Yes, the Ralphs on Midway is a former Mervyns. The building that housed Target and Mervyn's was built as a FedMart. It was FedMart's number one store and had sales of over $1 million a week in the the late 70s. Ralphs had just entered the San Diego market a few years earlier with newly built stores...

Based on what I've read and heard, Pavilions was a novel concept for Southern California when VONS created the banner. It probably made sense to create a separate banner, although I would have branded them "VONS Pavilions" much like Albertsons Market Street, Jewel Grand Bazaar, and Ralphs Fresh fare...

If you are thinking about the large Lucky on Balboa and the 805 freeway, I had heard the same thing. Then a friend who is a San Diego native told me that it was actually a Gemco. Sure enough, there's a 1973 Gemco ad in the Escondido Times-Advocate listing that store. A 1988 article states that the ...

Before Safeway bought Vons back in the 90's, Vons was planning to expand Pavilions into San Diego including most of the stores you listed. When Safeway came in they nixed the expansion. There was a store on I think Balboa in San Diego that was built as a Pavilions but then opened as a Lucky and ope...

The pictures on Google Maps have a "Carrs" sign on the building. Here's a link.

Target has been very positive about the prospects of its small stores. They are saying these small stores will be a major expansion vehicle for them. I suppose in some cases they will work out but I still don't really know about these small stores. I have never seen one that is doing any more busin...

I had no idea they have a store at Fashion Valley in San Diego. It appears to be open, probably because it is an outdoor mall.

Also didn't know they have one here at Scottsdale Fashion Square.

I used to buy shoe laces at Payless, but never shoes. The shoes never felt comfortable and were usually made of plastic. However, they could market themselves as selling "vegan leather" and locate next to Whole Foods and Sprouts. :) A couple of my female friends have bought shoes from Payless that t...

Side note: Rockin Roll Ralphs on Sunset was a nightmare remodel. Ugly store and awful customer service. Merchandising is an obstacle course.... That's a pretty old Ralphs, isn't it? In a lot of ways it reminds me of the Jewel-Osco on Broadway and Addison in Lakeview, Chicago. The difference is the ...

https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Most-San-Francisco-Gap-stores-close-permanently-15490808.php This is not so good. That Flagship Gap pulled strong business. I wonder where their new Flagship store will be? I also find the store they are keeping open in San Francisco on Chestnut Street a...