelly as the second employee. Together they grew the company from six employees in 2006 to 22 full-time employees today.
The company’s core product — fire glass — is used in fireplaces and patio fire pits.
“Fire glass was where we started, but today, we are so much more than that,” said Doll. “Our new name better represents the full range of high-quality fire products we offer.”
As the demand for his products grew, Doll expanded to manufacturing and distributing the parts that go with those firepits and fireplaces: the burners, electronic ignition systems and accessories.
Core clients include suppliers and distributors who sell to contractors and end users, with 40% of sales coming from e-commerce channels, Doll said.
That network means American Fire Products are sold nationwide to dealers and distributors and sold at thousands of retail locations, he said.
Find the company’s products online at AmericanFireProducts.com.
HVAC, plumbing companies merge
Lasting Legacy Plumbing, Heating & Air on Feb. 27 acquired Beaumont-based Chill Out Heating & Air.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the companies, which will be combined under Lasting Legacy’s brand name.
Lasting Legacy was founded in 2021 by Colby and Amanda Ballard. Colby comes from a family of HVAC and plumbing professionals, continuing as the fourth-generation to carry the trades forward. The company has 45 employees with two offices in Redlands, not far from the new Public House.
Chill Out Heating & Air was founded in 2015 by Joshua Pauley.
The combined company is retaining all Chill Out employees while creating new positions as Joshua Pauley transitions to retirement.
The expanded company also will be launching a Master Tech University to train new technicians.
For more information, go to www.calllastinglegacy.com or call 909-280-4800
For Master Tech University information, go to info@mastertechuniversity.com
On the move
Dan Ruiz was recently promoted to assistant general manager of Engineering and Operations at Rancho California Water District. He’s been with the water district since January 2023, first as director of Engineering and then senior director of Engineering. Previously, Ruiz was the engineering manager at Coachella Valley Water District.
Last week’s news …
Uber and Lyft drivers across California are waiting on a final back wages settlement with the rideshare companies. Some 5,000 drivers allege the companies owe them as much as $1.3 billion in back pay — about half of which is for damages. The dispute predates Proposition 22 which shield Uber, Lyft and other app-based delivery companies from paying drivers like employees instead of contractors, according to a story by jobs reporter and assistant business editor Pat Maio.
The long-awaited Farm House Collective opened Saturday in Riverside. The former 1950s hotel was vacant for years before being redeveloped into a retail center, using the guest rooms for restaurants and shops. There’s also a stage that is booking concerts well into the year, according to food writer Fielding Buck. Batter Rebellion is among the new eateries at the collective. Address: 1393 University Ave. For more information, go to farmhousecollective.com
Angels fans will have new food options at the Anaheim stadium this season. Highlights include s’mores waffles and sundaes, esquites cups with crushed chili-lime chips, mac and cheese with pork bell, and a hot dog creation topped with fries, according to Orange County’s food reporter Brock Keeling.
The business briefs are compiled and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items to sgowen@scng.com. High-resolution images can also be submitted. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
