Future of Fresh & Easy's Santa Monica Store Remains Uncertain

Uncertainty still surrounds future locations of Fresh & Easy, such as the one slated to open at the former Magnolia Audio Video in Santa Monica's Mid-City neighborhood.

The store's parent company, Britain-based Tesco, announced Wednesday that it plans to pull out of the United States and sell Fresh & Easy. 

“For now, there are no updates on any unopened stores depending on the outcome on the sale of our business,” said Stephanie Patryla, a Fresh & Easy  spokesperson.

Tesco will end it's five-year adventure in the United States by writing off $1.8 billion.

"Tesco has already received interest from a number of parties including groups looking to purchase Fresh & Easy as an operating business," according to a company public relations email Wednesday. "Even though our parent company plans to leave the U.S., we’re pleased to confirm there are no plans to close any portion of Fresh & Easy."

However, the Tesco Strategic Update describes Fresh & Easy as a "discontinued operation."

Fresh & Easy entered the U.S. by opening shops in California, Arizona and Nevada right as the recession hit and in communities hit particularly hard by the subprime mortgage crisis.

Plans to introduce Fresh & Easy to Santa Monica were met with mixed reactions. Some residents in the Mid-City neighborhood said they looked forward to having a market within walking distance; others worry about the increased traffic it could bring.

-Patch editor Saul Daniels contributed to this report.