Hello,Dean wrote:
The San Juan Capistrano CA location @ 11890 Plaza Drive was converted to Rite Aid. Still has the pharmacy in the front left side. Site received a complete Rite Aid remodel. Yet, NO Thrifty Ice Cream scooped on site! When recently there...I asked if I was missing it somewhere in the store! They referred me to the Rite Aid across the street...32121 Camino Capistrano. This site is an OLD Thrifty. STILL has the REDISCOVER THRIFTY signage throughout the store! Surprised that both sites coexist. Especially since the PayLess site was remodeled, and the Thrifty was not.
I read this post a few months ago and wrote down the Camino Capistrano Rite Aid address when you mentioned it is one of the few former Thriftys that still have not recieved an interior remodel. Haven't had the chance to make it way down south to San Juan Capistrano, but on Saturday as chance may have it I had some business to attend to down there. Before I left back home I drove to the aforementioned Rite Aid hoping to catch a glimpse of this time capsule. I was first thrown off by a large "GRAND OPENING" banner that loomed over the entrance.
Intrigued, I entered and noticed the entire store had a generic Rite Aid internal packaging inside. A friendly clerk informed me that the store had been remodeled just a few months ago (hence the decieving "Grand Opening" sign)! She confirmed that prior to the remodel the interior still had the original Thrifty decor, including antiquated wooden shelves and racks -- (has anyone else ever seen similar fixtures?) The store manager mentioned that the former Thriftys on PCH x Beach Blvd has not been touched for several decades.
Anyhow, if anyone took a picture of the interior or remembers this wood-inspired design, please speak up! The store was originally built in 1973 and most of the buildings in the shopping center still retain the wood and concrete block 70's architectural design. Also, the Ross department store (adjacent to the north of Rite Aid) opreated as a Vons from 1973-early 1980s before becoming Builders Emporium.