“We thought that there would be more foot traffic and that is something that we overestimated,” he said.
And while Sato said the decision comes at a time when the company is still growing — he expects to have 20 American stores up and running by 2009 — it means a loss for many downtown office types and teens who have come to rely on the shop’s diversity of snacks and beverages.
Glendale resident and frequent Famima customer Anaeis Ohanian said she’ll hate to see the shop go.
“I love this store,” she said, while sitting at one of the store’s outdoor tables with friend Ava Schmidt.
Both girls say the staff was personable and friendly.
“We made a lot of friends with the people here because we live nearby,” Schmidt said.
The store’s concept is to combine the speediness of a fast-food eatery with the quality of a high-end grocery store, company officials said.
It’s a blend that often enticed Glendale resident Tommy Queally.
“It looks new,” he said, while browsing a gleaming, refrigerated shelf of Vitamin Waters. “It’s just something different that was in Glendale.”
Sato said the store’s closure is part of the company’s practice of moving quickly when profit goals are not met.
“For our kind of business, we try to relocate and try to be very movable because if there are better locations or if we’re not getting the expected profit, we calculate and see if that location works,” he said. “The rent was doable, the landlord was very good, and especially the people around there were really good, so it’s a pity to close like this but we would like to relocate.”
RYAN VAILLANCOURT covers business, politics and the foothills. He may be reached at (818) 637-3215 or by e-mail at ryan.vaillancourt@latimes.com.
