Retail Watchers

Big Lots is closing a number of stores in my area (southern California.) I don't know if there's an article or list anywhere, but there are "store closing signs" posted on at least four stores in my immediate area (San Gabriel Valley.)

A store that opened earlier this year in Doyle, CA has that configuration too (one self checkout and 2 regular ones against the wall) so I think it is very recent they moved to this freestanding self checkout layout with two units. I'm a fifth-generation Californian and had never heard of Doyle bef...

I am actually seeing a headline out there on "Slate" saying that the Albertsons Kroger merger has been "BLOCKED" by the Washington AG. Uhh... no, the "merger" has not been "blocked" - just the dividend payment has. Real alternate reality going on in some &quo...

How does Kaiser handle insulin and refrigerated items for people on one of their plans but nowhere near a Kaiser pharmacy, like someone in Susanville or Bishop for example? Are they allowed to obtain from a store pharmacy? Kaiser, like many HMOs, has a restricted coverage area based on the county o...

They make such a big deal of the stores being designed for pickup/delivery, but how do they figure out where their delivery area boundaries are? The new Pasadena Fresh store is around 8.5 miles from where I live, but apparently that's too far away. However, there's a Whole Foods just down the block ...

He Pasadena (CA) store (with Just Walk Out) opened last Thursday. It's located in a former OSH and was under development for over a year.

The one in Monrovia, CA closed a while back; it's being demolished and replaced by a Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks.