Amazon plans to become major threat to Kroger (Cincinnati, Union: real estate, coupon)

[Briolat21]

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

Spend your food money at locally owned restaurants and groceries! That means no Aldi, Wal-Mart, or even Kroger. When you spend money at those places the profit disappears as dividends for worldwide shareholders.

I live within walking distance of Findlay Market and spend a few hundred dollars per year there. The Clifton Market will be opening this spring and obviously that will be a locally-owned not-for-profit grocer. It is a shame that the City of Cincinnati doesn't attempt to run similar not-for-profit groceries and public markets in a dozen or so neighborhoods, but Kroger has already blocked the city's attempt to help independent corner stores using a model from San Francisco.

I know it's hard to imagine, but not everyone on these forums lives near Findlay market; lovely though it is.

For some folks, a national (or multi-state regional) grocer is the only game in town - be that Meijer, Kroger, Walmart, Aldi, Costco, Sams etc..

But sure, when I'm near a farmstand, or farm market (or Findlay market for that matter); by all means many of us shop there as well. It doesn't take away our need to shop at a larger grocer, usually one of the major chains.


Also - since Kroger is headquartered in Cincinnati, aren't they the ultimate "local grocer" success story?

[Wilson513]

I always wonder where people think that produce in Findlay Market comes from in January?

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

Its nice that Clifton got its market back as an oasis in the food desert. But let's not get all teary-eyed over one modern day vestige of a communist idea until we see if the area occupied by the tofu section is bigger than the beef section.

You obviously have no idea what communism actually was but that doesn't stop you from experiencing swells of excitement while mislabeling something as such. A not-for-profit cooperatively owned entity is, by definition, not owned by the state. A food co-op in the United States is no more "communist" than is a credit union or a mutual insurance company.

Perhaps go and actually see the Clifton Market for yourself when it opens instead of making wild assumptions. It is yet another huge achievement by the residents of Clifton in preserving their special neighborhood. They have succeeded in physically preserving the neighborhood -- the buildings and the gaslights and the narrow streets. They have succeeded in keeping fast food and other national chains out of their business district while keeping occupancy rates high.

99% of the United States is just strip malls and vinyl siding. Clifton is special because residents have fought for the past 50 years to keep it special.

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

You obviously have no idea what communism actually was but that doesn't stop you from experiencing swells of excitement while mislabeling something as such. A not-for-profit cooperatively owned entity is, by definition, not owned by the state. A food co-op in the United States is no more "communist" than is a credit union or a mutual insurance company.

Perhaps go and actually see the Clifton Market for yourself when it opens instead of making wild assumptions. It is yet another huge achievement by the residents of Clifton in preserving their special neighborhood. They have succeeded in physically preserving the neighborhood -- the buildings and the gaslights and the narrow streets. They have succeeded in keeping fast food and other national chains out of their business district while keeping occupancy rates high.

99% of the United States is just strip malls and vinyl siding. Clifton is special because residents have fought for the past 50 years to keep it special.

How is the Clifton Market doing? I guess you are a shareholder, so have you got any reports lately?

[motorman]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

How is the Clifton Market doing? I guess you are a shareholder, so have you got any reports lately?

Looks like you probably read today's WCPO report...

* Clifton Market is having cash flow troubles less than six months after opening - Insider - Story

Let's face it - this store was doomed the day Kroger's new Corryville store opened its doors.

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

There are reasons why "family owned" businesses failed in massive numbers to national chains and big box stores. And, it is not because anyone wanted to be a shareholder in these organizations (although they could). It is because they offered better products and services at a better price. Those of us old enough to remember shopping at a little market or grocery harbor no nostalgia for those times. And, the money the "families" made off the locals did not end up in a public coffer. It ended up in a shiny Packard or a cottage on a lake somewhere.


Its nice that Clifton got its market back as an oasis in the food desert. But let's not get all teary-eyed over one modern day vestige of a communist idea until we see if the area occupied by the tofu section is bigger than the beef section.

Now, the communists are fighting among themselves. Or, maybe it is the communists vs. the capitalists. One group want to sell the building and use the money for more tofu and kale. The other group is holding out hope that a group of bigger fools can be found to rescue the sinking ship.

After wasting a couple million of the neighbors' hard earned cash, the "board" now wants more $$ to squander on their tofu stand. I'm beginning to think this is an eating disorder as well as a spending disorder.

Think of the great things this building or the land could become. Perhaps a parking lot to promote the businesses in Clifton that actually make sense.

[motorman]

This is only the beginning of the food wars. Read and decide for yourselves who won this round...

Amazon quickly narrows the price gap between Whole Foods and Kroger - Insider - Story

[OHNot4Me]

Originally Posted by motorman

Looks like you probably read today's WCPO report...

* Clifton Market is having cash flow troubles less than six months after opening - Insider - Story

Let's face it - this store was doomed the day Kroger's new Corryville store opened its doors.

I believe there are plans in the works to open a similar co-op in Dayton. If it doesn't work in Cincy, I can't imagine it will fly here. Time will tell...

They need to sell 2000 shares at $100 each: https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/n...icks-site.html

[captainclipper]

I think these grocery co-ops may have been viable or a good idea at one time, but are pretty unnecessary today. Before the widespread availability of specialty ethnic, organic, bulk, or natural products sure they had a purpose and a legitimate niche to fill.

However, now that those products are all widely available, often with lower prices and better selection at stores like Kroger, Giant Eagle, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Lucky's, Fresh Thyme, Earth Fare, Fresh Market, etc, etc, etc co-ops are virtually completely obsolete.

They will either launch in a location that isn't economically viable and then close, or if the market is viable, that success will inevitably attract a real grocery to intrude and set up shop, dooming the coop anyway. Pretty much a lose-lose situation IMO.

[jmecklenborg]

Somehow it's all being forgotten that the Clifton Market filled a food desert whereas Kroger created one by consolidating the Walnut Hills and Corryville stores.


The fact that the Clifton Market is a co-op is a non-issue. There is no profit motive, obviously, so no revenue is being wasted on dividends to shareholders around the world who have never set foot in a store. Also ignored are the huge tax breaks Kroger got for its food desert creation in Walnut Hills, along with tax breaks for its new Central Parkway store or the nearly-free parking garage the city built for Kroger ten years ago.


Kroger has a near-monopoly on grocery sales within the city limits, yet it glances at Cranley and the country clubber makes it rain. If we actually cared about people the city would set up and run ten similar markets in neighborhoods where people often do not have cars.