Biz Beat: Greens growing, shifting locations in Modesto

MODESTO -- Greens Market is now Greens Table. And Greens Central is becoming The Bistro at Greens Central.

That may sound confusing, but the changes make sense, according to Steve Smith, general manager of Greens.

Greens Market opened in February 2011 at 10th and Needham streets. At the time, owner Ann Endsley said the goal was to open a deli and grocery store focusing on local, seasonal and organic food. Roughly 40 percent of the business was prepared food.

But the quiches, brownies and lunch specials proved far more popular than expected, Smith said. Greens found itself a popular morning coffee and lunch stop for downtown residents and employees.

The only problem with that: no kitchen at Greens Market. The food was made at the former Modesto Joe's location on 10th Street, which eventually opened as Greens Central.

Now, the original Greens has moved into the former Lunch Pail location on Bangs Road off McHenry Avenue, and the downtown Greens is expanding. Smith said the bigger Bistro at Greens Central will open in about two weeks; in the meantime, downtown Greens fans still can get their coffee at Greens Central.

As for the grocery items, Greens Table still will feature "unique, one-of-a-kind items" that proved popular, but won't carry produce and other fresh food, Smith said.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

Goodwill also is on the move, but not nearly as far.

"We're moving across the street," said Sally Wooden, public relations director for Goodwill Industries of San Joaquin Valley Inc. The thrift store is moving out of its longtime location at 2500 McHenry Ave. into a bigger spot at the former Rite Aid drug store.

"They are rebuilding that shopping center from the ground up," Wooden said. "We're excited about that. Everything is just going to be brand-new about that store."

That includes the stock. Wooden said Goodwill is planning a big sale in advance of the move, tentatively set for late March. "That way, all we have to do is move our fixtures," she said.

Bleachers, the sports-themed hamburger spot near Five Points on McHenry Avenue, has closed. A message on the eatery's Facebook page says the business could not survive the struggling economy, but that its owners are working on a new venture. So stay tuned …

Have an item for Business Beat? Contact Patty Guerra at The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; (209) 578-2343 or pguerra@modbee.com.