Hate to hear about Fox and Obel

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Attrill

They've been headed downhill due to poor management for a few years now. While it's sad to see, it's not surprising at all.

Yeah, I've been there a few times, but really didn't feel what they offered justified the pricing.

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Oh, and the fancy one in Lincoln Park too!

Whole Foods on North Avenue closed due to rodent infestation - Chicago CIty Hall | Examiner.com

This stuff is all to common in urban grocery stores. It makes you wonder what the inspectors are missing.

Near water, too, it's probably even harder to keep pests at bay.

Originally Posted by Link N. Parker

...
Plus, the location is relatively hard to get to, compared to some of the other stores that are around now. For example, many people who lived in Lakeshore East were probably going to Fox and Obel, but now that there is a Mariano's right there in their area, they are probably shopping there more.

They would have done much better if a pedestrian bridge existed between Lakeshore East and Streeterville.

But I think their biggest obstacle is their entrance. Small, steep stairs or a really long handicapped ramp, neither of which is welcoming or inviting. People underestimate how important being welcoming is to a retail operation. It seems like no big deal and a lot of people think "A pedestrian just walked 5 minutes to get here, they won't care about another 20 seconds to walk to the handicapped ramp or up some stairs," but those sorts of things absolutely do make a difference in whether pedestrians consider a store easy to go to.

[chet everett]

As I tried to point out in a another recent thread about grocery stores, it is a BRUTALLY challenging business! I have done some work for a major global grocery business (that currently has no conventional retail stores in this region...) and I, along with y colleagues, were shocked at just how unprofitable a business this can be...

The illusion that too many folks try to create when selling groceries in a "premium" setting is quickly shattered by the reality of just how much waste / filth the typical grocery has to deal with. Adding the hassles of ready-to-eat food and a parade of "customers" that include a whole lot of theives and it is no surprise that bad things happen with great regularity to those that try to run these businesses...

It would not surprise me if Mariano's cannot sustain the "concept" they are aiming for. I recall when Dominicks invested heavily in the "fresh store" model had many stores had in-store cafe / carry out. IT DID NOT HELP THEIR BOTTOMLINE and they moved back to a more cost effective model.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by chet everett

It would not surprise me if Mariano's cannot sustain the "concept" they are aiming for. I recall when Dominicks invested heavily in the "fresh store" model had many stores had in-store cafe / carry out. IT DID NOT HELP THEIR BOTTOMLINE and they moved back to a more cost effective model.

I must be missing something. How would you describe the Mariano's "concept" as any different from a traditional grocer? Before leaving the city we switched most of our grocery shopping to the Mariano's on Western Avenue, and the concept didn't seem much different from a typical Dominick's or Jewel. In the aisles the main difference wass that Roundy's was the supplier instead of Safeway or Albertson's, but the periphery of the store was much better (i.e. better bakery, better produce, better deli, and a better meat counter). The organics were less expensive and more healthy looking. I was finally able to find the cheese selection that was somewhat close to what I was used to in Wisconsin. And we were able to reduce the costs and increase the quality of our monthly grocery budget by shopping at Mariano's.

Is the concept simply better quality for a lower price?

[chet everett]

The Mariano's in Elmhurst has a significant amount space devoted to ready-to-eat foods, as does the Pete's in Villa Park. I don't know how well these can contribute to the bottomline...

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The Mariano's in Elmhurst has a significant amount space devoted to ready-to-eat foods, as does the Pete's in Villa Park. I don't know how well these can contribute to the bottomline...

Got it. I guess the Mariano's on Western has some of this, but it didn't strike me as anything beyond typical. But I don't usually shop for that stuff, so I haven't looked at it too closely.

The deli, bakery, produce section, and meat counter are what really stand out at that location. And the walk-in beer cooler isn't so bad either, but our suburban Dominick's has that...

[ChiNaan]

Fortunately we still have Longman & Eagle, Owen & Engine, and Girl & The Goat to continue carrying Chicago's weird-ass-ampersand-name flag.

[Chicago60614]

They already opened back up, my lover and I just drove by.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

They already opened back up, my lover and I just drove by.

Thanks for the update.