Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by BillyGr »

architect wrote:Now, for the twist, I passed by the Northwest Highway/Ferndale store this morning, and from the road saw a similar yellow sign posted at the entrance. This move is somewhat strange, as seemingly this store was still for sale (or was also rumored to be going back to Albertsons to reopen as a Tom Thumb). If HEB was planning to sell to another grocer, I doubt that they would want to clear out fixtures and equipment prior to the sale, as this would make it less attractive to a buyer. My guess is that either HEB has suddenly developed plans for this store, or they are planning to sell/lease it to a non-grocer tenant. It will be interesting to see if there are any more forthcoming announcements pertaining to this property.
Unless it is going to be done as you describe (converting to the Tom Thumb label) and they want to do a complete changeover/remodel of the inside to match that brand's style? In which case it would make sense to clear out the old equipment now and start with an empty space to re-open in with all new stuff?

Note that while most of the A&P locations Acme acquired (being part of the same corporate group) were taken over as is and never closed, they did pick up at least one (maybe more) at the last minute, after all the stuff was cleared out (including fixtures) and then took a bit of time to completely re-do the store before opening as Acme, so it wouldn't be a first for them.
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by pseudo3d »

BillyGr wrote:
architect wrote:Now, for the twist, I passed by the Northwest Highway/Ferndale store this morning, and from the road saw a similar yellow sign posted at the entrance. This move is somewhat strange, as seemingly this store was still for sale (or was also rumored to be going back to Albertsons to reopen as a Tom Thumb). If HEB was planning to sell to another grocer, I doubt that they would want to clear out fixtures and equipment prior to the sale, as this would make it less attractive to a buyer. My guess is that either HEB has suddenly developed plans for this store, or they are planning to sell/lease it to a non-grocer tenant. It will be interesting to see if there are any more forthcoming announcements pertaining to this property.
Note that while most of the A&P locations Acme acquired (being part of the same corporate group) were taken over as is and never closed, they did pick up at least one (maybe more) at the last minute, after all the stuff was cleared out (including fixtures) and then took a bit of time to completely re-do the store before opening as Acme, so it wouldn't be a first for them.
They closed all locations for two days, resetting the store on their systems, with their products, removing or covering up any instance of the previous store, etc.

The produce areas saw fixtures replaced (A&P's set-up saw barrels, boxes, and some questionable cross-merchandising, while ACME went for streamlined cardboard boxes) and in some cases, beer and wine departments removed (thanks to archaic liquor laws about how many licenses a company can hold).
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by architect »

BillyGr wrote:
architect wrote:Now, for the twist, I passed by the Northwest Highway/Ferndale store this morning, and from the road saw a similar yellow sign posted at the entrance. This move is somewhat strange, as seemingly this store was still for sale (or was also rumored to be going back to Albertsons to reopen as a Tom Thumb). If HEB was planning to sell to another grocer, I doubt that they would want to clear out fixtures and equipment prior to the sale, as this would make it less attractive to a buyer. My guess is that either HEB has suddenly developed plans for this store, or they are planning to sell/lease it to a non-grocer tenant. It will be interesting to see if there are any more forthcoming announcements pertaining to this property.
Unless it is going to be done as you describe (converting to the Tom Thumb label) and they want to do a complete changeover/remodel of the inside to match that brand's style? In which case it would make sense to clear out the old equipment now and start with an empty space to re-open in with all new stuff?

Note that while most of the A&P locations Acme acquired (being part of the same corporate group) were taken over as is and never closed, they did pick up at least one (maybe more) at the last minute, after all the stuff was cleared out (including fixtures) and then took a bit of time to completely re-do the store before opening as Acme, so it wouldn't be a first for them.
I highly doubt that this would be the case, as HEB already sold the former Grapevine and McKinney Minyard Sun Fresh locations to Albertsons with all fixtures intact. In addition, the sign on the front of the Northwest Highway/Ferndale store appeared in the same handwritten format as the other location, so both sales are likely being conducted by the same party.
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by BillyGr »

pseudo3d wrote:
BillyGr wrote: Note that while most of the A&P locations Acme acquired (being part of the same corporate group) were taken over as is and never closed, they did pick up at least one (maybe more) at the last minute, after all the stuff was cleared out (including fixtures) and then took a bit of time to completely re-do the store before opening as Acme, so it wouldn't be a first for them.
They closed all locations for two days, resetting the store on their systems, with their products, removing or covering up any instance of the previous store, etc.

The produce areas saw fixtures replaced (A&P's set-up saw barrels, boxes, and some questionable cross-merchandising, while ACME went for streamlined cardboard boxes) and in some cases, beer and wine departments removed (thanks to archaic liquor laws about how many licenses a company can hold).
That was the case for MOST of the stores (not a "real" closing, like a going out of business sale and then someone else buying it and starting from scratch, just the short time to change out minimally needed items like you mention).

However, at least the one store (Boonton, NJ) they did decide to buy as it was in it's last day or two of the closing sale (as prior to that it was expected just to close completely, as many other A&P locations did that no other chain wanted), and that one was closed down for quite a while (months) before they reopened it as Acme. Not sure if they may have done another location similar or not, but at least that one does exist.
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by pseudo3d »

BillyGr wrote:
pseudo3d wrote:
BillyGr wrote: Note that while most of the A&P locations Acme acquired (being part of the same corporate group) were taken over as is and never closed, they did pick up at least one (maybe more) at the last minute, after all the stuff was cleared out (including fixtures) and then took a bit of time to completely re-do the store before opening as Acme, so it wouldn't be a first for them.
They closed all locations for two days, resetting the store on their systems, with their products, removing or covering up any instance of the previous store, etc.

The produce areas saw fixtures replaced (A&P's set-up saw barrels, boxes, and some questionable cross-merchandising, while ACME went for streamlined cardboard boxes) and in some cases, beer and wine departments removed (thanks to archaic liquor laws about how many licenses a company can hold).
That was the case for MOST of the stores (not a "real" closing, like a going out of business sale and then someone else buying it and starting from scratch, just the short time to change out minimally needed items like you mention).

However, at least the one store (Boonton, NJ) they did decide to buy as it was in it's last day or two of the closing sale (as prior to that it was expected just to close completely, as many other A&P locations did that no other chain wanted), and that one was closed down for quite a while (months) before they reopened it as Acme. Not sure if they may have done another location similar or not, but at least that one does exist.
Right, but we're comparing a dead retailer to a store owned by a very much alive retailer who wants to expand their presence and is circling the waters otherwise.
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by Lake Highlands »

I have been really busy but there has been a lot of back and forth on the Lake Highlands store. The entire shopping center across the street from OLD Albertsons is coming down and an upscale development is being build with high end apartment building much like the new one at Northwest Highway Lawther. Starbucks will open soon at the corner of Northwest and Ferndale. I think the redeveopment of the old shopping center across the street has changed things. That whole area is going upscale and fast! I think this has caused a lot of ifs with HEB and Albertsons. At the rate things are changing a Central Market will work here. And two more million dollar housing developments going in on Skillman as well as another upscale apartment building at the Lake Highlands Town Center.

Also Sprouts will open at the LHTC May 3. Supposedly it will have the nicest finish out of any of the Spouts in DFW. Interesting side note if Albertsons does buy Sprouts...they finally get a location in the Lake Highlands Town Center which they wanted badly! Tom Thumb tried very hard to get the spot that will be Sprouts.
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by architect »

Update on the NW Hwy/Midway future Central Market: Minor demo work has begun in the store, although quite a few fixtures still remain. In particular, many of the lay-in ceiling tiles have been removed (though the grid and lighting are still in place), and the walls around the pharmacy are being demoed. Due to the configuration of this store, I anticipate that we will see a full gutting of the store's interior space before this is all done. Pretty much the entire interior is either in terrible condition or does not fit the interior finish-out standards typical of Central Market. It will also be interesting to see if the side entrance to this store is maintained, as much of the parking is adjacent to this entrance.
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by pseudo3d »

http://www.andnowuknow.com/buyside-news ... NqUv2dOm00

This article says that THREE were sold off, but Albertsons only bought TWO, which indicates the third store (Lake Highlands) might be going to another grocery store. Who could that be? If it was Albertsons they might have said something by now. Whole Foods has two other locations not located terribly far away (about five miles away in either direction). Sprouts might work but they wouldn't use all the space (the store would have be partially demolished to work for that). Walmart Neighborhood Market? Too big, really, and they've shrunk down in D-FW (and probably too low-brow). Maybe the developer, which means that hope for Albertsons returning is not gone... :roll:
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by architect »

pseudo3d wrote:http://www.andnowuknow.com/buyside-news ... NqUv2dOm00

This article says that THREE were sold off, but Albertsons only bought TWO, which indicates the third store (Lake Highlands) might be going to another grocery store. Who could that be? If it was Albertsons they might have said something by now. Whole Foods has two other locations not located terribly far away (about five miles away in either direction). Sprouts might work but they wouldn't use all the space (the store would have be partially demolished to work for that). Walmart Neighborhood Market? Too big, really, and they've shrunk down in D-FW (and probably too low-brow). Maybe the developer, which means that hope for Albertsons returning is not gone... :roll:
The third store being referred to is likely the Mockingbird/Abrams location, which was sold to Lincoln Property Company and was acquired for future development yet to be announced. The store has been stripped of all fixtures and equipment, but no interior demolition had started the last time I checked. This store would make a great Sprouts, if Lincoln is considering a possibly grocery tenant.
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Re: Breaking: HEB buys 6 Minyard Sun Fresh stores in DFW

Post by architect »

Interesting update: At the former Minyard Sun Fresh/Albertsons in Lake Highlands (Northwest Highway/Ferndale), the primary signage for the store along Northwest Highway has been replaced by a large sign for "Rooster Home and Hardware," a co-neighboring business in the center. This store is a recent conversion from a True Value, and seems to be pulling good business since the conversion (many of the products are much more locally oriented now). A Minyard Sun Fresh sign still exists on the front of the grocery building itself, along with a larger pylon sign along Ferndale.

Based on all of this, I am assuming that one of two things is happening with the vacant grocery anchor:

1. No buyer has emerged for the space, so the owner of the shopping center is permitting the hardware store to move to a much more prominent signage location until the grocery anchor is filled.
2. HEB is planning to squat on this space for a while longer with no immediate plans for opening, therefore, they are allowing the hardware store to use the signage space until they need it for their own store.

The saga continues...
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