Smart & Final Celebrates Grand Opening by Malika Miller - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events

Smart & Final Celebrates Grand Opening

By Malika Miller , Staff Writer
May 17, 2017 at 03:38pm. Views: 170

COLTON>> A crowd of nearly 100 gathered on Wednesday, May 10, to celebrate the grand opening of the new Smart & Final Extra! store, located at 1023 N. Mt. Vernon Ave.

The grand opening was eagerly anticipated by many, as the project originally broke ground back in November of last year. The original groundbreaking ceremony marked a special day for Colton, as it was merely the first in a series of projects coming to the city.

With the project now complete, and the doors opening for the first time, numerous city officials and local business owners showed up to celebrate the joyous two-day event.

Just one day prior to the opening, representatives  from  the Colton civic, business and non-profit communities held a ribbon cutting ceremony during a preview of the store.

The Smart & Final Extra! store is 27,000 square feet and will offer  warehouse prices, without the membership fee. The Colton Smart & Final location is also unique in that it will offer perishables and expanded frozen foods, deli and meat sections, as well as cut fruit, floral arrangements and more.

The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation also donated several checks to local organizations, The Ken Hubbs memorial Little League and the Seeds of Hope Foundation, each in the amount of $2,500.

Smart & Final is a well-known supporter of the businesses who inhabit the locations where its stores operates. Their donation was a way of giving back to the community who welcomed them with open arms.

The grand opening brought with it a sense of excitement and a spirit of comradery amongst the locals who were in attendance.  Officials who attended the event included Dan Flores, Chief of Staff for SB Supervisor Gonzales, David Toro, Colton Mayor Pro Tem, Richard DeLaRosa, Colton Mayor, Josie Gonzales, SB County Supervisor 5th district, Tony Myrell, President of the Colton Chamber of Commerce; Willam Pena, Smart & Final Regional Growth Rep.,  Chris Bergren, Principal Evergreen Developer, Colton Economic Development Manager; Frank Navarro, District 3 Colton Couniclmen; and Isaac Suchil, District 6 Colton Councilmen..  

“We’re excited to bring Smart & Final’s high-quality products at warehouse prices to the Colton community,” said James Christie, Store Manager at the new Colton store. “I’ve had the opportunity to work in a few Smart & Final stores before joining to open Colton, and to see our new Colton store built from the ground up has been incredible.”

According to Smart&Final.com, the “&” in their title represents the close ties the company carries with both the customers and the surrounding communities.

Originally founded over 140 years ago by J.S. Smart and H.D. Final, the company has never wavered from that promise.  

Smart & Final and Smart & Final Extra! provide food  and non-food products for catering events, business service providers and more.

They are often credited as being the go-to place for the shopping needs of families and local businesses.  

“Whether they’re shopping for their family, an event or a business, they’ll discover we offer club-sized products, the quality of a grocery store, and prices that are 25% lower than supermarket,” said Christie. “And we look forward to welcoming our new friends and neighbors of Colton. 

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 654

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 974

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 2387

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 712

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1336

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 614

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 699

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1539

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 755

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 576

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 843

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 790

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->