Bianchini's Celebrates 1st Anniversary at New San Carlos Location

April 29, 2010 - San Carlos, CA-The first anniversary of Bianchini’s Market San Carlos has arrived and what a year it's been! We opened our doors at 810 Laurel St. on April 29th, 2009. We can't believe how quickly time has gone by. The support our family has received from customers old and new has been overwhelming and we are so grateful to be such an integral part of this community.

Our commitment to good old fashioned service and uncompromising quality is something our late father Al Bianchini instilled in us early on. We hope that when you visit our store you experience that commitment. This is YOUR full service, local grocery store and we want to hear from you. Please tell us what you think on our website or talk with us when you're shopping.

We know that you have many choices about where to shop for your family. And so from our family and our staff, we wish to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU for choosing to shop at Bianchini's Market.

Here's to many more years of community, quality, and service!

Bianchini's Market Raises Funds for Samaritan House

December 2, 2009 - San Carlos, CA-Throughout the month of December, Bianchini’s Market in San Carlos will be holding its Holiday Donation drive for Samaritan House, one of the largest providers of vital services to the neediest in San Mateo County. All month, Bianchini’s customers will have an opportunity to donate any dollar amount to this 30 year old organization, which relies on private donations for over 68% of its operating budget. Samaritan House provides shelter, food, clothing, and other resources to over 12,000 clients county-wide. Bianchini’s Market chose to contribute to Samaritan House based upon the leadership role they take in building long term self-sufficiency for members of the community that need help the most. Samaritan House offers a safe place to sleep at their Safe Harbor emergency shelter. They serve over 120,000 meals per year in their dining room, and offer clothing to over 700 families. Other vital services include counseling, health care services, substance abuse counseling, and family resources. Family owned and operated, Bianchini’s Market has deep roots in the community. Brothers Kevin and Chris Bianchini have both served as San Mateo County fire fighters. After their family operated as Foodville in San Carlos at 616 Laurel Street for over 60 years, the brothers opened their new 20,000 square foot store under the family name at 810 Laurel Street in April 2009. This marks their first Holiday in the new location. Their Portola Valley store opened in 1998. Bianchini’s Markets are best known for their quality meats, seafood, poultry, and produce with a focus on local products and growers. Their old-fashioned, full service butcher departments have a loyal following that spans generations. Bianchini’s Market’s values of “community, quality, service” is a tradition they carry out year-round. Their 2 stores contribute over $300,000 annually to local schools through their e-scrip program. They are also regular donors to local service clubs, contributors to scouting and other community youth and elderly programs.

Bianchini’s Market Announces Opening Date

April 17, 2009 - San Carlos, CA-The long-awaited announcement of Bianchini’s Market opening at 810 Laurel Street, San Carlos, has finally been confirmed. The store will open its doors to the public on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. This ends months of questions among San Carlos residents about downtown San Carlos’s most high-profile addition.

In July, 2008, the Bianchinis inked a 30+year lease deal with the landlord, Laurel Plaza Partners, ending a long and competitive negotiation that began in June of 2005. Bell Market closed its doors in November, 2006, leaving the site empty, and causing concern in the community over who would ultimately occupy the coveted downtown space. Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market, a subsidiary of UK- based retailer Tesco, several independent grocery chains, as well as a 99 cent store all vied for the site. The community, however, wanted to see the Bianchini’s take the store over; a perfect fit, as downtown San Carlos balances growth with retaining a local merchant base.

Brothers Kevin and Chris Bianchini, both Peninsula firefighters who took over San Carlos institution, Foodville, from their late father Al and Uncle Jerry, closed that store last month, ending a tradition that spanned generations of Peninsula shoppers. The new store shares the name of their sister store in Portola Valley, which opened in 1998. The move and the name change have allowed the family to expand from a 68 year old, 8,000 square foot space to a newly remodeled 20,000 square foot space. Not only does this allow for a greater variety of merchandise and an updated look, but it will also attract a new generation of customers, while retaining its loyal, older customer base. Grocery store architect John Sutti designed the new store which underwent a complete interior remodel as well as cosmetic upgrades to the building’s exterior. The result will be an upscale but casual and accessible shopping experience.

The store will employ over 60 people and care was taken to hire locally. Revenues are expected to exceed $300,000 a week, which is a much needed boost to San Carlos’s budget-strapped coffers. The one question that remains, however, is when the State will approve the transfer of the liquor license from Foodville to the new location. After almost 4 months, it has not yet been approved; the family is prepared to open without it, despite unsuccessful appeals to the ABC. Unfortunately, this will be hit to potential revenues and a disappointment to customers.

Bianchini’s Market will expand on the family’s focus on their old-fashioned full service meat counter, as well as feature organic, locally grown produce, cheeses, an expanded deli, sushi, prepared foods, and grocery items from all over the world. Budget-conscious shoppers will also find the store meets their needs. There will be a full wine & liquor section as well. The new store’s offerings were chosen after months of gathering input from the community. It was clear they wanted a high-end yet cost-competitive shopping experience with a local focus. They also seem anxious to support a local retailer as opposed to a large chain. The family will also continue its active support of the community including the San Carlos Educational Foundation, e-scrip, and local service clubs and community events.

San Carlos Tradition Foodville to Close

March 13, 2008 - San Carlos, CA-Foodville Market, a downtown San Carlos tradition since 1941, will conduct its last day of business on Sunday, March 22, 2009. This marks the end of an era for the community, and for one of the Peninsula’s oldest family-run businesses. Located at 616 Laurel Street, the store was San Carlos’s first full-service grocery.

Originally built and operated as Territo’s in 1941, Foodville was eventually acquired by the Bianchini family, who created customer relationships that are rare today. Particularly famous for its old fashioned, full- service butcher department, it has a loyal following that spans generations on the Peninsula and beyond.

Foodville’s closing comes approximately 8 months after the Bianchini family, who has owned & operated the store since the 1960’s, announced the lease of 810 Laurel Street, formerly Bell Market, which sat vacant for over 2 years.

Brothers Kevin and Chris Bianchini, both local firefighters who took over Foodville from their Uncle Jerry and late father Al, will operate their new location as Bianchini’s Market, the name of their sister store in Portola Valley which opened in 1998. The move will allow them to expand the 8,000 square feet at the Foodville location to a 20,000 square foot space, designed by renowned grocery industry contractor, Sutti & Associates. With the move will come a greater variety of merchandise, an updated look, and a new generation of customers.

The new store will still feature its traditional butcher shop, expand on its current selections, as well as feature more in the way of organic produce, gourmet & international items, house made prepared meals, and grocery items. There will be a full wine & liquor section as well. The Bianchinis want to be “the full service grocery store in San Carlos.” An opening date will be announced upon the approval of the store’s liquor license. Given the State’s budget and limited personnel, this process has taken longer than expected.

Despite the bittersweet closing of Foodville, the community has enthusiastically supported the new Bianchini’s Market concept. Since announcing the transition, the Bianchini family went to great lengths to gather input from the community regarding items and brands they would like to see there.

Foodville’s name and location change will also allow them to expand on their already active level of community support. Currently, Foodville is an elite supporter of the San Carlos Education Foundation, an e-script participant as well as a regular donor to service clubs, community events, and fund-raisers.