Smart & Final Extra Grand Opening Preview Night in Paso Robles, CA #ChooseSmart #shop

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. #ChooseSmart

Here on the California Central Coast, Smart & Final is growing! We recently had a Smart & Final Extra open up in Arroyo Grande and just this past week, Smart & Final Extra opened up in Paso Robles. I had the opportunity to attend a Grand Opening Preview Night and it was a lot of fun and very memorable for me.

Why so memorable you ask? First, I had the opportunity to hang out for a few minutes and snap a picture with the Director of Corporate Communications, Randall Oliver. If you ever attend a Smart & Final Grand Opening or Preview Night, chances are pretty good that he’ll be there! Plus, I saw one of my instructors from the Paralegal Program at Cuesta Community College – Gary Rubin, Instructor of Business Management. That was pretty cool, especially since he remembered who I was and even asked for my business card! I also saw one of the women I worked with for a short time after I graduated with my Paralegal Certificate from Cuesta College. It was a pretty good time.

Not only did I see a few people that I’ve known from my past, I had a chance to walk around the new Smart & Final Extra in Paso Robles and let me tell you, it is awesome! The lighting is great, the store is spacious, and the meat and produce are top quality! Many North County residents are very excited about this new store opening because the closest Smart & Final Extra to them was a 30-45 minute drive down the Cuesta Grade into San Luis Obispo.

At the Grand Opening Preview Night, a private, on-site ribbon-cutting ceremony took place and was enjoyed by store associates, suppliers and local Chamber of Commerce and city officials. During the event, Smart & Final gave back to the community by donating $2,500 to both the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County and the Estrella Career Center at Cuesta College.

Smart & Final Extra in Paso Robles was prepared and ready for its Grand Opening Day on June 12th. They opened their doors to the public at 6:00 a.m. and gave away free reusable shopping bags at check-out while supplies lasted. They also gave away ten $100 SmartCash Gift Cards, which were to be given away every day from June 12 through June 16. Throughout the Grand Opening week (from June 13-18), Smart & Final Extra is offering special product demonstrations and samplings of their popular private label and national brand items, as well as special in-store offers on a variety of products.

To see more pictures of the Smart & Final Grand Opening Preview Night, please check out my Google+ Story.  Also, be sure to follow Smart & Final on Twitter & Facebook for great specials, recipes and more!