SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The long-awaited grand opening of the new Save Mart store in South Lake Tahoe met with fanfare Tuesday as members of the community, elected officials and other dignitaries joined in on a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
As part of its grand opening celebration, Save Mart made community contributions to organizations serving the South Lake Tahoe area, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake Tahoe, Keep Tahoe Blue, Vista Rise Collective, Bread & Broth, Christmas Cheer, and Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, as well as donations to South Tahoe Middle School and Lake Tahoe Community College.
In total, the company donated more than $8,500 in gift cards, food products, and support to local schools and nonprofits during the grand opening.
The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) took part in a high-energy Local Heroes Bagging Showdown. Working off shopping lists, members of the two departments ran through the aisles to fill shopping baskets and carts with as many items as they could find, then bag them up. Cheering people rooted for the teams throughout the store, and then at the checkstands when the results were unveiled.
SLTPD’s Evidence Tech Melissa Dube and detectives Dylan Sullivan and Chuck Rosech ran through the store to grab and bag up $489.14 worth of groceries.
SLTFR firefighter//paramedics Luke Daum, Wade Norberg, and Josiah Felber ran through the store to grab and bag up $397.19 worth of groceries.
SLTPD won the contest, but the real winners were local nonprofits who feed the community, showing true impact in motion. Bread & Broth received a $750 gift card to Save Mart, plus all of the groceries the two teams collected. Phoenix Food Pantry and Christmas Cheer also earned $750 gift cards.
Community was the theme of the day as the doors officially opened to the 38,000-square-foot building.
“South Lake Tahoe is a special place, and we don’t take lightly what it means to earn a place here,” said Bobby McDowell, vice president of operations for Save Mart. “We’re not just opening a store. We’re putting down roots. That means showing up with great food, a team that genuinely cares, and a real investment in this community for the long haul.”
Store Manager Chet Graska and company CEO and President Jim Perkins joined McDowell in welcoming the community to the store.
“Trust is earned one transaction at a time,” said Graska.
Perkins added that the company is all about people and the community, and he said they are looking forward to being back in beautiful Lake Tahoe.
Highlights of the store include the largest selection of in-house cut fruit and vegetables in the market, a full-service butcher block and seafood counter, in-house made sushi, an expanded service deli with grab-and-go options, a bakery with custom cake decorating, and a broad selection of locally sourced produce – including prepared items like fruit parfaits, guacamole, and salsa. Company management said if customers don’t find what they want, let the manager know, and they will add it.
The store also features same-day delivery and curbside pickup, with branded parking spots and clear wayfinding for online order retrieval. Shoppers can maximize their savings by joining Save Mart Rewards – unlocking Member Pricing on a rotating selection of weekly essentials, cash back redeemable at checkout, Shell Fuel Rewards at participating Shell stations, digital coupons, and more. New members receive $5 off a first $25 purchase when they sign up in-store or at savemart.com.
The new Save Mart is located at 1020 Al Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Their hours are 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
In the lead picture above: L-R, SLTPD Melissa Dube, Dylan Sullivan and Chuck Rosech; SLTFR Josiah Felber, Wade Norberg and Luke Daum.
