The Complete Guide to Vons Locations in Fresno

As a Fresno local, I‘ve explored all of the city‘s major supermarkets over the years. And in my opinion, Vons stands out as one of the best all-around grocery chains we have. With 8 conveniently located stores across Fresno, quality products, and ways to save, Vons has become my go-to for everyday shopping and preparing meals.

Let me walk you through everything you need to know about getting your groceries at Vons here in Fresno!

An Overview of Vons

For some background, Vons is a supermarket chain owned by Albertsons Companies. It has over 300 locations, mostly in Southern California and Southern Nevada. The company brought in around $11 billion in sales last year and employs over 60,000 people.

Vons first opened in Los Angeles in 1947 under a different name and ownership. It went through various mergers and acquisitions over the decades before being purchased by Safeway in 1997. Then in 2014, Albertsons acquired Safeway, bringing Vons fully under its large grocery umbrella.

Throughout its history, Vons has focused on providing shoppers with quality, selection, and value across every grocery department. It‘s become a fixture in SoCal neighborhoods and cities like ours!

The 8 Convenient Vons Locations in Fresno

We have 8 Vons here in the Fresno area, which makes them the supermarket with the second highest number of locations in town behind only FoodMaxx.

Here are the addresses of every Vons in Fresno so you can find one near you:

• Herndon & Van Ness – 3550 W Herndon Ave, Fresno, CA 93711
• Shields & Bullard – 5825 N Fresno St, Fresno, CA 93710
• Ashlan & West – 4990 N Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93726
• First & Herndon – 4170 N First St, Fresno, CA 93726
• Willow & Nees – 6949 N Willow Ave, Fresno, CA 93710
• Friant & Fort – 5500 N Friant Rd, Fresno, CA 93720
• Willow & Jensen – 2433 Jensen Ave, Fresno, CA 93720
• Cedar & Ashlan – 4848 E Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA 93702

Looking at a map of Fresno, it‘s clear Vons has spread out its locations to be convenient for folks across the city. There‘s at least one in north, south, east and west Fresno.

Wherever you live in town, it‘s just a quick drive to your neighborhood Vons. I‘ve visited them all at one point or another and have gotten to know each store‘s unique perks. Let me highlight what makes each Vons stand out.

What Each Fresno Vons Location Has to Offer

Herndon & Van Ness

• Open 24 hours for late-night grocery runs
• Great selection of organic fruits and veggies
• Courteous staff who are happy to help
• Self-checkout lanes to speed up shopping

Shields & Bullard

• Bright, spacious store layout you can breeze through
• Top-notch butcher counter with flavorful marinated meats
• Friendly delicatessen staff who make tasty sandwiches
• Solid choice for east Fresno residents

Ashlan & West

• Recently remodeled for a fresh, modern ambiance
• Made-to-order pizzas and Asian entrees in the deli
• Impressive assortment of gourmet cheeses
• Gas station conveniently attached

First & Herndon

• Excellent variety of fresh-baked desserts and pastries
• Robust assortment of craft beers and international wines
• Produce department offers lots of organic and local options
• Pharmacy staff is knowledgeable and provide great care

Willow & Nees

• Great spot for grabbing a Starbucks coffee in-store
• Top grocery option for those in north Fresno
• Extensive gluten-free products selection
• Flu shot clinic and cooking classes offered periodically

Friant & Fort

• Best deals on meat, especially when on sale
• Friendliest and most helpful staff I’ve encountered
• Impressively stocked health and beauty products aisles
• Solid option for grocery runs if you live in east-central Fresno

Willow & Jensen

• Ample prepared hot food choices like pizza, wings, pasta dishes
• Deals abound in their clearance section
• Produce stays fresh longer than other Vons locales
• Pharmacy always has my prescription ready on time

Cedar & Ashlan

• Great floral department for bouquets and arrangements
• Hefty assortment of Mexican and Latin American ingredients
• Helpful staff in the seafood section who can recommend great picks
• Easy access from Highway 99 makes it a favorite for commuters

Compare Vons to Other Fresno Favorites

How does Vons stack up against some of Fresno‘s other beloved grocery chains? Here‘s a quick comparison:

FoodMaxx – FoodMaxx has more locations in Fresno at 12 stores. Its prices tend to be slightly lower than Vons, especially for produce. But Vons has far superior meat and seafood departments in my opinion. FoodMaxx also has a more disorganized, cluttered layout.

WinCo Foods – With 7 stores, WinCo has cheap prices across the board. However, its stores are massive making them exhausting to shop. Vons has a more curated selection of quality products versus WinCo‘s hit-or-miss offerings.

Costco – For bulk shopping, Costco is hard to beat. But navigating its huge warehouse stores can be a hassle. Vons has more convenient neighborhood locations and better customer service.

Trader Joe‘s – Trader Joe‘s has lots of trendy, organic items but not enough mainstream brands and options for a full shop. Vons balances specialty items with everything you need from a standard grocer.

Whole Foods – Whole Foods is unmatched for natural, organic fare but at premium prices. Vons has affordable organic produce and a solid health section without the high costs.

Getting the Most from Shopping at Vons

As a seasoned Vons shopper, let me share some of my tips for getting the most out of your visits:

Choose the right location – Consider proximity, what you need that day (pharmacy, wine, prepared meals), sales/deals at each store.

Review the weekly ad – Check online for digital coupons and current promotions before you go. The app makes this easy.

Grab a just4U card – It‘s free and scans your purchases to provide personalized offers.

Don‘t miss the clearance section – Ask where it‘s located; it varies. I‘ve found insane deals on meat, produce and baked goods.

Pick a less busy time – Early weekday mornings or late nights are best for quicker trips.

Sign up for their loyalty program – You earn points with each purchase towards discounts.

Check for extra coupons – At the courtesy booth, end of aisles, blinkie machines. Ask cashiers – they may have extra coupon books.

Buy seasonal produce – What‘s in season is always cheaper and tastes better. Right now – citrus fruits, broccoli, potatoes, etc.

Buy generic brands – Vons has its own cheaper Signature Select items that get the job done.

Meal plan and make a list – Avoid impulse buys and pricier convenience foods.

Grocery Shopping Hacks for Vons

Let me let you in on some of my insider tricks for shopping at Vons:

• Their app-exclusive coupons tend to be higher value ($2-3 off rather than $1). Check the app before heading to the store.

• Prices on meat and seafood tend to dip on Mondays and Tuesdays at most locations. Time your shops accordingly.

• Many Vons bakery items get marked down later in the evenings. Swing by after dinner for half-priced baked goods.

• Scan your just4U card at the kiosk when you enter the store to see what personalized deals you can load for that trip.

• The meat manager can work deals or throw in extra weight if you buy in bulk. Don‘t be afraid to ask!

• Check the clearance produce racks – I once scored organic strawberries for $1 because they were one day from expiration. They tasted perfect!

• Occasionally there are extra coupon mailers by the entrance you can grab. Discreetly check if they are hanging around.

• Polite persistence pays off. If something rings up incorrectly or a coupon doesn‘t work, calmly ask them to remedy it. They want to retain you as a loyal customer.

Top Tips for Quality and Savings

Here are my top recommendations for getting the best quality foods and great deals when shopping the various departments at Vons:

Produce – Buy based on seasonality and feel for ripeness. Check use-by dates. For savings, opt for the Value Corner section of staple fruits and veggies.

Meat – For steaks, look for bright red color and ample marbling. Chicken should be plump and skin should be creamy-white. Watch for yellow ‘Manager Special‘ discounted stickers.

Seafood – Avoid fish with dull eyes or grainy flesh. Clams, mussels, oysters should be tightly closed. Check for optimum freshness dates.

Deli – Ask when they receive shipments of fresh mozzarella or particular salads you like – plan visits accordingly. They‘ll often provide samples of new dishes.

Bakery – Breads and rolls bake fresh daily – aim for morning visits. Saturday has the best deals on breads as they discount loaves.

Cheese – The manned cheese counter has better quality than pre-packed. Ask for recommendations and samples.

Wine – Check the monthly in-ad coupons for dollars off wine purchases. You can get quality wines for very reasonable prices.

Sample Vons Shopping Lists and Meal Plans

To give you an idea of what you can buy at Vons to whip up quality, affordable home-cooked meals, here are a couple sample weekly meal plans with accompanying Vons shopping lists:

Week 1

Sunday – Rosemary pork tenderloin, roasted carrots and potatoes

Monday – Margherita pizza with mixed greens salad

Tuesday – Steak fajita bowls

Wednesday – Pasta with meat sauce and garlic bread

Thursday – Greek turkey burgers with oven fries

Friday – Fish tacos with lime crema

Saturday – Chicken noodle soup and fruit salad

Vons Shopping List Week 1

• Pork tenderloin
• Carrots
• Yukon Gold potatoes
• Pizza dough
• Mozzarella cheese
• Roma tomatoes
• Mixed greens
• Fajita seasoning
• Flank steak
• Tortillas
• Pasta
• Ground beef
• Marinara sauce
• Garlic bread
• Ground turkey
• Burger buns
• French fries
• Tilapia fillets
• Corn tortillas
• Shredded cabbage
• Chicken breast
• Egg noodles
• Apples
• Strawberries
• Celery

Week 2

Sunday – Zucchini lasagna

Monday – Thai peanut chicken with rice

Tuesday – Cheesy cauliflower casserole

Wednesday – Greek salad with grilled chicken

Thursday – Veggie & bean burritos

Friday – Pesto salmon with asparagus

Saturday – Beef chili with cornbread

Vons Shopping List Week 2

• Zucchini
• Ricotta cheese
• Marinara sauce
• Chicken breast
• Peanut sauce
• Rice
• Cauliflower
• Cheddar cheese
• Romaine lettuce
• Feta cheese
• Red onion
• Tortillas
• Black beans
• Asparagus
• Salmon fillets
• Ground beef
• Kidney beans
• Cornbread mix

As you can see, Vons has everything you need for delicious dinners all week long!

Let me know if you try out any of these meal ideas. And if you‘re brand new to Fresno, swing by your nearest Vons to see why we locals love it. The friendly staff is always happy help out any newcomers.

Hope this guide gives you a helpful overview of the many Vons supermarkets serving Fresno. With quality products, weekly deals, and conveniently located stores, Vons can meet all your grocery needs!