"Mothballed" Fresh & Easys?
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"Mothballed" Fresh & Easys?
There seem to be a bunch of Fresh & Easys in Phoenix (most on the Westside) that have been fully signaged, but have not been stocked and have no signs as to when they are to open. Is this also happening in California?
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Re: "Mothballed" Fresh & Easys?
I've not seen this in Southern California, but it's fairly prevalent in Northern California.
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Re: "Mothballed" Fresh & Easys?
The NorCal Stores I know of do not have signs as the AZ ones you describe.
This concept looks to be on its last legs. I think the current initiative is to try to increase prices and see if they can keep their customers. Their prices, while very good on the center store items, clearly did not generate the sales volume necessary to continuing offering such low price points. It is possible given the smaller store size and convenience factor that they can get away with higher prices and perhaps move closer to profitability that way.
Their model reminds me more of a drugstore selling groceries type of model. Low volume, poor mix, no staffing, not real clean, not real neat...
This concept looks to be on its last legs. I think the current initiative is to try to increase prices and see if they can keep their customers. Their prices, while very good on the center store items, clearly did not generate the sales volume necessary to continuing offering such low price points. It is possible given the smaller store size and convenience factor that they can get away with higher prices and perhaps move closer to profitability that way.
Their model reminds me more of a drugstore selling groceries type of model. Low volume, poor mix, no staffing, not real clean, not real neat...
Re: "Mothballed" Fresh & Easys?
I was in Vegas this weekend and happened upon a Fresh & Easy with "coming soon" signs on what looked like a complete build with no activity indicating they were actually planning to open it.
The store is at 4580 W Sahara Ave. It's listed as "coming soon" on their website. It appears the lease for this site was signed in 2008.
While in town, I got to actually experience Fresh & Easy for the first time (at the store at 2950 E Desert Inn Rd). The store was doing a mild-to-medium business. It was well stocked and clean. An employee I encountered in one of the aisles greeted me.
I found their prices to be surprisingly competitive, even to Walmart (which yes, I realize most people notice and analysts even criticize). They had more national brands than I expected.
It was all self-checkout, but everything seemed to be working (all five lanes were in use) and I got out quickly.
I have to say that I like their store-branded strawberry lemonade.
The store is at 4580 W Sahara Ave. It's listed as "coming soon" on their website. It appears the lease for this site was signed in 2008.
While in town, I got to actually experience Fresh & Easy for the first time (at the store at 2950 E Desert Inn Rd). The store was doing a mild-to-medium business. It was well stocked and clean. An employee I encountered in one of the aisles greeted me.
I found their prices to be surprisingly competitive, even to Walmart (which yes, I realize most people notice and analysts even criticize). They had more national brands than I expected.
It was all self-checkout, but everything seemed to be working (all five lanes were in use) and I got out quickly.
I have to say that I like their store-branded strawberry lemonade.
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Re: "Mothballed" Fresh & Easys?
Here in greater Sacramento(where at least a couple dozen were planned,but none have opened),I've run into at least a couple in which a liquor license application was posted at the door,but with no interior or exterior alteration progress.In fact,within the last month or two,I walked past the planned Watt/El Camino location(former Tower Books)in the Country Club area;and I noticed that not only was the liquor license application removed,but also that the interior was pretty much in the same shape it was after it was briefly occupied by a seasonal Halloween shop(don't remember which one)around 2007(a lot of display bookshelves,some recycled by the Halloween merchant,were still intact though some were removed after fixture sales).Additionally,about a year ago,I saw a liquor license application at 5025 Marconi in Carmichael(former Albertsons and Ralphs that was most recently occupied by an independent operating as Eve's Market),but there was very little if any activity inside...
I haven't been by any other of the planned F&E locations locally,but I wouldn't doubt it if any others have quietly been scrapped(as it appears the case with Country Club)...
I haven't been by any other of the planned F&E locations locally,but I wouldn't doubt it if any others have quietly been scrapped(as it appears the case with Country Club)...
For your life,Thrifty and Payless have got it.