Littleton Mayor Doug Clark and store manager David Crookston cut the cake at the opening of the Littleton SmartCo, on Bowles Avenue near Lowell Boulevard, Aug. 4. Photo courtesy SmartCo.
Hundreds of grocery shoppers lined up before the sun came up Aug. 4 for the opening of a new grocery store in Littleton, as SmartCo opened its second store in the southern suburbs. Two weeks earlier, Centennial officials cut the ribbon in their town.
SmartCo stores, which are about the same size as regular supermarkets with options to buy in bulk like big box club warehouses, took over formerly shuttered Albertson’s stores. The California-based company opened five Denver-metro stores this summer – Littleton the final one – and announced plans to expand in Colorado with 20-25 stores in the next few years.
Centennial Officials cut the ribbon at the new SmartCo store in Centennial, on Smoky Hill Road near South Buckley Road, July 26. Courtesy photo, by Brian Molitoris.
The Centennial store is at 16746 E. Smoky Hill Road, near South Buckley Road, and the Littleton store is at 3615 W. Bowles Ave., near South Lowell Boulevard.
At the two grand openings, SmartCo made a pair of $2,500 donations to local nonprofits, a total of $10,000 in Centennial and Littleton. The Gathering Place and Colorado Storm Soccer Association received donations from the Centennial store, while the Littleton Public Schools Foundation and Women’s Bean Project received donations from the Littleton store.
The Gathering Place and Women’s Bean Project support women in poverty and unemployment by giving refuge and providing job-entry skills. The Littleton Public Schools Foundation supplements Littleton Public Schools with program grants for teachers and schools and with scholarships for students.
“As SmartCo Foods’ new Littleton store manager, I’m committed to supporting the local community, delivering quality food and products at excellent values, and providing top-notch customer service,” said David Crookston, Littleton store manager.
