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Lassen's is now open in Echo Park nearly a year and a half after the organic food store chain announced that they would be moving into the area.
The market, which opened on Monday and focuses on selling organic and non-GMO food and vitamins, took over the Save A Lot discount store that once sat at 1631 Sunset Boulevard. The Eastsider reported that this is the first new market to open up in Echo Park in years, and is an alternative for some who are tired of braving the parking at Silver Lake's Trader Joe's or trekking to Glendale for Whole Foods.
This would be the 10th store for the small, upscale grocery chain that has locations scattered throughout California. This Echo Park location is 12,000 square feet, and is three times larger than the Los Feliz store the company opened in 2011.
Some Echo Park locals are stoked about the opening. Twitter user @belazecker tweeted, "so the echo park lassens opened today and ive already been twice lol i hate myself." Another user, @alexmichaelwish tweeted, "Today was hipster Christmas... Lassens opened in echo park."
However, not everyone is enthused about Lassen's expanding. When Lassen's opened in Los Feliz, it was met by protests from local residents, according to the Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch. They were upset that the owners of the store donated about $30,000 to support Proposition 8, a gay marriage ban initiative.
Lassen's plans on opening another store on La Brea Avenue in Larchmont soon.
