Sprouts Grow at the Corner of Geary & N. Main

The Sprouts Farmers Market, a natural foods grocer to anchor a retail center at the corner of Geary Road and North Main Street, near the Pleasant Hill border, has scheduled its opening for 7 a.m. Sept. 5.

"Our tag line is 'healthy living for less,'" said Sprouts President Doug Sanders. "Our main draw is produce."

Sprouts, based in Arizona, has been adding sites in Northern California in the last two years — in the Sacramento area and Dublin and Sunnyvale. Quite a bit of the produce for the chain comes from Northern California, Sanders said.

It will be a full-line grocery store, Sanders said, with meat, seafood, a deli, bakery, vitamins and produce.

was sought by Sprouts and its competitor, Henry's Farmers Market. Henry's had the inside track, and then it merged with Sprouts. "When the merger took place, we inherited the site," said Sanders.

Sprouts continues to look for other sites in the Bay Area, a growth area for the company, Sanders said.

The market plans to hire 75 to 80 people and is accepting applications.

Sprouts will be complemented by fast food, coffee and hair styling retailers. Lined up for the site are The Habit Burger Grill, Freebirds World Burrito, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Subway and Supercuts, according to the Beyond the Creek blog.