Poway Vons to Close?
Posted: September 21st, 2019, 3:38 am
With Wal Mart Supercenter next door, Stater across the street, Sprouts practically next door, and Grocery Outlet across the street, I wonder how much business this store actually does.CalItalian wrote: ↑September 21st, 2019, 3:38 am https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/po ... ain-future
Safeway started out in the location where Sprouts is now and built the location that Vons is leaving as a replacement store. I seemed to remember that happening in the early 80's but I read on another site that it was built as Safeway in 1972. The Stater Bros was originally an Albertson's.storewanderer wrote: ↑September 21st, 2019, 8:41 amWith Wal Mart Supercenter next door, Stater across the street, Sprouts practically next door, and Grocery Outlet across the street, I wonder how much business this store actually does.
Looking at the interior of this Vons, it is a mid cycle lifestyle remodel. There are numerous stores like that that are strong performers and have not yet been remodeled. But a remodel could potentially improve this store's fortunes... but the area seems to have attracted pretty intense price competition. Stater talks price hard to sound as if they are a good deal even if they are not as good of a deal as they make themselves sound they have fair prices generally, but Vons does not talk price much and has terrible prices.rwsandiego wrote: ↑September 21st, 2019, 6:56 pm My guess is the story unfolded like this:
- It has come time to remodel this VONS
- The community has become more affluent and expects its VONS to have the same amenities as other stores
- The existing footprint will not accommodate said amenities
- The store has nowhere to expand
- The shopping center would like a fitness chain in the mall
- The shopping center management and VONS talk
It appears the customers really love that Stater Bros. reading the reviews online. I have to hand it to Stater, they seem to really know how to satisfy their customers. I guess running a clean orderly store with professional efficient employees goes a long ways. Even when your prices aren't great and your products are just okay. They probably ran higher volume so they had fresher products, helping quality image with customers. Compared to a lower volume Vons where stuff sits around longer (even if it was better quality to begin with...).klkla wrote: ↑September 21st, 2019, 8:42 pm My guess of what transpired is this:
1 - After WalMart expanded to a supercenter they probably decided to wait a couple years and see how they are impacted.
2 - It's been five years and they have an answer. There's only room for one conventional supermarket in the area and they know Stater Bros is unlikely to close, so they started marketing the property as a sublease. It would appear they have signed the fitness center to take half of the store and probably still trying to sign another company for the other half.
Stater Bros does well in middle income suburban and rural areas of SoCal. Their product line doesn't offer much diversity or sophistication but their customer base is just looking for the basics at good prices.storewanderer wrote: ↑September 21st, 2019, 9:19 pmIt appears the customers really love that Stater Bros. reading the reviews online. I have to hand it to Stater, they seem to really know how to satisfy their customers. I guess running a clean orderly store with professional efficient employees goes a long ways. Even when your prices aren't great and your products are just okay. They probably ran higher volume so they had fresher products, helping quality image with customers. Compared to a lower volume Vons where stuff sits around longer (even if it was better quality to begin with...).
It seems Stater Bros. is more well received in the Inland Empire than LA/OC. Quite frankly, I think there's little difference in product offerings between Stater Bros., Ralph's and Vons/Albertsons. Stater Bros. has the weakest sales, but (generally) the lowest pricing on national brands. Stater Bros. locations in Laguna Woods (built new circa 1998) and Lake Forest (acquired during the Lucky-Albertsons merger) were successful in chasing the Vons location across the street out of business (and largely out of South County).klkla wrote: ↑September 21st, 2019, 9:40 pmStater Bros does well in middle income suburban and rural areas of SoCal. Their product line doesn't offer much diversity or sophistication but their customer base is just looking for the basics at good prices.
What sets them apart from the rest of the pack is their service meat counters. That's usually the first thing someone will mention when asked what they like about 'Staters'.
They've also been consistent in their branding for many years of being a local company with good prices.
Stater Bros has more product variety than Ralphs by far. Ralphs has the least. Vons/Albertsons in-between. The product assortment at Ralphs is constantly changing something I don't see at Stater Bros.. Ralphs use to have the largest product variety. Quite frankly, Ralphs is maddening these days to shop in since they are constantly dropping products.Bagels wrote: ↑September 25th, 2019, 11:46 pmIt seems Stater Bros. is more well received in the Inland Empire than LA/OC. Quite frankly, I think there's little difference in product offerings between Stater Bros., Ralph's and Vons/Albertsons. Stater Bros. has the weakest sales, but (generally) the lowest pricing on national brands. Stater Bros. locations in Laguna Woods (built new circa 1998) and Lake Forest (acquired during the Lucky-Albertsons merger) were successful in chasing the Vons location across the street out of business (and largely out of South County).klkla wrote: ↑September 21st, 2019, 9:40 pmStater Bros does well in middle income suburban and rural areas of SoCal. Their product line doesn't offer much diversity or sophistication but their customer base is just looking for the basics at good prices.
What sets them apart from the rest of the pack is their service meat counters. That's usually the first thing someone will mention when asked what they like about 'Staters'.
They've also been consistent in their branding for many years of being a local company with good prices.
I do question Stater Bros.' performance in LA/OC. Over the past 20 years (since they heavily expanded from stores divested by Lucy & Albertsons), they've shown little interest in growing - even after Albertsons-Vons were forced to divest prime locations featuring low rents otherwise unavailable. Suddenly, over the past year or so, they began aggressively remodeling their stores (including building several replacements), and announced plans for new stores. One industry analyst speculated they were preparing to sell themselves to Amazon, although he later backed off that opinion. We'll see...