CHANGES IN STORE SMALLER MARKETS FIND LARGER NUMBERS.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Small markets in the valley are expecting bigger crowds than ever this weekend, as the supermarket strike and lockout has prompted shoppers to seek alternatives.

At Tresierras Market in Newhall, the aisles have been packed on a regular basis, and produce prices have plummeted because of an oversupply due to poor sales at Vons, Ralphs and Albertson's.

And in the parking lot outside the bustling Trader Joe's in Valencia, there is a special produce stand to fit extra goods.

``It's much more crowded than ever,'' said Carol Liglet, a Canyon Country mortgage broker who was shopping Friday afternoon.

But even with the extra space, Trader Joe's is having trouble keeping products on the shelf.

``Some of the breads and sodas are out, but it's not bad, surprisingly,'' Liglet said.

Empty parking lots and wilting produce mark the hardship of nearly 900 Vons, Pavilions, Ralphs and Albertson's stores from San Diego to Santa Barbara that have had their business choked out by 70,000 union employees on picket lines 24 hours a day.

Employees of Vons and Pavilions stores went on strike at 10:30 p.m. last Saturday, and the next morning Ralphs and Albertson's locked out their employees in a show of solidarity.

All three supermarket chains' employees are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers, whose Southern California contract expired Oct. 5. The two sides are at odds over health and pension benefits, cuts to Sunday premium pay and a proposed two-tier wage system that would offer new hires a less-attractive deal.

Through its first week, the strike has gained strength. Several workers groups have pledged their support for the UFCW, including the Teamsters, which said its drivers will not cross the picket lines at stores or warehouses, creating a stifling roadblock for food distribution.

At Pavilions in Valencia at 5 p.m. Thursday - usually its busiest time - kids were skateboarding through empty spots in the parking lot as a few shoppers traversed the picket line.

``I would rather not be here, but there is nothing else in the neighborhood,'' said Jennifer Johnson of Castaic as she left Pavilions.

But many others have made the trip to places such as Trader Joe's and Tresierras, where long lines, empty shelves and crowded aisles are a further testament to the strike's effectiveness.

``It's been pretty intense. During the traditional peak hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the week, we've had to extend our staff by 22 people,'' said Arturo Tresierras, general manager of the smaller market chain.

``I'd say the jump in business has been between 30 and 50 percent.''

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The grocery workers' strike has meant more carts than cars in local supermarket parking lots, such as this Vons on Soledad Canyon Road.

(2 -- color) Smaller stores in the Santa Clarita Valley, such as Tresierras Market in Newhall, have been busy. General manager Arturo Tresierras says business has increased more than 30 percent.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer