Promo zone

 

 Grocery Palace stores always have this awkward little area across from the entryways, along the back of the pharmacy box. These areas were originally home to the "Albertsons Reading Center" (the books and magazines department), which I suppose would have made more sense circa 2000 than it does now, but it has always seemed a bit odd to give that department such prominent placement. Under Save Mart's ownership, this area has ended up as a random space for promotional items ranging from Coke to patio tables (along with a whole cart of the cream pies that were supposed to be on the empty table from the previous picture -- I wouldn't want to buy something like that that's been out of refrigeration for who knows how long, especially right by the entrance in the central California heat!). Note also that the backdrop of the Coke display is very clearly made of big cardboard sheets printed to kind-of look like Coke boxes (but not quite the right size or shape) -- are those big soda displays always like this and I've just never noticed?? Even more strangely, it looks like there are some real boxes behind the fake ones, keeping it off the wall so it doesn't run into the Grocery Palace trim!