OGDEN — Rancho Markets, at 404 Washington Blvd., has closed its doors permanently. According to Brenda Leon, store manager of the company’s location at 905 26th. St., the store is relocating to 580 State St. in Clearfield.

In response to an email sent by a customer, Manager Irma Munoz said the company decided to sell Washington Boulevard property to an apartment developer with plans of redeveloping the entire block.

Rancho Markets President and CEO Eli Madrigal did not respond to requests for comment.

An engineer on-site last week, who declined to give his name or disclose the company he works for, said he was called out to inspect the building — a typical process, he said, when a building is up for sale.

Leon, whose store is situated approximately 3.4 miles away on 26th Street, said there is no need to have two markets close by. Some shoppers, however, do not agree.

One woman named Cindy, who did not provide her last name, said she often frequented the store. She believes there is a need for a second location on the north side of town, pointing to vacancies at the nearby Five Points shopping center.

Wangsgards Market and Bakery closed its doors at the Five Points complex in February 2020.

Rancho Markets is the third grocery store to close near the Five Points intersection since 2015, when Harmons vacated the site.

“Families need access to affordable fresh veggies and fruits,” Cindy said.

Leon said her store has had a 50% increase in business since the second location closed a few weeks ago.

Another Ogden resident named Lexi, who asked that her last name not be used, did not regularly shop at Rancho Market. However, she said she liked to take her daughter in the store for donuts while waiting for her car to be fixed at Big O Tires across the street.

“It’s kind of a bummer,” she said.

Deborah Wilber, Standard-Examiner

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