Retail Watchers

Nice store overall. I met Arthur T (again) at the grand opening Friday morning. Little if any vendor activity noted, quite unlike the Biddeford opening. I guess they were trying to limit the amount of non-customer presence due to Covid-related capacity limits (300 in the case of MB.) Even so, quite a few managers were present.

It's the most cramped 80K supermarket I've ever experienced; you enter the store directly in the path of two express checkouts laid end-to-end. Vehicular traffic routing is peculiar as well; you have to navigate a maze to get in or out of the parking lot. The Biddeford store has the latter issue as well.

Despite my minor gripes, it'll no doubt be a success, which bodes ill for the Shaw's across the street which has never addressed its frequent out-of-stocks and deteriorating infrastructure. As if to emphasize the point, the Shaw's is losing its dedicated bus stop (which also services the Kohl's next door) at the end of the month.

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/08/21/ ... westbrook/

There is a little video footage here:

https://wgme.com/news/local/market-bask ... ay-morning

The interiors of their stores are stuck in a time machine with those awful orange & white tiled floors and dated sign package.

But, I get their appeal and why people love Market Basket stores. They're well operated and have great prices. Who knew grocery stores could be profitable by just sticking to the basics lol?

klkla wrote: ↑August 22nd, 2020, 5:00 pm There is a little video footage here:

https://wgme.com/news/local/market-bask ... ay-morning

The interiors of their stores are stuck in a time machine with those awful orange & white tiled floors and dated sign package.

But, I get their appeal and why people love Market Basket stores. They're well operated and have great prices. Who knew grocery stores could be profitable by just sticking to the basics lol?

The floors are more of a red tint than orange. They don't look bad in person. The stores are large and modern in other ways beyond the decor. Great stores for center store items.

320 employees?!?

But yeah, any pictures I've ever seen are clean, traditional looking stores with fewer hours than some larger chains.

It looks rather plain and dated, but "so what", they sure know how to run a store. All the basics work and they have no shortage of customers. Have been impressed when I've been in their area.

They've "built a better mousetrap" by keeping it simple and you can't argue with the results. And Artie T. is an absolute legend in New England who has pretty much achieved a following approaching the reverence people in that area usually reserve for the Red Sox-(and being a Yankee fan, it hurts to say that-LOL.) See, this is what happens when you treat employees like human beings.

Additional photos (focusing so far on bakery) on Yelp
https://www.yelp.com/biz/market-basket-westbrook-2

cathandler wrote: ↑August 24th, 2020, 5:56 pm Additional photos (focusing so far on bakery) on Yelp
https://www.yelp.com/biz/market-basket-westbrook-2

Not to take anything away from this company because I am impressed with them on many levels but I love this photo of 'authentic French mini beignets'

I would love to know which French chef uses these ingredients.
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/market- ... LyCkBHaDlw

klkla wrote: ↑August 25th, 2020, 5:19 pm
Not to take anything away from this company because I am impressed with them on many levels but I love this photo of 'authentic French mini beignets'

I would love to know which French chef uses these ingredients.
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/market- ... LyCkBHaDlw

It says the "beignets" are Made in France. They must have a special vat of garbage ingredients for the US-bound product.

Look at all that great Polar Seltzer. It must be close to 1/3 aisle worth. Plus more of the aisle for private label seltzer. You just can't beat the selection at this chain, or the pricing, on center store items especially. This is the type of item to seek out at this chain.

storewanderer wrote: ↑August 25th, 2020, 10:00 pm Look at all that great Polar Seltzer. It must be close to 1/3 aisle worth. Plus more of the aisle for private label seltzer. You just can't beat the selection at this chain, or the pricing, on center store items especially. This is the type of item to seek out at this chain.

Shaw's also has a "Polar aisle," It's a New England thing. Fun fact: Market Basket private label soda is bottled by Polar.