Citrus Heights city officials and Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce members joined together in an official afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - It was an “appealing” start for Citrus Heights’ newest grocery store, Amazon Fresh, which celebrated its grand opening last Thursday, Nov. 7 in style, as complimentary free bananas distributed by Amazon “banistas” to customers who lined up early for their chance to win an Amazon.com gift card and enjoy opening day grocery savings.

Amazon Fresh is located between the newly opened Club Studio Fitness and Joanne’s Fabrics which relocated to the end of the plaza near Uplands Way.

Sunrise Village Plaza at the corner of Madison Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights is owned by the San Francisco-based Merlone-Geier investment company. The center has undergone a $15-to-20 million remodeling and expansion project, which included new landscaping and upgraded signage.

Customers will find national brands, produce and protein, as well as Amazon's private-labeled brands.

Many lined up well before the 8 a.m. opening to be among the first 100 opening day customers in line to receive an Amazon.com gift card and a free exclusive Citrus Heights themed tote bag.

Amazon has long operated a community banana stand around its Seattle corporate headquarters offering free bananas to its employees and passersby. Its banana mascot was also on hand to pose for keepsake photographs and participated in the store’s grand opening ceremony

Once inside, customers who steered their green shopping carts followed colorful overhead signage above to find meat, produce, and baked goods and to check out a selection of ready to prepare meal items. 

Staff members actively engaged with customers and a “Good to See you, Citrus Heights” sign greeted shoppers who arrived at individual self-checkout stations when they completed their purchases.

A “Good to See you, Citrus Heights” sign greeted shoppers who arrived at individual self-checkout stations.

Citrus Heights city officials and members of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce joined together in an official afternoon ribbon cutting ceremony as individual proclamations from county and state government representatives were read.

Amazon Retail LLC, which is doing business as Amazon Fresh, is the company’s third grocery store location in the region, according to the company’s website. Online, the company also lists Amazon Fresh locations in Elk Grove and Roseville.

The new grocery store features its latest brick-and-mortar design. Customers will find national brands, produce and protein, as well as Amazon's private-labeled brands, such as Aplenty, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Saver and 365 by Whole Foods Market.

The Citrus Heights grocery store features a wide assortment of “national brands and high-quality produce, meat, and seafood,” as well as a range of prepared foods made fresh in store every day, according to the company.

Customers who steered their green shopping carts followed colorful overhead signage above to find meat, produce, and baked goods and to check out a selection of ready to prepare meal items. 

In select stores where Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” shopping is available, customers who opt for Just Walk Out Shopping can enter the store in three ways: they can scan the QR code in their Amazon app, use Amazon One to scan their palm to enter or insert a credit or debit card linked to their Amazon account.

For a more traditional shopping experience, customers can enter the store through designated gates and use one of the checkout lanes staffed by Amazon store employees. When they’re ready to check out, customers then have the option to pay with cash, credit or debit card, Amazon One or the Amazon app.

Amazon Fresh grocery is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, visit amazongrocery.com/grocerystore/citrusheights.