Just curious if the Homeland stores in OK are partially owned by Safeway, or if there are Safeway owned stores (under other names, like in California they own Vons) now that Albertsons bought Safeway for $9 Billion in cash and stock.
I ask because where I live in Oregon there used to be Albertsons and they left here a few years ago, but now the three Safeway stores will now be Albertsons.
Albertsons is now making a bid to be the top grocer and knock off Kroger from the number one spot.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-safeway-albertsons-merger-20140307,0,2474407.story#axzz2vGRnCSpG (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-safeway-albertsons-merger-20140307,0,2474407.story#axzz2vGRnCSpG)
My Mother worked for Safeway back in the day. She also was there when the Oklahoma division of Homeland came in and renamed the stores.
My Brother in-law worked for Skaggs Alpha-Beta and then Skaggs Albertsons and was gone by the time it became just Albertsons.
Reasors has pretty much put the Kibosh on any grocery stores in North East Oklahoma. But mainly the Tulsa and surrounding area. They just purchased I believe 3 Albertson locations in Tulsa. Aside from Wal Mart. Reasors is it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_(supermarket)
Just as a side note: We all thought that Food Lion was going to be the next big thing here after they came in and spent huge money building all new stores from the ground up. That all came crashing down with the 1992 Dateline story about bleaching spoiled meat and selling it for a higher price at the deli counter.
No idea. All the Safeways became Homeland at some point in the late '70's or early '80's and I don't recall why just that it happened after the meat cutter strike. Not sure if that had anything to do with it (i.e. bankruptcy, come out as a different entity to escape certain financial obligations).
Homeland is a Oklahoma City company that bought the Oklahoma Safeway stores back in the late 80s I think. Albertson's pulled out of Oklahoma when the chain was really in trouble 5-10 years ago and Homeland then also bought the Oklahoma City Albertson's stores. Tulsa's Albertson's became Food Pyramid, which was a chain out of Missouri, and that chain has since has pulled out of Tulsa selling some stores to Reasor's and closing the rest in the last year.
Homeland stores are dirty and awful and the last one closed in the Tulsa area a couple of years ago. There are no Safeway stores or even former Safeway stores left in Tulsa that I know of.
Did I read that Piggly Wiggly is making a comeback?
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 07, 2014, 09:34:19 AM
Did I read that Piggly Wiggly is making a comeback?
How many of those are still around?
I know of one in Collinsville but that's it.
Quote from: swake on March 07, 2014, 09:19:50 AM
Homeland stores are dirty and awful and the last one closed in the Tulsa area a couple of years ago.
Indeed there is a filthy one still operating in Bartlesville.
There is a new Homeland store in Pryor, they closed their old location around Christmas. It is in the old Wal-Mart location next to Tractor Supply on highway 69.
What is it with Oklahoma City based retail chains being dirty?
Homeland stores are filthy, Braum's are often really dirty, Love's Country Marts are usually filthy and while I wouldn't call Hobby Lobby stores dirty they are often run down and messy. I've never been inside a Sonic so I have no idea how clean they are.
Thanks for the info guys. I will say this about Love's, I remember when they started becoming popular back in the late 80's early 90's, and yeah they did seem to be "dirty", but the ones out here in AZ, CA, and OR are actually pretty nice, and I actually stop there on road trips over other places. I remember when I think it was the employees that bought the Safeway stores and they became Homeland although they still carried Safeway brand products at the time. I always thought they went south after that change and became one step above Warehouse Market.
As for Albertsons, I can remember when it was Katz, then Skaggs, Skaggs Alpha-Beta, the very brief time they were Jewell Osco, Skaggs Albertsons, and then Albertsons. I have to say that Albertsons was my preferred store when I lived in AZ, they were less expensive than Safeway (they were really proud of their prices) and on par with Kroger (they bought four different chains (Fry's, Smiths, Smitty's and Fred Meyer) and actually made a difference.
Reasor's reminds me of Basha's in AZ. A homegrown store that has grown and done well since the 30's.
Was just curious if Safeway still had ties to OK.
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 07, 2014, 08:55:28 AM
Just as a side note: We all thought that Food Lion was going to be the next big thing here after they came in and spent huge money building all new stores from the ground up. That all came crashing down with the 1992 Dateline story about bleaching spoiled meat and selling it for a higher price at the deli counter.
Interesting back story there, I bet.... since WalMart and Warehouse Mkt also have the heavily chlorinated aroma from time to time - have never smelled it from Reasor's....there are worse things you can do to meat than give it a bleach bath....
Quote from: swake on March 07, 2014, 11:56:22 AM
What is it with Oklahoma City based retail chains being dirty?
Homeland stores are filthy, Braum's are often really dirty, Love's Country Marts are usually filthy and while I wouldn't call Hobby Lobby stores dirty they are often run down and messy. I've never been inside a Sonic so I have no idea how clean they are.
Maybe there's not enough bleach left for cleaning stores if it's being used to clean meat.
Quote from: dbacksfan 2.0 on March 07, 2014, 12:33:26 PM
Thanks for the info guys. I will say this about Love's, I remember when they started becoming popular back in the late 80's early 90's, and yeah they did seem to be "dirty", but the ones out here in AZ, CA, and OR are actually pretty nice, and I actually stop there on road trips over other places. I remember when I think it was the employees that bought the Safeway stores and they became Homeland although they still carried Safeway brand products at the time. I always thought they went south after that change and became one step above Warehouse Market.
As for Albertsons, I can remember when it was Katz, then Skaggs, Skaggs Alpha-Beta, the very brief time they were Jewell Osco, Skaggs Albertsons, and then Albertsons. I have to say that Albertsons was my preferred store when I lived in AZ, they were less expensive than Safeway (they were really proud of their prices) and on par with Kroger (they bought four different chains (Fry's, Smiths, Smitty's and Fred Meyer) and actually made a difference.
Reasor's reminds me of Basha's in AZ. A homegrown store that has grown and done well since the 30's.
Was just curious if Safeway still had ties to OK.
When I went to the NASCAR races at PIR, I thought it was pretty cool Basha's set up a complete, functional grocery store in a tent on the grounds to serve the fans who camp out for the weekend. I have never seen that at a sports venue before or since.
Quote from: Conan71 on March 07, 2014, 01:41:31 PM
When I went to the NASCAR races at PIR, I thought it was pretty cool Basha's set up a complete, functional grocery store in a tent on the grounds to serve the fans who camp out for the weekend. I have never seen that at a sports venue before or since.
Basha's has been doing that for several years, they have a good tie to PIR. My ex's maternal grandfather started a produce distribution company in PHX back in the 30's and helped Basha get going. The Basha's are very much like the Reasor's.
Homeland has around 45 stores. In NE Oklahoma they are in rural markets. Was in Cleveland recently and they have a store there.
They are partially owned by the employees, but really they are owned by Associated Wholesale Grocers out of Kansas City, KS. AWG is a coop owned by their member retailers that wholesales groceries to family owned chains. Reasors is actually one of their members.
Quote from: rdj on March 07, 2014, 04:05:06 PM
Homeland has around 45 stores. In NE Oklahoma they are in rural markets. Was in Cleveland recently and they have a store there.
They are partially owned by the employees, but really they are owned by Associated Wholesale Grocers out of Kansas City, KS. AWG is a coop owned by their member retailers that wholesales groceries to family owned chains. Reasors is actually one of their members.
Is that why Reasor's isn't in the Oklahoma City area? Would they effectively be competing with a company they partially own?
There definitely is a lack of high quality full line grocers serving the greater Tulsa area. Reasor's the best of the local options is mediocre at best by national standards, and one could go on and on about the growing list of shortcomings at Walmart.
I have to believe the options were greater and the local market was better served some time ago. So how did the present situation devolve over the years in Tulsa and Oklahoma in general? It is mystifying that some of the bigger/ better chains performing well across the Southwest and South are not clamoring at the bit to expand into Tulsa and OKC, especially in the fast growing higher per capita income towns and zip codes where the opportunity appears ripe for the taking.
Since we lived at about 14th and Elgin when I was quite young (my kindergarten was at Lincoln Elementary School which is long gone now), I remember many many trips to Sipes on Cherry Street just east of Peoria. The building is still there. I also remember a Sipes on Harvard just south of Steve's Sundrys. Red Bud Grocery was another, they had a store in the shopping center which now houses that damnable flea market at Admiral and Mingo. I always wondered what happened to those and if they were just bought out or went bankrupt.
Quote from: Rookie Okie on March 07, 2014, 09:15:58 PM
There definitely is a lack of high quality full line grocers serving the greater Tulsa area. Reasor's the best of the local options is mediocre at best by national standards, and one could go on and on about the growing list of shortcomings at Walmart.
I have to believe the options were greater and the local market was better served some time ago. So how did the present situation devolve over the years in Tulsa and Oklahoma in general? It is mystifying that some of the bigger/ better chains performing well across the Southwest and South are not clamoring at the bit to expand into Tulsa and OKC, especially in the fast growing higher per capita income towns and zip codes where the opportunity appears ripe for the taking.
Reasor's varies a lot. A good Reasor's is better than your average national grocer, by quite a bit. The older stores, not so much.
For those who care. I am doing an environmental tour at the Reasor's at 51st and Harvard next Thursday night at 6:00pm. I am taking a class through the store explaining the greenest products and packages.
Basically, it is me doing an hour long speech with props and some lame jokes.
Quote from: swake on March 07, 2014, 11:24:07 PM
Reasor's varies a lot. A good Reasor's is better than your average national grocer, by quite a bit. The older stores, not so much.
There are 2 Reasor's in Owasso, one older and one newer. Similar layouts and offerings, however, the older store is more drab, not as clean, or in general is not as aesthetically pleasing to shop in as the newer location. The older Owasso store also reminds me of the 41st store off Hwy 169.
I rarely see crowds at Reasor's and wonder how their margins and sales/ sq ft compare with chains such as Publix, H-E-B, Kroger's etc. Since they are already well stored in the market, I think they have good upside. However, I also think that they are missing out on a tremendous opportunity to appeal to and better serve a sizable portion of the local market that expects quality and prefers better variety. When I have to go to Walmart to find something I can't find at Reasor's (which I've done on several occasions) that's not a good thing.
It will be interesting to see what they do with the former Brookside Food Pyramid which is supposed to sport a different look. It would be nice to see Reasor's build a few (or expand some existing locations) 100,000 + sq. ft. flagship stores that contain more international foods, expanded fresh meat, seafood, and in store bakeries, more prepared foods, etc...These types of stores are found throughout cities the size of Tulsa. The standard footprint of Reasor's stores in the 50,000 - 70,000 sq ft range is too small to support these types of amenities.
Quote from: Weatherdemon on March 07, 2014, 09:56:55 AM
How many of those are still around?
I know of one in Collinsville but that's it.
There are still quite a few of them in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Quote from: Rookie Okie on March 08, 2014, 12:39:17 AM
There are 2 Reasor's in Owasso, one older and one newer. Similar layouts and offerings, however, the older store is more drab, not as clean, or in general is not as aesthetically pleasing to shop in as the newer location. The older Owasso store also reminds me of the 41st store off Hwy 169.
I rarely see crowds at Reasor's and wonder how their margins and sales/ sq ft compare with chains such as Publix, H-E-B, Kroger's etc. Since they are already well stored in the market, I think they have good upside. However, I also think that they are missing out on a tremendous opportunity to appeal to and better serve a sizable portion of the local market that expects quality and prefers better variety. When I have to go to Walmart to find something I can't find at Reasor's (which I've done on several occasions) that's not a good thing.
It will be interesting to see what they do with the former Brookside Food Pyramid which is supposed to sport a different look. It would be nice to see Reasor's build a few (or expand some existing locations) 100,000 + sq. ft. flagship stores that contain more international foods, expanded fresh meat, seafood, and in store bakeries, more prepared foods, etc...These types of stores are found throughout cities the size of Tulsa. The standard footprint of Reasor's stores in the 50,000 - 70,000 sq ft range is too small to support these types of amenities.
Shelf space and quick turns on that space are key to survival in the grocery industry. Reasor's has done a pretty good job trying to keep up with changes in consumer behavior (organics, meats from sources using fewer or no drugs, MIO products). Some of the older Reasor's have some appearance issues, but other than that, I find them well stocked with about anything the average shopper could want. They must stock the Owasso stores different than the ones at 15th & Lewis, 17th & Yale, and 41st & Yale, I'm just not quite getting your complaint. I do know if there is a certain item you want you can request it and usually they will get it for you. (My ex had a thing for Campbell's tomato bisque soup and you couldn't find it anywhere but Reasor's would get it for her.)
My wife and I live in an area that's anything but a food desert (31st & Yale). In a five mile radius, we have at least three Reasor's, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Akins, Sprouts, soon to be two WMM (grocer of last resort), and a Save-A-Lot.
My wife does most of our market shopping, she keeps an eye on circulars and she knows who usually has what she needs. We don't eat pre-packaged processed crap, so her focus is finding the freshest ingredients with no additives. Sprouts is killing everyone else on produce prices and selection right now. You can find bulk grains and even home brewing adjuncts at Natural Grocers. Whole Foods is a great place to find meats without preservatives and condiments without any acronyms on the label as well as great deli stuff.
Quote from: Conan71 on March 08, 2014, 09:10:24 AM
Shelf space and quick turns on that space are key to survival in the grocery industry. Reasor's has done a pretty good job trying to keep up with changes in consumer behavior (organics, meats from sources using fewer or no drugs, MIO products). Some of the older Reasor's have some appearance issues, but other than that, I find them well stocked with about anything the average shopper could want. They must stock the Owasso stores different than the ones at 15th & Lewis, 17th & Yale, and 41st & Yale, I'm just not quite getting your complaint. I do know if there is a certain item you want you can request it and usually they will get it for you. (My ex had a thing for Campbell's tomato bisque soup and you couldn't find it anywhere but Reasor's would get it for her.)
My wife and I live in an area that's anything but a food desert (31st & Yale). In a five mile radius, we have at least three Reasor's, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Akins, Sprouts, soon to be two WMM (grocer of last resort), and a Save-A-Lot.
My wife does most of our market shopping, she keeps an eye on circulars and she knows who usually has what she needs. We don't eat pre-packaged processed crap, so her focus is finding the freshest ingredients with no additives. Sprouts is killing everyone else on produce prices and selection right now. You can find bulk grains and even home brewing adjuncts at Natural Grocers. Whole Foods is a great place to find meats without preservatives and condiments without any acronyms on the label as well as great deli stuff.
I'd like to have access to a lot of what is carried in the 5 mile radius of stores near you. However, the type of full-line flagship supermarkets that I'm talking about will carry most if not all of what you note about Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Natural Grocers. I'll even through in Fresh Market to your mix. I just don't have the time to traipse 15 - 20 miles all over town to shop at different stores.
I like soy ice cream and cannot find any at a Reasor's in Owasso or Tulsa. I did find some at Walmart when I moved here, but they stopped carrying it very soon after. On a recent Reasor's trip, I was unable to find Canadian bacon, fresh spinach, diet iced tea, a very popular old school hot cereal, and shampoo and Combos (yes the over processed snack item) for a friend. They weren't out of these products, they must have recently stopped carrying them proclaimed the store personnel after they assisted in my futile search. No promise was made to carry any of these items in the future, but I now know that I can request items and they will try to get them.
I mentioned that the stores lack variety, but perhaps Oklahoma shoppers may differ with my assertion since it is a relative statement. To clarify, what is lacking is more brands, more choices/ variations of items, more healthier products of all types (if I want chips - offer no-fat and lower fat options), a deli that not only serves processed deli meats but also carves from unprocessed store baked turkeys, hams, and roasts, and a bakery that serves fresh baked goods instead of the bland crap they put out that upon sight makes you retreat quickly to the packaged snacks aisle.
I've forgotten a lot of what I've missed, but it immediately hits me when I go inside a Publix or Wegmans. But the fact that I'm now forgetting is perhaps a sign that I'm adjusting. Reasor's may be keeping up with some trends as you noted, but they are behind in others such offering high quality multi-serve meals, quick prep meals international products and ingredients, and other conveniences and amenities for today's changing consumer needs.
For now, I'd just like some soy ice cream but don't want to go to South Tulsa from Owasso to get it. Otherwise, I can do O.K. with Reasor's. There was some mention of another market coming here, but the official who made the announcement wouldn't divulge any details as is common practice. I suspect it could be Sprouts which would be a good addition.
Quote from: Rookie Okie on March 08, 2014, 11:34:55 AM
For now, I'd just like some soy ice cream...
That is Spanish for "I am ice cream."
Quote from: Hoss on March 07, 2014, 10:52:00 PM
Since we lived at about 14th and Elgin when I was quite young (my kindergarten was at Lincoln Elementary School which is long gone now), I remember many many trips to Sipes on Cherry Street just east of Peoria. The building is still there. I also remember a Sipes on Harvard just south of Steve's Sundrys. Red Bud Grocery was another, they had a store in the shopping center which now houses that damnable flea market at Admiral and Mingo. I always wondered what happened to those and if they were just bought out or went bankrupt.
Hoss, I just picked up this thread. I was working retail advertising during the stretch of those grocers. I loved Sipes and thought Red Bud was good too. Sipes was innovative, brand conscious, and aggressive with their advertising and store design. They chose locations where the demographics were upscale, sort of like a large scale Petty's. Unfortunately, Petty's served that market pretty well.
I don't remember the details of Sipes demise but grocers don't have a huge margin and have to keep costs in line and product turning. Make one mistake and it may be the end. Conan was active in advertising back then, so maybe he has more details. Even the grocers who utilized co-op buying through Affliated, IGA etc. felt pinched in the 80's and were purchased or closed. Red Bud took some of Sipes locations, but like most family operated stores found they couldn't keep it together.
When we first moved into our old house, Piggly Wiggly (probably the Sipes you mentioned) was our closest choice for shopping. We loved the ambiance, the personal service and the 1930's feel of the place but parking was awful and the price/selection lacking. You should have seen them try to back tractor trailers into the small alley to the service entrance! We went to the dark side for Safeway in Brookside. The Pig and the nearby Cherry Street Bakery will always be good memories.
Warehouse market (Family Market) is a true family grocer success story. Identified their niche, chose correct locations and stayed true to their demographic for what....85 years?
Quote from: AquaMan on March 08, 2014, 12:17:21 PM
Hoss, I just picked up this thread. I was working retail advertising during the stretch of those grocers. I loved Sipes and thought Red Bud was good too. Sipes was innovative, brand conscious, and aggressive with their advertising and store design. They chose locations where the demographics were upscale, sort of like a large scale Petty's. Unfortunately, Petty's served that market pretty well.
I don't remember the details of Sipes demise but grocers don't have a huge margin and have to keep costs in line and product turning. Make one mistake and it may be the end. Conan was active in advertising back then, so maybe he has more details. Even the grocers who utilized co-op buying through Affliated, IGA etc. felt pinched in the 80's and were purchased or closed. Red Bud took some of Sipes locations, but like most family operated stores found they couldn't keep it together.
When we first moved into our old house, Piggly Wiggly (probably the Sipes you mentioned) was our closest choice for shopping. We loved the ambiance, the personal service and the 1930's feel of the place but parking was awful and the price/selection lacking. You should have seen them try to back tractor trailers into the small alley to the service entrance! We went to the dark side for Safeway in Brookside. The Pig and the nearby Cherry Street Bakery will always be good memories.
Warehouse market (Family Market) is a true family grocer success story. Identified their niche, chose correct locations and stayed true to their demographic for what....85 years?
I did read somewhere that in the late fifties/early sixties, Sipes was acquired by Hale-Halsell (of Git-N-Go fame). I also read the last Sipes to close was in 1992. Lasted longer than I remembered, but I think the final store was the one cat-a-corner to Saint Francis at 61st and Yale. Back in the early seventies, that was still considered pretty much out in the country, if I'm not mistaken.
Well, not so much country as definitely expanding suburban. The last one I remember closing was 71st and Lewis which still had a grove of pecan trees nearby. Sipes was innovative and thus, ahead of the game in Tulsa. Interesting you mention them related to the founders of Git-N-Go because my first thought was that the Pig next to Lincoln elementary would have made a fine quik trip type store had they been able to expand their parking and access. Zoning was more even more difficult back then than now.
We had a Git-n-Go at 5th and Lewis where I grew up around the mid sixties and it was innovative and well run. It was no surprise to us at Cities Service when the idea of using quik-store concepts was introduced to increase our profitability by adding high margin food products to our low margin fuel sales and eliminate some of our older contracted gasoline stations. Since Cities was quite familiar with Git-N-Go I suspect they got the idea here.
G-N-G dropped the ball in later generations and was eclipsed by Quik Trip. Now, we're practically a one horse town in that respect.
Quote from: Hoss on March 07, 2014, 10:52:00 PM
Since we lived at about 14th and Elgin when I was quite young (my kindergarten was at Lincoln Elementary School which is long gone now), I remember many many trips to Sipes on Cherry Street just east of Peoria. The building is still there. I also remember a Sipes on Harvard just south of Steve's Sundrys. Red Bud Grocery was another, they had a store in the shopping center which now houses that damnable flea market at Admiral and Mingo. I always wondered what happened to those and if they were just bought out or went bankrupt.
I worked at Sipes Eastgate (Admiral & Memorial) while in high school, first as a bagger, then a stocker, then as assistant produce manager. I also worked at the 61st and Yale store (which was the busiest grocer in Oklahoma at the time) around 1969 before I got drafted. Leroy Sipes had his main office on the second floor of the Eastgate store and when we restocked the shelves overnight when the store was locked, we used to sneak up to his office and really felt like we were getting away with something. I helped open the Sipes "Barn" at 33rd and Memorial and remember what a nice place that was. Sipes was committed to customer service and quality before it became fashionable. I remember cruising Pennington's on a Saturday night and seeing Leroy and his wife parked there in his Imperial eating Black-Bottom Pie...Okay...I'm done time-trippin' now ;)
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on March 07, 2014, 01:02:39 PM
Interesting back story there, I bet.... since WalMart and Warehouse Mkt also have the heavily chlorinated aroma from time to time - have never smelled it from Reasor's....there are worse things you can do to meat than give it a bleach bath....
The smell of the Reasors at 15th & Lewis drives me out. I dont go in unless im in a hurry, and dont stay to look around.
I lived behind Sipes at 61st and Yale in the 80's when I was in middle school and high school. I could hop the wall at the back of my yard and would be in Sipes parking lot. I spent too much time playing video games in the entry of that store.
As for Reasors, they will stock anything you ask. My wife likes a particular brand of water cracker and I like a partuclar variety of mexican cheese and they started stocking both at our request. I don't know about what they have in Owasso but they have about everything at the Jenks and Bixby stores I go to. They probably have 90% of what Whole Foods has. I can't imagine going to Walmart or Target for something Reasors doesn't have. Their selection dwarfs the big chain stores. Those two stores are very busy too, maybe that drives some of the selection? The parking lot at the Jenks store on busy shopping days will be completely full with people waiting on spaces.
I agree the bakery isn't the greatest, but they also stock Ferrell Family Bread items in the bakery and that's better than anything any in-store bakery is going to have. My biggest complaint. about Reasors would be that they don't stock Boars Head or an equivalent in the deli section, they do have local Amish cheeses which are very good, but the higher end deli meat brand they carry is pretty meh, I can't recall what that brand is. I also don't care for their prepared foods. The seafood selection also isn't great, but we are in Oklahoma and no where close to the ocean.
Reasors is better than what I have seen of grocery stores elsewhere. I spent a week in San Francisco with my brother a couple months ago and we shopped at two different Safeway stores while I was there. Both were very packed with customers, one that was right on the ocean was actually pretty run down and both were pretty small. Less than half the size of the newer Reasors stores and probably 1/4 of the stores were devoted to liquor and beer. Having that in the store was nice but it also meant that the actual selection of foods was pretty poor comparatively. The bakery and prepared food looked exactly like what Reasors sells and they had far smaller deli, fresh meat and fruit/vegetable sections.
As a kid growing up in the late 60's early 70's, my mom grocery shopped at the Safeway at Bowman Acres, but some times shopped at the IGA that was where Casa Bonita was, Humpty Dumpty that was at 41st and Yale (NW corner) Oertle's and then Sipe's Food Barn when it opened (that was a cool store then) and then at McCartney's when it opened on Memorial. I think in the early years she went wherever the best S&H Green Stamps deal was. She never shopped the Bud's Thrifty Wise at Mayo Meadow.
Swake, I know of a couple of the Safeway Stores in the SF area, and yeah they are old and small, but they are the old neighborhood stores, where you had them all over the place because they catered to the people within a short distance of the store. If you get out into Fremont/Hayward/Union City/Dublin area it's more like Tulsa than people might think, and they have the larger stores. Last time I was there in September it was really interesting going into the bodega style stores down in the Mission District, or around the Embarcadero area.
Where I live now the population is about 4000 people and we have two stores, Safeway and McKay's (which is a Oregon chain of stores) and they are not much bigger than a large Walgreens or CVS.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Safeway/@43.1748084,-124.1873675,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x54c4879fdf34edad:0x9010e78d572a98d5?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Safeway/@43.1748084,-124.1873675,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x54c4879fdf34edad:0x9010e78d572a98d5?hl=en)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mc+Kay's+Market/@43.1780709,-124.1888659,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x54c487745cd078c7:0x78e1d7d95500cf26?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mc+Kay's+Market/@43.1780709,-124.1888659,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x54c487745cd078c7:0x78e1d7d95500cf26?hl=en)
The Safeway in Leadville, Co. is the only full service supermarket there. In response to local demand, I notice they have more organic and whole food selections than in other market areas I've been in one in the last five or so years. It's still as filthy and dated though as the rest.
The Safeway stores I went to in SF were both right by Golden Gate Park, but it's not just the stores in the city. It's been a few years but I've been in grocery stores in San Jose as well. A Safeway and another brand that I can't recall who it was. Those stores were larger, probably more like the former Albertson's stores here. Both still kind of run down and very busy. That Safeway shared it's parking lot with Nordstrom's in a very upscale shopping area and it was still run down. It's almost like they have so much business that they have no need to update. Target and Walmart are still pretty rare out there but Whole Foods has locations all over the place. The brand new Target in downtown SF across the street from the Moscone Center looks just exactly like a Target anywhere else inside except it was two stories.
Come to think of it, I was in a Safeway in DC near Chevy Case in the Rock Creek Park area several years ago. It wasn't great either. Maybe it's Safeway that has issues.
Quote from: dbacksfan 2.0 on March 11, 2014, 03:45:31 AM
Where I live now the population is about 4000 people and we have two stores, Safeway and McKay's (which is a Oregon chain of stores) and they are not much bigger than a large Walgreens or CVS.
Do these "smaller" stores have a good selection but just a smaller quantity of each selection or do they also have a smaller selection?
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 11, 2014, 12:53:33 PM
Do these "smaller" stores have a good selection but just a smaller quantity of each selection or do they also have a smaller selection?
They have a comparable selection, just smaller quantity (although they do a better job of keeping the shelves stocked compared to Walmart). The Safeway as an example, is about 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the Safeway's in Coos Bay and North Bend.
Quote from: Rookie Okie on March 08, 2014, 11:34:55 AM
I'd like to have access to a lot of what is carried in the 5 mile radius of stores near you. However, the type of full-line flagship supermarkets that I'm talking about will carry most if not all of what you note about Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Natural Grocers. I'll even through in Fresh Market to your mix. I just don't have the time to traipse 15 - 20 miles all over town to shop at different stores.
I like soy ice cream and cannot find any at a Reasor's in Owasso or Tulsa. I did find some at Walmart when I moved here, but they stopped carrying it very soon after. On a recent Reasor's trip, I was unable to find Canadian bacon, fresh spinach, diet iced tea, a very popular old school hot cereal, and shampoo and Combos (yes the over processed snack item) for a friend. They weren't out of these products, they must have recently stopped carrying them proclaimed the store personnel after they assisted in my futile search. No promise was made to carry any of these items in the future, but I now know that I can request items and they will try to get them.
I mentioned that the stores lack variety, but perhaps Oklahoma shoppers may differ with my assertion since it is a relative statement. To clarify, what is lacking is more brands, more choices/ variations of items, more healthier products of all types (if I want chips - offer no-fat and lower fat options), a deli that not only serves processed deli meats but also carves from unprocessed store baked turkeys, hams, and roasts, and a bakery that serves fresh baked goods instead of the bland crap they put out that upon sight makes you retreat quickly to the packaged snacks aisle.
I've forgotten a lot of what I've missed, but it immediately hits me when I go inside a Publix or Wegmans. But the fact that I'm now forgetting is perhaps a sign that I'm adjusting. Reasor's may be keeping up with some trends as you noted, but they are behind in others such offering high quality multi-serve meals, quick prep meals international products and ingredients, and other conveniences and amenities for today's changing consumer needs.
For now, I'd just like some soy ice cream but don't want to go to South Tulsa from Owasso to get it. Otherwise, I can do O.K. with Reasor's. There was some mention of another market coming here, but the official who made the announcement wouldn't divulge any details as is common practice. I suspect it could be Sprouts which would be a good addition.
Are you sure you didn't wander into a Kum & Go?
Every item you listed, except for soy ice cream, can be found at the two Reasor's I shop at most frequently. Those stores being the Bixby location where I shop 99% of the time, the other 1% being at the store in Jenks. They may even have soy ice cream but I can't say for sure because I've never looked. Maybe Owassoites, Owassans, Owassistanians, whatever...just don't buy enough of those items to Reasor's to give them shelf space up there.
I didn't even known Combos still existed until a recent trip to Reasor's in Bixby where I noticed them in the checkout lane while I was standing there. From what I remember of them from my junior high days they tasted like what I would imagine sad would taste like if it were palatable.
It's been a while since I've been to a Safeway in the Bay Area. I do recall one right near the end of Main near Castro. Of course it was small and somewhat dated, but not atypical of the very few supermarkets that still operate in the heart of large urbanized cores. This particular store served a very highly diverse and eclectic demographic mix as you'd expect. Everything from super successful to struggling professionals of all types, street people, addicts, seniors, juniors, mimes, and what have you. While not representative of Safeway stores elsewhere, I applaud the chain and any like them that still see fit to operate such stores because they fill significant voids. Many chains will not operate stores like this stating they don't "fit their business model." Their philosophy is that while they might not want to, sophisticated downtown residents with the means will get in their cars and drive out to the better stores. They really don't care much about serving less mobile poor residents (unless they can find their way to the store). Urban stores can be profitable but they may not be as profitable as the larger suburban counterparts. I don't necessarily agree with this entire premise and know that in time it will have to change. Indeed as downtown population continues to increase in many cities across the U.S., some of the more forward operating chains will get the jump on their competition to re-pioneer the evolving market opportunities.
I also ventured into Safeway stores out in the East Bay, I think in the Pleasanton or Dublin areas. Totally different stores for totally different demographics.
Quote from: Ibanez on March 11, 2014, 03:36:28 PM
Are you sure you didn't wander into a Kum & Go?
Every item you listed, except for soy ice cream, can be found at the two Reasor's I shop at most frequently. Those stores being the Bixby location where I shop 99% of the time, the other 1% being at the store in Jenks. They may even have soy ice cream but I can't say for sure because I've never looked. Maybe Owassoites, Owassans, Owassistanians, whatever...just don't buy enough of those items to Reasor's to give them shelf space up there.
I didn't even known Combos still existed until a recent trip to Reasor's in Bixby where I noticed them in the checkout lane while I was standing there. From what I remember of them from my junior high days they tasted like what I would imagine sad would taste like if it were palatable.
Well it might as well have been Kum –n Go, because I was in Reasor's again Sunday and pretty much came and went except for picking up just a few items. No they still don't carry fresh bundled spinach (the rest of the produce looked no better than Walmart's), brewed diet iced tea (only saw that not so good Arizona brand), nor Canadian bacon. I can get the tea and bacon from Walmart, so NBD. The meat and seafood counters did not look refreshed at all.
I miss being able to go to my hometown grocer to get fresh boiled bagels made before your eyes daily, many varieties of freshly ground coffee by the cup, dropping off/ picking up my dry cleaning, getting a fresh made sub or sandwich on artisan breads made in the store, fresh pasta dishes, fresh oven pizza, a very large selection of other freshly prepared items and meals for dinner when I didn't want to cook or go out, and the freshest produce and meats that can be sold in a store. As I mentioned, I've forgotten a lot of what I missed. I'm doing my best to adapt and deal here now, but I can't see driving 30 miles or whatever distance it is from Owasso to Bixby/ Jenks to shop at a Reasor's. Before doing that I'd stop at Fresh Market or Sprouts and get over it. FWIW, as it was suggested I did put in a request for soy ice cream at Reasor's so hopefully they'll get some in soon.