ClownLoach wrote: ↑May 5th, 2024, 10:23 pm
I went to check these San Diego stores today.
First off Liberty Station has received light updates at some point including the rectangular aisle hangers which not all repaint lifestyle received. Lighting has been added to the entire store so it doesn't feel as dark and claustrophobic on the "aisle" side...
The additional lighting was desperately needed.
ClownLoach wrote: ↑May 5th, 2024, 10:23 pm...
The parking lot is much, much larger than I originally thought. It is almost excessive for that side of the complex. Parking is not an issue even though it is by the food hall...
Unless something has changed, the Trader Joe's side of the complex had insufficient parking, made worse by The Rock Church being allowed to use the parking lot.
ClownLoach wrote: ↑May 5th, 2024, 10:23 pm...
The other Vons on Midway got the repaint only but I wonder if something "happened" at some point like a small electrical fire or major roof leaks or something else that necessitated the repainting. It otherwise looks rough, worn, and neglected like I have seen at some other "obviously planned for divestiture" ACI stores that appear to be in a state of deferred maintenance....
Even when it was newly remodeled into Lifestyle 2.0 the Midway store seemed "off." It was very nice when it had the decor package before Lifestyle 1.0 (don't remember the package name) and pretty much a dump when it still had the old red script on white walls VONS interior.
ClownLoach wrote: ↑May 5th, 2024, 10:23 pm... It's also just a bad location in general and the Midway district has become a horrible hotbed for homelessness in San Diego. All this afternoon in broad daylight I saw a man with no pants (yes totally butt naked) walking around, I saw a group of 3 people sitting closely in a triangle on the sidewalk burning something which I'm assuming were drugs, and I saw a very disturbed individual violently swinging a metal pipe hitting fences and plants with it. At least a couple hundred homeless in just a few blocks closer to the Old Town train station. Numerous busted up looking vehicles including many TVs parked everywhere even in the red that didn't appear to have moved in months. Way too many encampments in what was already a rough area but now much worse. I noticed many stores closed very early, Staples appeared to be closed at 5pm although I didn't check their hours. Barnes & Noble closes at 8pm on their marquee sign. Home Depot has had to fully fence in their outside storage behind the store that you normally see low value products piled up in, like mulch...
That area was pretty chewed up when I first moved to San Diego in 2000, sightly improved, and fell back down. It doesn't help matters that the County of San Diego has a huge mental health facility on Rosecrans Street just north of the Big Lots shopping center.
The Ralphs located in the Target shopping center was an absolute pit before the current store was built. Homeless people everywhere, chewed up store, and surly employees. I suppose I'd be surly, too, if I had to deal with the store's clientele day in and day out.
ClownLoach wrote: ↑May 5th, 2024, 10:23 pm... None of those homeless issues are in Liberty Station nor do I expect them to be tolerated there.
For that reason alone I would imagine the Liberty Vons probably has substantially lower shrink, and they probably would be harder to justify the Ralphs and Midway Vons both being kept since they are practically on top of each other. So I take back my original opinion, I would expect the Midway Vons to divest. The Liberty store is probably safe and could easily be upgraded to Pavilions if/when they want to start expanding that again.
I can see the Liberty Station store becoming a Pavilions. Point Loma has a lot of old money (and some new money) and could easily support a Pavilions.
Did you happen to visit the small Ralphs at Rosecrans and Nimitz Blvd? That used to be a VONS until they moved to Liberty Station. I can see that location as a Lazy Acres.