To market, to market

As long as they're there . . .

The Bee looks at area small grocers and their battle to stay in business in the face of competition from the big guys.

And there's new competition on the way:

The next chain coming to Sacramento, Fresh & Easy, is poised to make things tougher for independents. Its British-based parent company, Tesco PLC, is spending about $2 billion to open at least 200 stores in California and the Southwest. Last month it announced plans for at least 19 stores in the greater Sacramento area.

I'm in favor newer, smaller stores, if they are on a neighborhood scale. There's nothing really in much of the midtown/downtown Sacramento core. There's a nice shiny new Safeway, but not much most people can just walk down the block too - unlike other bigger cities like SF or NY.

Of course, the problem with most smaller stores are the prices. I haven't seen too many cheaper ones out there. I'd love to personally keep Corti Bros. in business, but , well, I don't want to pay extra for Cheerios. They still have me at "deli counter" though.