New Target prices average 15% higher and Where is Chronic Taco?

A 15% price difference...

East Long Beach Tale of Two Target Stores:

Student Convenience  or Student Gouging?

Depending on which way the CSULB dorm students turn from Beach Drive onto Bellflower Blvd. to get to a nearby Target store determines if they are spending more or less money by an average of 15% .

Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods (LACAN) did  a random survey of 37 items from the 4th District Los Altos Target at 2270 N Bellflower Blvd., and the new 3rd District Iron Triangle Target (aka the "Bixby Village Target")  at 5760 E 7th Street in the former Ralph's Market (Bellflower/7th ). The stores are 2 miles apart, 1.5 miles from the CSULB dorms to Los Altos store and 7/10ths of a mile to the Iron Triangle store. The Iron Triangle Target is directly across 7th Street from the VA Hospital.

The "Iron Triangle" is the nickname for the area where the intersections of Bellflower Blvd., PCH. and  7th Street all converge.  The official name of the shopping center located on the southwest corner is Bixby Village Plaza.

Out of the 37 random items surveyed by LACAN at the two East Long Beach Targets, 28 (76%) had higher prices at the Iron Triangle Target ( see price comparisons below).  Our list started with 50 items, but the much smaller Iron Triangle Target did not have all the items on our original list.

The difference in the regular prices of the 28 items that were more expensive at the smaller Iron Triangle Target ranged from 2% higher (hot dog buns) to 49% higher (Target brand plastic forks).  The combined price average for the 28 items was 15% higher overall at the Iron Triangle Target.

LACAN spoke with Target Iron Triangle Store Manager Jeremiah Santos on Wednesday  July 13th. Mr. Santos acknowledged that the pricing difference exists. Santos stated that there are only about 15 Targets with similar pricing formats nationwide. He stated that most of the similar Targets were in isolated areas where the different pricing would make sense. Santos stated he has had conversations with the corporation that the area's shoppers were aware of the pricing differences because of the other Long Beach and Seal Beach Target stores being so close.

Santos stated that the convenience for CSULB students being able to walk to the store was an original factor in the pricing strategy.

The management company for the Bixby Village Plaza where the Target is located is Westar Management. The Westar website for the Bixby Village Plaza center gives this information about the "Bixby Target":

This new Target is still your favorite neighborhood store – but the “Bixby Target” features Target’s new, flexible format branding. About a fifth of the size of the traditional big-box Target store, this store features a convenient layout – complete with grab-n-go food items, products catered to the specific Long Beach neighborhood around it, and more. 

Click on: BIXBY VILLAGE

The "specific Long Beach neighborhood around it"  that the products are "catered" for includes: CSULB; the Veterans Hospital; two Bixby Village apartment complexes; Bixby Rivera condos; Alamitos Heights; and the neighborhood affectionately known as "The Hole". 

In addition to the pricing, the selection at the smaller Iron Triangle Target "flexible format"  was just that-smaller.  As an example, the Los Altos Target had different types (national and brand name) and  sizes of laundry bleach. The Iron Triangle Target carried just the Target brand in one size-2 quarts. The exact same bleach at the Los Altos Target was 5% less expensive ($1.82 vs  $1.92).  

At the Iron Triangle Target the only single paper towel roll available is the Target brand at $1.12.  The Los Altos Target carries single Brawny paper towel rolls for $1.02 and the Target brand roll for .99. That means the national brand  at Los Altos is  less 9% less than the Target brand at the Iron Triangle. The same Target Brand single roll paper towels at Los Altos is 12% less than at the Iron Triangle Target.

Eight items (22%) on our survey were priced the same at both stores-five of those were food staples-milk, eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, and Doritos chips. The other items with the same price were national brands of toothpaste, trash bags and printer paper.

Only one of the randomly selected items was less expensive at the Iron Triangle Target than the Los Altos Target, Folgers Regular 1 lb Coffee. Los Altos priced it at $9.59, or 10% higher than the Iron Triangle Target price at $8.59.

The smaller Iron Triangle Target is less busy, especially in the summer with CSULB students mostly gone and features a big self-checkout space.  The other major differences  are the Iron Triangle Target does not sell alcohol or have a pharmacy, while the Los Altos Target has both. 

Originally. Target's smaller version convenience store models, or " flexible format branding" were called TargetExpress and CityTarget.  The new Long Beach Iron Triangle was being planned as a "TargetExpress" just as the Target Corporation decided to do away with the multiple Target monikers ( including the large Super Target and Greatland Target brands)  citing consumer confusion in the various branding.  The change for all stores nation-wide to be branded just "Target" began in October 2015.

CLICK ON: New Long Beach Target

Price comparison week of July 11, 2016

ITEM                                                 Los Altos        Triangle               % Difference

Pure Protein Value Pack                    12.19               13.49                          10%

Yoplait Yogurt                                      .59                   .64                             8%

Thomas English Muffins                     2.49                 2.79                           11%

Welches Jelly                                       1.99                 2.12                             6%

Corn Flakes Cereal                             3.07                  3.57                           14%

4 pack Red Bull                                  6.39                 10.49                          32%

Sara Lee Bread loaf                            2.29                   2.49                            8%

Jiffy Peanut Butter                             5.49                   5.79                             5%

Bag of Apples                                     3.49                   3.99                          12%

Ball Park Franks                                 3.19                   3.42                            7%

Ball Park Buns                                    2.49                   2.54                            2%

Heinz Ketchup                                    2.94                   3.12                            6%

Barilla  Spaghetti                               1.12                   1.49                            25%

Ragu Sauce                                        1.99                  2.12                              6%

Nature Valley Granola                      3.89                   4.49                            13%                   

Target Package cheese                       2.84                   2.99                             5%                  

Bumble Bee Tuna Fish                      2.52                   2.57                            2%

Red Barron Pizza                               3.12                   3.79                            11%

_______________________________________________________________                 

Charmin "8=36 rolls"                           9.99                13.99                            29%

Target Plastic Forks (48)                     1.72                   3.39                            49%

HP #60 Printer Ink                             16.99                18.99                            15%

Hanes 6pk Socks                                13.99               16.99                             18%

Irish Spring 2 pack soap                       2.22                  3.99                            43%

Right Guard Deodorant                        3.52                  4.19                            16%

Arm and Hammer Laundry Soap         5.99                  6.99                            14% 

Target Bleach 2 qt                                1.82                  1.92                              5%

Target Single roll paper towel                .99                  1.12                            12%

Target Paper Plates                               4.39                  6.99                             31%

                                                            (for 200 pk)    (for 105 pk)*

*Target 200 package not carried

                                                           

SAME PRICED FOOD ITEMS

Alta Dena Milk  1 gal             4.19

1 dz Target eggs                     3.19

1 head of lettuce                     1.49

1 tomato                                   .99

Doritos                                    3.99

SAME PRICE OTHER ITEMS

Crest Tarter Control               2.79

HP Printer paper                     7.17

Glad 60 ct trash bags              11.99

One Item was less expensive at Target Iron Triangle

Folgers 1 lb  coffee

Los Altos= 9.59         

Iron Triangle=8.59

10% less

Los Altos Target  Protien bars $12.19

Iron Triangle Target Protien Bars $13.49

Hasta Luego for Los Altos Chronic Tacos?

Two weeks ago the Los Altos Chronic Taco was closed with a sign stating that the site was "TEMORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATION". 

Now that sign is gone and the space has been cleared out of all the inside fixtures except the counter.

Unconfirmed reports from neighbors who have spoken with former workers at the Los Altos site state that the manager told the workers they were closing because of lease issues.

The site does have a beer and wine license which in itself is a valuable asset. Whether it is permanently closed or will be remodeled is something that the neighborhood will be monitoring.