Walmart possibly eyeing Downtown for Grocery Store (Pittsburgh, Rochester: crime, prices)

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by raubre

Does that mean the Bottom Dollars that just opened up here will all become Food Lion already?

As far as I know, but I'm basing this off an article I read in the paper a few weeks ago, so I'd double check. You could probably find the official announcement from Food Lion online somewhere to find out for sure.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I like most of 'em, but could you guys please take Santorum back?

Sorry, we called "no backsies" in November of 2006.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by Caladium

As far as I know, but I'm basing this off an article I read in the paper a few weeks ago, so I'd double check. You could probably find the official announcement from Food Lion online somewhere to find out for sure.

Food Lion parent intends to grow Bottom Dollar Food in Phila. | Philly | 01/12/2012

I found this article that notes that it's converting Bottom Dollar stores in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia to "Food Lion," but that they "still intend to add 'several hundred' Bottom Dollar Stores in the next five years." The article mentions Philly, Pittsburgh and Youngstown as their "greatest opportunity for growth" for Bottom Dollar stores.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by Tinare

Food Lion parent intends to grow Bottom Dollar Food in Phila. | Philly | 01/12/2012

I found this article that notes that it's converting Bottom Dollar stores in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia to "Food Lion," but that they "still intend to add 'several hundred' Bottom Dollar Stores in the next five years." The article mentions Philly, Pittsburgh and Youngstown as their "greatest opportunity for growth" for Bottom Dollar stores.

Interesting... and a compliment, IMO, since it says people in your area are frugal shoppers.

[gg]

The more I think about it, the more I feel Walmart is a good fit for downtown. It is a variety store and are always crowded. It is a one stop shop and downtown could use that. One thing about Walmart, they know what they are doing. Maybe a big Super Walmart where the Civic arena was? That would be a killer location for that and the visibility would be great for their sign. Also, being so close to the Hill they would have a ton of shoppers within walking distance. I think it would be perfect.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

The more I think about it, the more I feel Walmart is a good fit for downtown. It is a variety store and are always crowded. It is a one stop shop and downtown could use that. One thing about Walmart, they know what they are doing. Maybe a big Super Walmart where the Civic arena was? That would be a killer location for that and the visibility would be great for their sign. Also, being so close to the Hill they would have a ton of shoppers within walking distance. I think it would be perfect.

That would scare all the white people away from shopping there. I wish I was joking.

[jmn3]

To jump in on the Wegmans chatter, I'm originally from Buffalo, neighbor to Wegmans HQ in Rochester...we've had Wegs for well over 30 years. By far, the worst Wegmans would wipe the floor with the best Giant Eagle. No contest at all!

[escilade18]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

Even 6 years ago Walmart's average hourly wage was a little over [$10 an hour](USATODAY.com - Wal-Mart increases starting pay, adds wage caps). The main issue is their 35 hour work week.

Wal Mart wages are generous in comparison to fast food joints. Work several years at a McDonalds or Wendys and I can nearly guarantee that you will be making close to minimum wage (assuming no promotion which is largely the case.) Now to get back on topic, I would love to see a wegmans downtown myself but I imagine that Cranberry (or even Robinson) will be their first location. I was just at the one in Frederick MD last weekend and I could not get over how nice their staff was. A customer service rep saw my coupon messing up in self check out, she came over without being asked (something you would likely never see at the dirty bird) and input it in manually for me. Finally, places like shop and save, kuhns and food land are really in a category below Giant Eagle which in itself is trying to become more like a Wegmans (and the one they just built is a Market District in Wexford near the Sonic.)

[andyt4579]

As the climate is now, why the need for a bona fide grocery store downtown? If, hypothetically, you plop a Wegman's into the (current) Sak's Fifth Avenue building, does anyone honestly believe it will be able to sustain for the long haul? For the total population that currently resides there, the CVS's can cater to the absolute necessities....and scorn the prices as much as you want, but you know a downtown grocery will be near to them. For those of you who work in town, do you actually see yourselves stopping in there during the day? We'd be better off to see little stores catering to different grocery departments (Prantl's comes to mind....maybe add some farmer's market store near to (natch) Market Square) than putting another big, middle, or even small box grocer down there who will bail at the first sign of distress.

Reconstitute some vacant land in East Deutschtown or reconfigure some of the miles of parking lots in the Strip to put something up. Don't force a wasted venture on downtown.

[BrianTH]

The big difference between a small urban grocery and a convenience/drug store is the former is supposed to carry a decent selection of fresh produce and freshly-prepared foods. I agree it obviously hasn't been a big problem yet for residential growth Downtown that there isn't a small urban grocery, but I do think it will be something Downtown should add at some point (and again a lunch crowd can hasten its arrival).