A Northgate Gonzalez Market is set to be built in Fontana as the Anaheim-based, family-owned supermarket chain expands its Inland footprint.
About a year after debuting its first Inland store in Riverside, Northgate this week got the OK from Fontana leaders to construct a commercial shopping center at San Bernardino and Sierra avenues, less than 2 miles from downtown.
Aside from the Dunkin’ drive-thru and adjoining retail buildings, the 7-acre site has been vacant since the Rock Honda there was razed a few years ago.
Councilman Jesse Sandoval called the lot an eyesore.
In addition to the 43,000-square-foot grocery store, the developer will build a drive-thru restaurant and two pads for future retail or restaurant use.
A Northgate official told council members this week that Smoke and Fire, a trendy La Habra eatery that Councilman Jesse Armendarez said could be a “gamechanger for how we eat in the core of Fontana,” will be a future tenant.
Northgate intends to employ more than 150 people at the Fontana store.
The supermarket chain with an emphasis on inventory imported from Mexico operates 40 Southern California locations.