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