Togo’s will return to Tracy with a scheduled July 9 opening next month in the Safeway shopping center. The last Togo’s in Tracy was in the West Valley Mall under two different owners from 1996 through 2008.
The new franchise will be owned and operated by a partnership and will take over the former Quiznos store at 1867 W. 11th St. The shop will be the second opened by the four partners, who purchased their first Togo’s nearly five years ago at 1433 W. March Lane in Stockton, according to managing partner Travis Grubb.
Grubb said they settled on the vacant store in Tracy after an extensive search.
“We exhausted much of San Joaquin County, and that one stood out,” he said. “It’s a great intersection — four points of entry; ample parking; there is going to be a constant flow (of customers). We felt now was a good time (to open).”
Grubb said the store will carry the full Togo’s menu, including soups, salads, daily sandwich and combo specials, and catering as well.
Togo’s will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
The news comes days after the closure of Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, just a few storefronts to the north in the same strip.
According to a sign left on the door by management, Baja went out of business May 28. No contact information was available for the former franchise owner, and Rocki Chaparo of the city’s finance and administrative services said she could not release the former manager’s personal information.
Nearby merchants say the shop closed when its lease expired.
“Like Quiznos, their lease ended, and they (property owners) raised their rent, and the manager said rather than stick around, they closed,” said Starbucks supervisor Angelica Correa, who manages the coffee shop in the same small strip in the Safeway shopping center.
Correa said she learned about the situation from a former Baja employee.
“So sudden,” Correa said. “A lot of customers came in saying, ‘What happened to Baja Fresh?’ Over the weekend we saw people walking up to it.”
An employee of nearby Cold Stone Creamery, Angie Juan, said she heard the same thing from a co-worker.
A construction worker in the area said he was told Baja was open one day, and the next day management was handing out checks to employees outside the front door.
The restaurant opened in the Safeway shopping center 10 years ago.
The mystery retailer going in (who wanted a bigger sign) is BevMo!
It's a shame that the property owner decided to up the rent in a recession...I'm guessing that this is pretty common since most of the strip malls are 1/2 full...only a speculation of course. That said...the owner of the mall with Big Lots, Ace, Kengo Sushi and Mandarin Villa knows his/her stuff. That place is always fully rented!
One has to make it rentable to make it rented. It may mean a short term loss of some money, but isn't that better than a long term loss of all money?
Sorry to see Baja Fresh leave. I liked their burritos and salsa.
Does anyone have any info on other restaurants opening up in Tracy?
How about the rumors that Elephant Bar is opening where Chevy's stood? I remember a few months ago the details were getting worked out.