Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
my grocery store to a Kroger.

Goodbye, excellent meat!

Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.

Goodbye, grocery store.

My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
oddments like ponzu sauce.

*sigh*

Cindy Hamilton

On 5/2/2015 6:38 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
> my grocery store to a Kroger.
>
> Goodbye, excellent meat!
>
> Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>
> Goodbye, grocery store.
>
> My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
> at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
> garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
> oddments like ponzu sauce.
>
> *sigh*
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>
I'm sorry to hear it. I suppose there was a time when Kroger was a
*good* grocery store chain. I've never had one close enough to my home
or work bother shopping in. I'm not one to drive all over the place
(wasting gas) to try to save a few pennies.

I hope you find some alternative shopping choices. Then again, maybe
wait a couple of weeks and just peruse the Kroger. Maybe you'll be
pleasantly surprised. <shrug>

Jill

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 7:05:46 AM UTC-4, jmcquown wrote:
> On 5/2/2015 6:38 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
> > my grocery store to a Kroger.
> >
> > Goodbye, excellent meat!
> >
> > Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
> >
> > Goodbye, grocery store.
> >
> > My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
> > at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
> > garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
> > oddments like ponzu sauce.
> >
> > *sigh*
> >
> > Cindy Hamilton
> >
> I'm sorry to hear it. I suppose there was a time when Kroger was a
> *good* grocery store chain. I've never had one close enough to my home
> or work bother shopping in. I'm not one to drive all over the place
> (wasting gas) to try to save a few pennies.
>
> I hope you find some alternative shopping choices. Then again, maybe
> wait a couple of weeks and just peruse the Kroger. Maybe you'll be
> pleasantly surprised. <shrug>

Doubtful. I occasionally stop by Kroger when I need just one or
two things. I'm not impressed.

But thank you for your kind thoughts.

Cindy Hamilton

"Cindy Hamilton" > wrote in message
...
> Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
> my grocery store to a Kroger.
>
> Goodbye, excellent meat!
>
> Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>
> Goodbye, grocery store.
>
> My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
> at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
> garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
> oddments like ponzu sauce.
>
> *sigh*
>
> Cindy Hamilton

We don't have actual Kroger here but we do have QFC and Fred Meyer, both of
which are owned by Kroger. Both have excellent meat and ethnic ingredients.
But, IMO, high prices.

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 5/2/2015 6:38 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>> Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is
>> converting
>> my grocery store to a Kroger.
>>
>> Goodbye, excellent meat!
>>
>> Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>>
>> Goodbye, grocery store.
>>
>> My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
>> at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
>> garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
>> oddments like ponzu sauce.
>>
>> *sigh*
>>
>> Cindy Hamilton
>>
> I'm sorry to hear it. I suppose there was a time when Kroger was a *good*
> grocery store chain. I've never had one close enough to my home or work
> bother shopping in. I'm not one to drive all over the place (wasting gas)
> to try to save a few pennies.
>
> I hope you find some alternative shopping choices. Then again, maybe wait
> a couple of weeks and just peruse the Kroger. Maybe you'll be pleasantly
> surprised. <shrug>

My grandma loved them but then again they were within walking distance of
her house.

On 5/2/2015 7:10 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 7:05:46 AM UTC-4, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 5/2/2015 6:38 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>> Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
>>> my grocery store to a Kroger.
>>>
>>> Goodbye, excellent meat!
>>>
>>> Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>>>
>>> Goodbye, grocery store.
>>>
>>> My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
>>> at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
>>> garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
>>> oddments like ponzu sauce.
>>>
>>> *sigh*
>>>
>>> Cindy Hamilton
>>>
>> I'm sorry to hear it. I suppose there was a time when Kroger was a
>> *good* grocery store chain. I've never had one close enough to my home
>> or work bother shopping in. I'm not one to drive all over the place
>> (wasting gas) to try to save a few pennies.
>>
>> I hope you find some alternative shopping choices. Then again, maybe
>> wait a couple of weeks and just peruse the Kroger. Maybe you'll be
>> pleasantly surprised. <shrug>
>
> Doubtful. I occasionally stop by Kroger when I need just one or
> two things. I'm not impressed.
>
> But thank you for your kind thoughts.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>
You're welcome. When I lived in west Tennessee I became well versed
in the 'supermarket swap'. One chain buying out another after about a
year. None of them was Kroger, though.

Jill

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 7:45:26 AM UTC-4, Julie Bove wrote:
> "Cindy Hamilton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
> > my grocery store to a Kroger.
> >
> > Goodbye, excellent meat!
> >
> > Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
> >
> > Goodbye, grocery store.
> >
> > My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
> > at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
> > garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
> > oddments like ponzu sauce.
> >
> > *sigh*
> >
> > Cindy Hamilton
>
> We don't have actual Kroger here but we do have QFC and Fred Meyer, both of
> which are owned by Kroger. Both have excellent meat and ethnic ingredients.
> But, IMO, high prices.

The prices don't concern me; the place that's being bought didn't
have particularly low prices. But it's being converted into a
Kroger, and the other Kroger stores around here are pretty dismal.

Still, I'm much too young to be set in my ways. Time to adapt.

Cindy Hamilton

On Sat, 2 May 2015 03:38:16 -0700 (PDT), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:

>Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
>my grocery store to a Kroger.
>
>Goodbye, excellent meat!
>
>Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>
>Goodbye, grocery store.
>
>My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
>at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
>garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
>oddments like ponzu sauce.
>
>*sigh*
>
>Cindy Hamilton

You owned your own grocery store? Cool, but alas, I suppose.

John Kuthe...

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

On 5/2/2015 8:13 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:

> The prices don't concern me; the place that's being bought didn't
> have particularly low prices. But it's being converted into a
> Kroger, and the other Kroger stores around here are pretty dismal.
>
> Still, I'm much too young to be set in my ways. Time to adapt.

People don't seem to have anything good to say about Albertson's,
but when they bought my local store chain, it was like 50 steps
up from what it was. They even replaced the decrepit old store!

That's when I learned that the location is owned by a local guy.
Seems he'd been begging the old chain for a new store, sent them
all the demographic data, they just didn't have the cash to do it.

I'm curious if most supermarkets are a franchise type of deal.

Your store didn't need improving, so chances are you're not going
to be happier with the new chain, but maybe if it's franchised, the
owner will do a better job than the other local Kroger's? Fingers
crossed.

nancy

On 2015-05-02, jmcquown > wrote:

> None of them was Kroger, though.

Our best sprmkt is a Kroger store. It's a sub-chain named City
Market, but it's definitely a Kroger owned store. It has the lowest
prices and the best produce of both its competitors, Safeway and
Walmart. I recall a few Kroger stores in CA, also. Kroger owned mkts
were named Ralph's. I think they were bigger in SoCal.

nb

On Sat, 02 May 2015 09:34:18 -0400, Nancy Young
> wrote:

>On 5/2/2015 8:13 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>
>> The prices don't concern me; the place that's being bought didn't
>> have particularly low prices. But it's being converted into a
>> Kroger, and the other Kroger stores around here are pretty dismal.
>>
>> Still, I'm much too young to be set in my ways. Time to adapt.
>
>People don't seem to have anything good to say about Albertson's,
>but when they bought my local store chain, it was like 50 steps
>up from what it was. They even replaced the decrepit old store!
>
>That's when I learned that the location is owned by a local guy.
>Seems he'd been begging the old chain for a new store, sent them
>all the demographic data, they just didn't have the cash to do it.
>
>I'm curious if most supermarkets are a franchise type of deal.
>
>Your store didn't need improving, so chances are you're not going
>to be happier with the new chain, but maybe if it's franchised, the
>owner will do a better job than the other local Kroger's? Fingers
>crossed.
>
>nancy

When I moved here 12 years ago the market in town was a Grand Union,
it was ancient inside and out. The old time locals thought it was a
wonderful store, I couldn't agree less. The store was dirty, it
smelled, the roof leaked in so many places that with all the buckets
they placed on rainy days it was like traversing an obstacle course.
Their refrigeration was terrible, their deli reeked so bad I wouldn't
buy anything there. The only things good about that store was they
had a very good produce scetion and they sold excellent quality meats,
mostly from local farmers. The next nearest market was 15 miles away.
another old Grand Union that was actually more decrepit. Three years
agou To9ps Markets bought up the old Grand Unions and rehabed the
buildings nicely, inside and out, all new fixtures, new shelving,
brand new refrigeration units, new flooring, all new decor. All the
old timers agonized that their wonderful store would be ruined, they
couldn't be more wrong, yet three years later they are still
complaining how the old Grand Union was so much better. The m eat and
produce departments were totally modernized but they kept many of the
same employess and the meats are still from local farmers and still
excellent quality, and lower prices for the meats on sale each week,
this week top round steaks/roasts are $3.49/lb, and skinless boneless
breasts are $1.59/lb, I stocked up. Old time locals are complaining
about their high prices, but they forget that nowhere are prices the
same as five years ago, or even last year... the old time locals are
living way in the past. I'm pleased that Tops Market took over that
store.... they even replaced all the carts with brand spanking new,
the old carts were derelects. The deli is all cleaned up but no way
can they compete with Walmart's deli which is still a lot cleaner,
much more modern, and prices are about half. The only foods I buy at
Tops are their sale items that I can use and their fresh meats, I hate
Walmarts fresh meats. Most in season produce is about the same at
both but Walmart's prices are substantially lower, out of season
produce is far better quality at Walmart. But Walmart is 20 miles
away, so I stock up once a month, and fill in at Tops. I wouldn't
agonize about the new Kroger, give it a chance... you may be
pleasantly surprised... I can't imagine Kroger is taking over a store
with hopes to fail.

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 4:46:14 AM UTC-7, Julie Bove wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On 5/2/2015 6:38 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> >> Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is
> >> converting
> >> my grocery store to a Kroger.
> >>
> >> Goodbye, excellent meat!
> >>
> >> Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
> >>
> >> Goodbye, grocery store.
> >>
> >> My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
> >> at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
> >> garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
> >> oddments like ponzu sauce.
> >>
> >> *sigh*
> >>
> >> Cindy Hamilton
> >>
> > I'm sorry to hear it. I suppose there was a time when Kroger was a *good*
> > grocery store chain. I've never had one close enough to my home or work
> > bother shopping in. I'm not one to drive all over the place (wasting gas)
> > to try to save a few pennies.
> >
> > I hope you find some alternative shopping choices. Then again, maybe wait
> > a couple of weeks and just peruse the Kroger. Maybe you'll be pleasantly
> > surprised. <shrug>
>
> My grandma loved them but then again they were within walking distance of
> her house.

My grandma liked Kroger, too. "Let's go Kroger-ing!"
Years ago, there were Krogers in suburban Chicago, but that didn't last
too long.

My aunt shops at VG's, now owned by Spartan Stores.

Sqwertz wrote:
>
> Kroger is just like Safeway/Randall's. Too much of a bloated,
> impersonal corporate presence in every aspect of the store.

Have one here and see the sale flyers each Wednesday. They do have
some good deals but I still never shop there. They are a little bit
farther than my 3 local chains, each 1 mile or less away. The Kroger
is 2 miles away...horrors of long distant driving for me. ;-D

On Sat, 2 May 2015 03:38:16 -0700 (PDT), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:

>Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
>my grocery store to a Kroger.
>
>Goodbye, excellent meat!
>
>Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>
>Goodbye, grocery store.
>
>My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
>at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
>garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
>oddments like ponzu sauce.
>
>*sigh*
>
>Cindy Hamilton

Kroger's not so bad, our Kroger/Ralphs in Los Angeles is pretty much
the same as before acquisition, some stuff better some a little worse.

Between TJ's and Kroger/Ralphs I can get 95% of food I want at home.
We also have expensive Bristol Farms and Whole Foods, of course, and a
few expensive Gelsons. Other than that there's only one independent
market of any consequence within miles of here, where I may buy a
little expensive produce and fresh-squeezed juice (and a great
independent bakery in the back!).

Los Angeles lost 90% of its grocery chains like 20 years ago to
consolidation and competition from Walmart and Costco, but that's also
about when TJ's got bought out, expanded and improved, thank goodness!
I'm also looking to Target to improve their grocery department over
the next year or two, right now except for canned and packaged goods
at great prices, and a few proprietary snacks, it's a boring disaster,
in meat and produce.

Some local Farmer's Markets are supposed to be good places to buy
fresh and exotic veggies, but I've never really gotten involved with
that.

J.

On Sat, 2 May 2015 03:38:16 -0700 (PDT), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:

> Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
> my grocery store to a Kroger.
>
> Goodbye, excellent meat!
>
> Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>
> Goodbye, grocery store.
>
> My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
> at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
> garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
> oddments like ponzu sauce.
>
> *sigh*
>

Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
way it goes for you too.

--

sf

On Sat, 02 May 2015 07:05:39 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> I suppose there was a time when Kroger was a *good* grocery store chain.

I think it was. I remember the grandmother who lived on the other
side of the state from us would mention it by name.

--

sf

On 5/2/2015 9:03 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> Kroger is just like Safeway/Randall's.


No it's not.

Grow a brain.

On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Sat, 2 May 2015 03:38:16 -0700 (PDT), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:
>
>> Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
>> my grocery store to a Kroger.
>>
>> Goodbye, excellent meat!
>>
>> Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
>>
>> Goodbye, grocery store.
>>
>> My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
>> at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
>> garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
>> oddments like ponzu sauce.
>>
>> *sigh*
>>
>
>Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
>changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
>way it goes for you too.

Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
better would be welcome.

J.

On 5/2/2015 11:06 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Sat, 02 May 2015 09:34:18 -0400, Nancy Young

>> On 5/2/2015 8:13 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>
>>> The prices don't concern me; the place that's being bought didn't
>>> have particularly low prices. But it's being converted into a
>>> Kroger, and the other Kroger stores around here are pretty dismal.

>> Your store didn't need improving, so chances are you're not going
>> to be happier with the new chain, but maybe if it's franchised, the
>> owner will do a better job than the other local Kroger's? Fingers
>> crossed.

> When I moved here 12 years ago the market in town was a Grand Union,
> it was ancient inside and out.

Sounds like my store, before it was taken over. Everything
about it was just old and not clean looking.

> The old time locals thought it was a
> wonderful store, I couldn't agree less.

They were used to it and there wasn't much/any real competition.

> The store was dirty, it
> smelled, the roof leaked in so many places that with all the buckets
> they placed on rainy days it was like traversing an obstacle course.
> Their refrigeration was terrible, their deli reeked so bad I wouldn't
> buy anything there. The only things good about that store was they
> had a very good produce scetion and they sold excellent quality meats,
> mostly from local farmers. The next nearest market was 15 miles away.

That's how they get away with second rate stuff, though they
were lucky to have nice meat and produce.

My store, produce is not their strong suit. They got low marks
for it in the recent Consumer Reports for that, too.

> another old Grand Union that was actually more decrepit. Three years
> agou To9ps Markets bought up the old Grand Unions and rehabed the
> buildings nicely, inside and out, all new fixtures, new shelving,
> brand new refrigeration units, new flooring, all new decor. All the
> old timers agonized that their wonderful store would be ruined, they
> couldn't be more wrong, yet three years later they are still
> complaining how the old Grand Union was so much better.

Figures. I'm sure there were people who missed the old store, the
new one is so clean and has so many new items.

nancy

On 5/2/2015 9:04 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2015-05-02, jmcquown > wrote:
>
>> None of them was Kroger, though.
>
> Our best sprmkt is a Kroger store. It's a sub-chain named City
> Market, but it's definitely a Kroger owned store. It has the lowest
> prices and the best produce of both its competitors, Safeway and
> Walmart. I recall a few Kroger stores in CA, also. Kroger owned mkts
> were named Ralph's. I think they were bigger in SoCal.
>
> nb
>

I've shopped City Markets when out camping. They are superior stores.

We have Smiths which is also Kroger and just as good.

On Sat, 02 May 2015 16:51:50 -0400, Nancy Young
> wrote:

>
> Sounds like my store, before it was taken over. Everything
> about it was just old and not clean looking.

The Walgreen's near me got a make-over recently. They didn't do
anything to the outside of the building (probably leased), but they
painted, replaced the shelving and gave everything a sleeker look -
although they didn't significantly change the layout. It seems like a
brand new store and it was a long time coming. There was a Rite Aide
a block away for years, then Walgreen's bought out all the Rite Aide
locations in town with a no competition agreement. CVS moved in a
year or two later, but they didn't change. Whole Foods opened at one
end of the shopping district - still no movement. Now that a Target
Express has been approved to open in the old Rite Aide location (a
former Safeway store), they finally decided to spruce it up. FINALLY!

--

sf

On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
wrote:

> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
>
> >
> >Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
> >changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
> >way it goes for you too.
>
> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
> better would be welcome.
>
Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
beginning with the 2014 holiday season.

--

sf

On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:19:36 -0600, "W. Lohman" > wrote:

> On 5/2/2015 9:03 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> > Kroger is just like Safeway/Randall's.
>
>
> No it's not.
>
> Grow a brain.

He should stick to shopping at Restaurant Depot.

--

sf

On 5/2/2015 7:05 PM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
>>> changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
>>> way it goes for you too.
>>
>> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
>> better would be welcome.
>>
> Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
> stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
> you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
> beginning with the 2014 holiday season.
>
South of where? I guess you're talking southern California, not the
southern US states on the eastern seaboard. I've sure never seen a
Safeway in South Carolina.

Jill

On 5/2/2015 5:11 PM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:19:36 -0600, "W. Lohman" > wrote:
>
>> On 5/2/2015 9:03 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> Kroger is just like Safeway/Randall's.
>>
>>
>> No it's not.
>>
>> Grow a brain.
>
> He should stick to shopping at Restaurant Depot.
>

Tell me.

On Sat, 02 May 2015 19:42:06 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 5/2/2015 7:05 PM, sf wrote:
>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
>>>> changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
>>>> way it goes for you too.
>>>
>>> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
>>> better would be welcome.
>>>
>> Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
>> stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
>> you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
>> beginning with the 2014 holiday season.
>>
>South of where? I guess you're talking southern California, not the
>southern US states on the eastern seaboard. I've sure never seen a
>Safeway in South Carolina.
>
>Jill

AFAIK the last Safeway was converted to Vons maybe five years ago.
The two nearest me have closed, and I was last in another one several
months ago - not too far away, but I have to pass about six different
markets to get there, so I don't.

I'll make a trip tomorrow and go look, I know they announced something
yada yada a couple of months ago.

J.

On Sat, 02 May 2015 19:42:06 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> On 5/2/2015 7:05 PM, sf wrote:
> > On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
> >>> changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
> >>> way it goes for you too.
> >>
> >> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
> >> better would be welcome.
> >>
> > Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
> > stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
> > you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
> > beginning with the 2014 holiday season.
> >
> South of where? I guess you're talking southern California, not the
> southern US states on the eastern seaboard. I've sure never seen a
> Safeway in South Carolina.
>
He was talking about LA, which is in an area commonly known as
SOUTHERN California and I was talking as one Californian to another.
The last thing I knew (as of 20 years ago), there was no grocery store
named "Safeway" in SoCal - just Vons. You obviously don't know
anything about Kaiser (health) either.


--

sf

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
news
> On 5/2/2015 8:13 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>
>> The prices don't concern me; the place that's being bought didn't
>> have particularly low prices. But it's being converted into a
>> Kroger, and the other Kroger stores around here are pretty dismal.
>>
>> Still, I'm much too young to be set in my ways. Time to adapt.
>
> People don't seem to have anything good to say about Albertson's,
> but when they bought my local store chain, it was like 50 steps
> up from what it was. They even replaced the decrepit old store!
>
> That's when I learned that the location is owned by a local guy.
> Seems he'd been begging the old chain for a new store, sent them
> all the demographic data, they just didn't have the cash to do it.
>
> I'm curious if most supermarkets are a franchise type of deal.
>
> Your store didn't need improving, so chances are you're not going
> to be happier with the new chain, but maybe if it's franchised, the
> owner will do a better job than the other local Kroger's? Fingers
> crossed.
>
> nancy

When we first moved back here, I loved Albertsons except for the meat. They
sell terrible meat! You can get some better stuff now but prepacked type
stuff. But over the years their prices have gone higher and higher. I
still shop there. Was just there today. I find that I wind up shopping at
most all of the stores around here although I may only buy a few things at
each one.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 02 May 2015 16:51:50 -0400, Nancy Young
> > wrote:
>
>>
>> Sounds like my store, before it was taken over. Everything
>> about it was just old and not clean looking.
>
> The Walgreen's near me got a make-over recently. They didn't do
> anything to the outside of the building (probably leased), but they
> painted, replaced the shelving and gave everything a sleeker look -
> although they didn't significantly change the layout. It seems like a
> brand new store and it was a long time coming. There was a Rite Aide
> a block away for years, then Walgreen's bought out all the Rite Aide
> locations in town with a no competition agreement. CVS moved in a
> year or two later, but they didn't change. Whole Foods opened at one
> end of the shopping district - still no movement. Now that a Target
> Express has been approved to open in the old Rite Aide location (a
> former Safeway store), they finally decided to spruce it up. FINALLY!

The Rite Aids are all changed here. They look nice but seem to carry less
items than before.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
>> >changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
>> >way it goes for you too.
>>
>> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
>> better would be welcome.
>>
> Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
> stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
> you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
> beginning with the 2014 holiday season.

I have not noticed any good changes here. Prices are not getting better and
they sell less variety now.

On 5/3/2015 12:07 AM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 02 May 2015 19:42:06 -0400, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> On 5/2/2015 7:05 PM, sf wrote:
>>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
>>>>> changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
>>>>> way it goes for you too.
>>>>
>>>> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
>>>> better would be welcome.
>>>>
>>> Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
>>> stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
>>> you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
>>> beginning with the 2014 holiday season.
>>>
>> South of where? I guess you're talking southern California, not the
>> southern US states on the eastern seaboard. I've sure never seen a
>> Safeway in South Carolina.
>>
> He was talking about LA, which is in an area commonly known as
> SOUTHERN California and I was talking as one Californian to another.
> The last thing I knew (as of 20 years ago), there was no grocery store
> named "Safeway" in SoCal - just Vons. You obviously don't know
> anything about Kaiser (health) either.
>
>
You'd be surprised about what I know about health insurance, HMO's and
PPO's. I was a licensed life, accident and health insurance agent from
the early 1980's until 1991. I'm not sure what the hell Kaiser has to
do with discussing Kroger or any other grocery stores.

A client of the company I worked for when it came to workers comp and
liability claims (when I lived in TN) was Ralph's. Ralph's is owned by
Kroger. They also own some Harris-Teeter stores on this side of the
country. There is a Harris-Teeter in Hilton Head. Sorry, I'm not
driving 50 miles to buy groceries.

I had one memorable experience shopping at Kroger when I lived in TN.
Yes, it was years ago. I stopped at the Germantown location to pick up
a party tray on my way to my brothers' house. I didn't have one
Kroger's "loyalty cards". The cashier asked the young man in line ahead
of me if she could scan his card to give me some sort of discount. He
was on his way to meet his girlfriend for dinner. All he'd bought was a
card and a long stemmed rose. (sweet!) He said sure, so... they swiped
his card. Added to his shopping profile was a chilled shrimp & crabmeat
platter with cocktail sauce and a meat & cheese tray. I'd guess that
messed with their statistics! Just another reason I dislike having to
use those "cards" to get sale prices and gather misinformation.

Jill

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 4:42:12 PM UTC-7, jmcquown wrote:
> On 5/2/2015 7:05 PM, sf wrote:
> > On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
> >>> changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
> >>> way it goes for you too.
> >>
> >> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
> >> better would be welcome.
> >>
> > Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
> > stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
> > you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
> > beginning with the 2014 holiday season.
> >
> South of where? I guess you're talking southern California, not the
> southern US states on the eastern seaboard. I've sure never seen a
> Safeway in South Carolina.

There are Safeway stores in the Old Confederacy. There even used to be more further south in Virginia, and one serving vacationers from Nags Head, North Carolina.


Select a State virginia (VA)
Safeway Grocery Store Locations in Virginia (VA)

Cities
alexandria
annandale
arlington
ashburn
bristow
burke
culpeper
dale city
fairfax
falls church
great falls
herndon
leesburg
mclean
middleburg
reston
sterling
warrenton
woodbridge

On 5/3/2015 2:35 AM, wrote:
> On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 4:42:12 PM UTC-7, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 5/2/2015 7:05 PM, sf wrote:
>>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 13:32:10 -0700, JRStern >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 11:50:40 -0700, sf > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
>>>>> changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
>>>>> way it goes for you too.
>>>>
>>>> Safeway/Vons has been a disaster here in Los Angeles, changes for the
>>>> better would be welcome.
>>>>
>>> Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
>>> stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
>>> you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
>>> beginning with the 2014 holiday season.
>>>
>> South of where? I guess you're talking southern California, not the
>> southern US states on the eastern seaboard. I've sure never seen a
>> Safeway in South Carolina.
>
> There are Safeway stores in the Old Confederacy. There even used to be more further south in Virginia, and one serving vacationers from Nags Head, North Carolina.
>
>
> Select a State virginia (VA)
> Safeway Grocery Store Locations in Virginia (VA)
>
> Cities
> alexandria
> annandale
> arlington
> ashburn
> bristow
> burke
> culpeper
> dale city
> fairfax
> falls church
> great falls
> herndon
> leesburg
> mclean
> middleburg
> reston
> sterling
> warrenton
> woodbridge
>
Yeah... Virginia is a long way from where I am. I did live in
Woodbridge in 1964.

Jill

On Sat, 2 May 2015 21:51:14 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>
> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
> >>
> > Good luck down South! The only thing I know about the old Safeway
> > stores is like Kaiser, they are divided into North and South. Have
> > you noticed *anything* different? I saw changes for the good
> > beginning with the 2014 holiday season.
>
> I have not noticed any good changes here. Prices are not getting better and
> they sell less variety now.

I thought my shopping experience would take a turn for the worse, but
instead it improved. Prices didn't change appreciably, if at all, and
the variety is great. If you have less variety where you shop, it's
because the customers in your store don't support variety. They put
new products on the shelves constantly and if they don't sell,
they're on to something else.

--

sf

On Sun, 03 May 2015 02:21:09 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> I had one memorable experience shopping at Kroger when I lived in TN.
> Yes, it was years ago. I stopped at the Germantown location to pick up
> a party tray on my way to my brothers' house. I didn't have one
> Kroger's "loyalty cards". The cashier asked the young man in line ahead
> of me if she could scan his card to give me some sort of discount. He
> was on his way to meet his girlfriend for dinner. All he'd bought was a
> card and a long stemmed rose. (sweet!) He said sure, so... they swiped
> his card. Added to his shopping profile was a chilled shrimp & crabmeat
> platter with cocktail sauce and a meat & cheese tray. I'd guess that
> messed with their statistics! Just another reason I dislike having to
> use those "cards" to get sale prices and gather misinformation.

Seems pointless to me for you to care. You got the discount. Other
than that, so what.

--

sf

jmcquown wrote:
>
> Virginia is a long way from where I am.

Not very far from where I live. ;-D

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 2:50:49 PM UTC-4, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 2 May 2015 03:38:16 -0700 (PDT), Cindy Hamilton
> > wrote:
>
> > Kroger has bought the small regional chain where I shop, and is converting
> > my grocery store to a Kroger.
> >
> > Goodbye, excellent meat!
> >
> > Goodbye, ethnic ingredients.
> >
> > Goodbye, grocery store.
> >
> > My tentative plan is to shop for meat at Costco and everything else
> > at Meijer (which is a bit like Walmart--groceries, department store,
> > garden center all in one). We've got a few Asian groceries for the
> > oddments like ponzu sauce.
> >
> > *sigh*
> >
>
> Safeway recently merged with AB Acquisition LLC and so far the
> changes I've noticed have been for the better. Hopefully that's the
> way it goes for you too.

The local news website had a plethora of people mourning, just as I
did.

I doubt Kroger will carry prime beef, and if the fish department in
their other local stores is any indication, I won't be buying fish
there, either.

I'm thinking of Costco for meat; it looked pretty good and the
prices were comparable to what I've been paying. There are a
couple of really nice meat markets in town, but they're out
of my general orbit.

I'll miss my one-stop shop on the way home from work on Fridays.

We've got a new Lucky's, which I cruised through for the first
time last week. I didn't know my regular store had been bought
out, so I wasn't looking at it that hard.

<https://www.luckysmarket.com/location/ann-arbor-mi/>

Cindy Hamilton

On 5/3/2015 4:22 AM, sf wrote:
> On Sun, 03 May 2015 02:21:09 -0400, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> I had one memorable experience shopping at Kroger when I lived in TN.
>> Yes, it was years ago. I stopped at the Germantown location to pick up
>> a party tray on my way to my brothers' house. I didn't have one
>> Kroger's "loyalty cards". The cashier asked the young man in line ahead
>> of me if she could scan his card to give me some sort of discount. He
>> was on his way to meet his girlfriend for dinner. All he'd bought was a
>> card and a long stemmed rose. (sweet!) He said sure, so... they swiped
>> his card. Added to his shopping profile was a chilled shrimp & crabmeat
>> platter with cocktail sauce and a meat & cheese tray. I'd guess that
>> messed with their statistics! Just another reason I dislike having to
>> use those "cards" to get sale prices and gather misinformation.
>
> Seems pointless to me for you to care. You got the discount. Other
> than that, so what.
>
I care because I think those cards are useless. A sale price should be
a sale price, card or no card.

Jill

On Sat, 2 May 2015 21:44:46 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"sf" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sat, 02 May 2015 16:51:50 -0400, Nancy Young
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Sounds like my store, before it was taken over. Everything
>>> about it was just old and not clean looking.
>>
>> The Walgreen's near me got a make-over recently. They didn't do
>> anything to the outside of the building (probably leased), but they
>> painted, replaced the shelving and gave everything a sleeker look -
>> although they didn't significantly change the layout. It seems like a
>> brand new store and it was a long time coming. There was a Rite Aide
>> a block away for years, then Walgreen's bought out all the Rite Aide
>> locations in town with a no competition agreement. CVS moved in a
>> year or two later, but they didn't change. Whole Foods opened at one
>> end of the shopping district - still no movement. Now that a Target
>> Express has been approved to open in the old Rite Aide location (a
>> former Safeway store), they finally decided to spruce it up. FINALLY!
>
>The Rite Aids are all changed here. They look nice but seem to carry less
>items than before.

Huh? Rite Aid is primarilly a pharmacy, what drugs don't they sell?
My only reason to go into Rite Aid is to have an Rx filled or pick up
some OTC product like a pint of rubbing alchohol, I don't buy produce
or meats there. In fact next trip will be for rubbing alchohol, I use
that mostly to sterilize my water bottle, tooth brush, and spritz
kitchen surfaces, a whole lot safer than chlorine bleach... every
medical facility I've ever been to uses alcohol wipes, I've never seen
chlorine bleach wipes anywhere.

On Sun, 03 May 2015 08:47:30 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> On 5/3/2015 4:22 AM, sf wrote:
> > On Sun, 03 May 2015 02:21:09 -0400, jmcquown >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> I had one memorable experience shopping at Kroger when I lived in TN.
> >> Yes, it was years ago. I stopped at the Germantown location to pick up
> >> a party tray on my way to my brothers' house. I didn't have one
> >> Kroger's "loyalty cards". The cashier asked the young man in line ahead
> >> of me if she could scan his card to give me some sort of discount. He
> >> was on his way to meet his girlfriend for dinner. All he'd bought was a
> >> card and a long stemmed rose. (sweet!) He said sure, so... they swiped
> >> his card. Added to his shopping profile was a chilled shrimp & crabmeat
> >> platter with cocktail sauce and a meat & cheese tray. I'd guess that
> >> messed with their statistics! Just another reason I dislike having to
> >> use those "cards" to get sale prices and gather misinformation.
> >
> > Seems pointless to me for you to care. You got the discount. Other
> > than that, so what.
> >
> I care because I think those cards are useless. A sale price should be
> a sale price, card or no card.
>
Some stores agree with you. You can use a card at Lucky if you wish,
prices don't change - but you accumulate gas points that way. We
don't use their affiliated gas brand, so I don't bother.

--

sf