As the sun came up in Pasadena on Wednesday, the sign on the brick building of Angel’s Food Market began to come down.
The sign removal is just one of the initial steps in Angel’s transition into Green Valley Marketplace, which the longstanding grocery store will officially become when it re-opens on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00am.
“It’s mixed emotions,” described Walt Clocker, whose family has owned Angel’s for 65 years. “My grandfather, Mr. Goodwin, purchased the store from the Angel family in 1960. We’re very happy that the store will continue to be a full-service grocery store for the community. It’s going to another family business that has been around for over 100 years, and is also very community-oriented. We’re keeping it local in that perspective.”
By Wednesday late-morning, the store was abuzz with both Angel’s and Green Valley staff working to transform the store. “We’re very excited,” said Rick Rodgers, Chief Operating Officer of B. Green & Co., which owns and operates Green Valley Marketplace. “From an expanded deli and hot bar area, to a floral department, to Lauer’s luscious baked goods, to fresh sushi, to gourmet cheeses – we think the community is going to be very happy about everything we’ll be offering here,” he said. “We will also become the first Green Valley location to offer an assortment beer, wine and liquor.”
This past January 23, Angel’s announced the acquisition, stating that their location at 4681 Mountain Road would become Green Valley Marketplace’s fourth location. Green Valley has locations in Chesterfield (the former Lauer’s location), Arnold, Maryland, and Elkridge, Maryland.
With the announcement of the acquisition, many of Angel’s loyal customers raised concerns about what changes would be made. One of those concerns expressed via social media was what would become of the Angel’s staff. “Green Valley is keeping the employees of Angel’s on board,” confirmed Clocker.
The community also expressed worry over what would happen to Angel’s beloved homemade salads – specifically their potato salads, macaroni salads and coleslaws. “There have been so many questions about the salads, and whether they would still be available here once Green Valley takes over. The answer to that question is absolutely yes, they will all still be available,” Clocker stated.
Clocker, who started at Angel’s in 1990, said he recently came across a photo of himself inside the store at two years old with an ink-stamper in his hand. “I grew up here,” he said.
When asked about what legacy Angel’s leaves behind, Clocker became emotional. “Angel’s legacy will always be its people. We’ve had many longtime employees that have been so well loved. My grandparents, from whom the salad recipes came from,” he said. “And I think they’ll mostly remember my parents. My mother, Joyce, and father, Tom – they were the heart and soul of this business.”
“I’ll miss the people. I really do feel we have the best customers. They’re like family. They know our employees and our employees know them,” Clocker described of what he’ll miss most about coming to work at Angel’s every day. “I love when I come in and see a group of customers standing in an aisle catching up. This store has become a neighborhood meeting space over the years,” he added.
As far as what’s next for the Clocker family, Walt said he has been so busy with the transition that he hasn’t had much time to give it thought. “For the immediate future, I’ll be helping with the transition. I’ll be helping the Green Valley people,” he said. “Then, I’m not sure. My father never retired, he’s 90 years old. I’ll stay involved in some way.”
Angel’s Food Market is closed Wednesday, March 12 through Friday, March 14. The store will reopen at 7:00am on Saturday, March 15 as Green Valley Marketplace.
“We wish to extend a huge thank-you to all of our amazing customers and associates who have supported us throughout many decades and allowed us to serve a community we love so much,” reads a statement from the Clocker family on the Green Valley website. “This transition to Green Valley Marketplace is an exciting step forward that allows us to preserve the heart of what Angel’s has always stood for, while offering even more to our loyal customers. We are confident that Green Valley shares our values, and we look forward to seeing this store continue to thrive under their leadership.”
