It was only yesterday that we played part in a rabid conversation among loved ones about how much L.A.'s Westside wants, nay, needs its own 99 Ranch Market. Not all of us are on Erewhon and Bristol Farms budgets over here after all and our reasonably priced supermarkets are disappearing fast.
Today, lo and behold, what did we glimpse with our own two eyes while out for a quick tongue sandwich from one of Westwood's Persian stalwarts? A 99 Ranch Market under construction at 1360 Westwood Boulevard, a two-story one in the old Ross space, licensed to sell beer and wine as an indoor eating place.
Our hearts skipped a beat. The live crabs! The hua juan, and Taiwanese chips! The cow pizzle! The savings on a couple of gallons of fuel to Van Nuys!!
The new 49,393-sq-ft. space, according to a recent report in What Now Los Angeles, will have a yet-to-be-named restaurant and 44-seat outdoor dining area on its upper floor.
99 Ranch's origins stretch back to its opening in 1984 in Buena Park. Since then, the chain has over 60 locations in various U.S. cities, typically opening up new locations in neighborhoods with large Chinese, Taiwanese, Asian, and Asian-American communities.
While the store is likely hoping to be a big draw for UCLA students, we can attest how popular 99 Ranch has become in general over the years with various other L.A. communities who make regular drives to their closest outlets for such pleasures as fresh produce, warm bao, frozen dumplings, and live seafood at great prices.
We definitely expect to see a strong showing from the Westside's Slavic and Persian grandmas once this currently under construction project is ultimately unveiled.
