storewanderer wrote: ↑September 26th, 2023, 12:32 am
Not sure I've ever seen a freestanding Trader Joe's.. I think there is one in the older middle part of Sacramento that is about 15 years old, that may be the only freestanding one I've ever seen.
Save a Lot... is that chain even worth talking about? I did go into one back in IL; terrible mix and not great pricing. They are so far behind Aldi, in terms of mix, marketing, and customer traffic, basically completely different formats at this point. They are limited format both but that is where it stops. I think Save a Lot being a bit more flexible in its formats (in CA they had a hispanic format; some of them in the midwest have fresh cut meat, etc.- they seem to allow the stores to tailor to the location's needs which I think is a great thing) should be a help but for whatever reasons the chain seems to not be having near the growth of Aldi. I also went into one store that was a debranded Save a Lot (big store-former Eagle) and that was pretty interesting basically the operator got AWG to fill the place up with AWG brands, but prices were higher than Hy-Vee, and the store was barely stocked; it had a very fully stocked attached liquor store so I think the low inventory primarily low dollar Always Save item filled grocery area was just a front for the well stocked liquor store adjacent.
I was just in a freestanding Trader Joe's last month in Ohio.That store that just opened a couple years ago and had relocated from a small shopping center. Besides opening freestanding stores in the suburbs, their urban locations often are part of a condo complexes where they share the parking structure but rarely is there another retail tenant.
Savalot has retrenched and sold off almost all of their corporate owned stores, and used the funds to support remodels.
There are several freestanding Trader Joe's in the Phoenix area, and at least one in Albuquerque. I can't tell whether Prescott, AZ is freestanding from the pics, but it looks like it might be. In Chicago, the Lincoln Park store (Diversey and Orchard, just west of Clark) is freestanding, South Wabash Avenue occupies the entire first floor of a vintage 2-story building, which I consider free-standing. Looks like the rest are part of apartment/condo buildings or in shopping centers.
Circling back to Aldi, they started out building freestanding stores (or occupying existing freestanding buildings) and branched out to shopping center locations as they expanded.
rwsandiego wrote: ↑September 26th, 2023, 11:07 am
Circling back to Aldi, they started out building freestanding stores (or occupying existing freestanding buildings) and branched out to shopping center locations as they expanded.
Actually, here the first one that I remember opening was in a strip plaza (in fact, part of what had been an A&P), while others wound up as freestanding buildings.
That one in the plaza was replaced by a new separate building last year down the street.
Interesting. I'm not sure I've ever actually been into one of these freestanding Trader Joe's units. I am trying to recall if the one in Medford, OR is freestanding but I'm pretty sure it isn't.
The Totem Lake Trader Joe's in Kirkland WA used to be a freestanding store, but they moved into a new space in the same building as Whole Foods after what used to be the Totem Lake Mall got redeveloped. Eventually their former store got torn down during the second phase of the redevelopment.
At my local Winn Dixie last week there were some subtle (and some not so subtle) indications that they may be winding down.
The store shelves were not as well stocked as usual.
Produce area was particularly sorry.
A whole lot of rattling and other odd noises coming from freezers and chillers.
Oddest of all, they had grocery bags branded Fresco y Mas rather than the Winn Dixie ones. This didn't even happen during the bankruptcy.
They closed the pharmacy at the end of September.
This store is rumored to be staying open after the Aldi take over but seems to be slowly deteriorating. Wonder if it will actually be staying open. The employees there are superb.
Also wondering, if Aldi does leave the store open, if they will be holding on the the W/D liquor store attached to the main store.
jipper wrote: ↑October 20th, 2023, 8:34 amAt my local Winn Dixie last week there were some subtle (and some not so subtle) indications that they may be winding down.
The store shelves were not as well stocked as usual.
Produce area was particularly sorry.
A whole lot of rattling and other odd noises coming from freezers and chillers.
Oddest of all, they had grocery bags branded Fresco y Mas rather than the Winn Dixie ones. This didn't even happen during the bankruptcy.
They closed the pharmacy at the end of September.
This store is rumored to be staying open after the Aldi take over but seems to be slowly deteriorating. Wonder if it will actually be staying open. The employees there are superb.
Also wondering, if Aldi does leave the store open, if they will be holding on the the W/D liquor store attached to the main store.
When have you been in a Winn Dixie store where the coolers weren't rattling?
Seriosuly guys, this hasn't even been approved yet; it's still pending FTC. Why is there so much further speculation?
jipper wrote: ↑October 20th, 2023, 8:34 amAt my local Winn Dixie last week there were some subtle (and some not so subtle) indications that they may be winding down.
The store shelves were not as well stocked as usual.
Produce area was particularly sorry.
A whole lot of rattling and other odd noises coming from freezers and chillers.
Oddest of all, they had grocery bags branded Fresco y Mas rather than the Winn Dixie ones. This didn't even happen during the bankruptcy.
They closed the pharmacy at the end of September.
This store is rumored to be staying open after the Aldi take over but seems to be slowly deteriorating. Wonder if it will actually be staying open. The employees there are superb.
Also wondering, if Aldi does leave the store open, if they will be holding on the the W/D liquor store attached to the main store.
Aren't they separating Fresco? Maybe Fresco is transitioning to a different supplier/warehouse and they had leftover supplies?
It may be a coincidence. I received an Albertsons/Vons bag at a NorCal Safeway this week.