A longtime Northgate González Market location in La Habra, Calif. has reopened as Mercado González, a culinary and cultural destination modeled on the traditional mercados of Mexico. The conversion represents one of the grocer's most ambitious format experiments to date, layering foodservice, entertainment, and artisan retail over a conventional grocery footprint.
The Mercado Format
The La Habra store now houses 11 distinct food puestos — or stalls — covering the breadth of regional Mexican cuisine. Concepts operating inside the mercado include Taquería Los Mesquites, Carnitas Don Miguel, Guisados Las Cazuelas, Rosticería Los 13 Pollos, Cevichería El Pariente, a Tamalería, an Aguas Frescas counter, Paletería La Nena, Pastelería La González, Tortillería La González, and Carnicería La Preferida. El Moro Churrería, the iconic Mexico City brand known for churros and hot chocolate, also has a presence inside the market.
For operators tracking the evolution of the grocery-foodservice hybrid model, the La Habra mercado is a clear signal that experiential retail within food retail continues to gain ground. The format blurs the line between supermarket, food hall, and community gathering space — a combination that has proven resilient as traditional grocery foot traffic faces ongoing pressure from e-commerce and delivery.
Community and Beverage Anchors
The Entre Nos Bar anchors the social dimension of the concept, offering Mexican beers, craft cocktails, mezcal, and tequila in an indoor gathering space. A dedicated Artesanías & Dulcería section sells authentic Mexican artisan crafts and traditional sweets, extending the visit beyond a routine grocery run.
More than 340 associates staff the La Habra location, and the company donated more than $20,000 to local schools and community organizations as part of the grand opening celebration. Oscar González, Co-President of Northgate González Market, described the transformation as creating "a place where people can gather, discover regional flavors, celebrate our traditions and experience the warmth and hospitality that define Mexico."
The La Habra store hours run Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. For operators and foodservice professionals watching how specialty grocers are redefining the in-store experience, Mercado González offers a replicable blueprint that integrates restaurant-style food programming with grocery retail. The model also reflects broader beverage industry trends toward curated, on-premise bar experiences in non-traditional settings.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
