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Weis Markets is another chain that could see a market here. Although it markets itself as a PA grocery store, the chain actually does have NJ stores. There are three although up in NW NJ: Franklin, Newton and Hackettstown, NJ. But it shows a willingness to operate in NJ. It also has a sizeable number of stores in MD.
I like the Weis conversions from Genuardi's in the Conshohocken and Norristown, and it's pricing was decent, and the chain is willing to compete against ShopRite. The Norristown store has a ShopRite right near it (although that ShopRite was kinda downscale) so it's not that hard to be better esp. as it inherited a more newer site from Genuardi's.
It could make a move for Westmont former Superfresh, Marlton former Genuardi's, Voorhees former Genuardi's, one Cherry Hill store (either Ellisburg or Brace Rd.), Burlington Twp. former Kmart, and maybe one other store in Burlington County if possible, and any former Superfresh stores in Central NJ-Mercer County area.
But wouldn't you think they would have acquired the Genuardi's at the same time they acquired the PA ones?
Like southbound said, it's cheaper to buy an empty store than an operating one.
Also the A&P/Superfresh closings are new, and Acme being weak (sold) might trigger that there is nobody around really.
I'd think Weis would need atleast 6-8 stores to to achieve economies of scale; it would be a significant expansion which would be risky but I think worthwhile, and it has the presence in Montgomery County PA (not too far) and NW NJ (same state). The 3 former Genuardi's (Ellisburg, Marlton, Voorhees) and Westmont Superfresh would be ideal, and to fill between here and NW NJ, the Plainsboro Superfresh also closed recently and there is one former Superfresh site in E. Windsor, Hamilton Twp. (if still unoccupied) and maybe other non Superfresh sites that are in relatively decent shape.
Burlington Twp. also doesn't have ShopRite and just has a pricey Acme, so the Kmart space could be redone but it would need some extensive exterior improvement (by the shopping center owner as well) than the other sites I listed. But, it's a good location in general for a second Burlington County location. Mt.Laurel however is saturated with 3 ShopRites, a Wegmans/Target/Costco combination at Centerton, Aldi and an Acme in nearby Maple Shade, that it might not fit in well in that busy and desirable but well served area.
It is cheaper to buy a closed store, but the difference is that Weis actually decided to buy some of the operating PA Genuardi's locations from Safeway. We'll see what they decide to do in the future though.
It is cheaper to buy a closed store, but the difference is that Weis actually decided to buy some of the operating PA Genuardi's locations from Safeway. We'll see what they decide to do in the future though.
Yeah, I guess I thought they could've gotten a buy in bulk deal when they bought the other ones. But avg's point about there now being more opportunity makes sense too about why they might consider it now if they weren't before.
Weis will be opening in Hillsborough, NJ which is 25 mins north of Princeton. I think getting into lower Montgomery County, PA was more a must for them (within PA and strategically edging into Philly), so it bought those stores and opened them fairly quickly before Hillsborough.
But western NJ (Mercer, Burlington/Camden) could be explored with so many Superfresh and Kmart stores vacant and the three Genuardi's (the Voorhees one was once a Superfresh).
Weis is non union, so it won't buy an operating Acme or Superfresh/Pathmark, but once those chains unload stores, Weis can cherry pick more sites assuming it has the cash and resources to do so.
Well the quotes in the article I posted seemed to reflect the thoughts of one of the other posters on here that they may have made a couple bad choices in their initial locations, which I think were already existing stores. But now they have been choosing the locations more carefully, building their own store, and are still planning more in PA at least.
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Originally Posted by GoPhils
Well the quotes in the article I posted seemed to reflect the thoughts of one of the other posters on here that they may have made a couple bad choices in their initial locations, which I think were already existing stores. But now they have been choosing the locations more carefully, building their own store, and are still planning more in PA at least.
I agree.
I thought that I'd post the NC article because it shines the light, a bit more, on Food Lion, & tells of their Bottom Dollar closures in the south. This is just another shaky company having problems elsewhere while it enters the Delaware Valley.
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