Grocery Store closest to HEB style in Dallas? (Houston, Pecan Grove: neighborhoods, shopper)

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

That's why people think the grocery store game in DFW is inferior...

"Inferior" isn't the word I would use. That would apply to a region that has very few options for groceries. DFW is actually better than most cities in this regard.

DFW's problem is that its plethora of options are nothing to write home about. "Unimpressive," "average" or "milquetoast" would be better descriptions.

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

That's why people think the grocery store game in DFW is inferior. Most people in USA view Walmart as a last resort store. And them being the top dog grocer just makes things seem lower class up there.

I wouldn't say Walmart is a bad grocer per se - they're probably just as good or better than your typical Tom Thumb, Albertsons, or Randalls imo. My biggest issue with their stores are they are either too big and crowded (Super Walmart) or they are too small and still crowded (Neighborhood Markets). The selection is generally pretty good though all things considered - it is Walmart after all.

It's definitely been a few years now, but the DFW Walmarts didn't seem much different from any of the ones I'd been to in other cities so its just interesting how much of the market they have. I still think HEB could do well in DFW though - does Walmart really have THAT much brand loyalty there?

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

I wouldn't say Walmart is a bad grocer per se - they're probably just as good or better than your typical Tom Thumb, Albertsons, or Randalls imo. My biggest issue with their stores are they are either too big and crowded (Super Walmart) or they are too small and still crowded (Neighborhood Markets). The selection is generally pretty good though all things considered - it is Walmart after all.

It's definitely been a few years now, but the DFW Walmarts didn't seem much different from any of the ones I'd been to in other cities so its just interesting how much of the market they have. I still think HEB could do well in DFW though - does Walmart really have THAT much brand loyalty there?

Walmart's main draw is that it's cheap.

If H-E-B's prices were just as cheap and locations that were just as covenient, I have no doubt they would do well.

[TheOverdog]

the DFW Walmarts didn't seem much different from any of the ones I'd been to in other cities so its just interesting how much of the market they have.

This is not my experience. In lots of places, Wal-Mart is still the store it was in the 1980s, with a small food section and crowded, junky aisles.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

I've had the misfortune of being to many Walmarts across the USA. They're all a bad experience. That being said, some cities have better Walmart than others. Both Houston and DFW have better Walmart than small town locations elsewhere. That's because if you are that bad in a competitive market, you'll die. But they're still mediocre with horrible customer experience.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

The only possible advantage I see over HEB or Kroger is that Walmart is a "do it all" place. Unlike HEB and Kroger, they have a decent sized car care area, electronics, sports section, etc. Walmart's car care has nothing on O'Reiley/Autozone. Their electronics section has nothing on Best Buy. And their sports section has nothing on Academy/Dicks. But they have them all to be a "one destination" place. Many Walmart locations have Woodforest National Banks so you could even potentially do your banking there.

The problem with that, though, is that people prefer going to specialized places these days. I could potentially see myself buying a galon of engine oil at Walmart over Autozone since its cheaper, but it's rare I would do something like this. I'd never buy any sports or outdoors equipment at Walmart over Academy. Therefore it's rare I choose Walmart.

[TheOverdog]

does Walmart really have THAT much brand loyalty there?

No, but they have a lot of stores, 170 stores in DFW, one per 40,000 in population, and lower than that to the north. In Plano for example, there are 9, so that's about one WalMart store for every 30k in people. Compare that to Tom Thumb or Kroger, with one store for every 70k people.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

No, but they have a lot of stores, 170 stores in DFW, one per 40,000 in population, and lower than that to the north. In Plano for example, there are 9, so that's about one WalMart store for every 30k in people. Compare that to Tom Thumb or Kroger, with one store for every 70k people.

I think back in the early 2000s Walmart looked at DFW and saw a place that didn't have a really strong grocery competitor, apart from Kroger, which they were already used to competing with in many markets around the U.S. So, the company made a conscious decision to try to dominate and largely succeeded by planting a very large number of locations.

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

No, but they have a lot of stores, 170 stores in DFW, one per 40,000 in population, and lower than that to the north. In Plano for example, there are 9, so that's about one WalMart store for every 30k in people. Compare that to Tom Thumb or Kroger, with one store for every 70k people.

This makes sense - I do remember them having quite a few locations up there. They aren't anywhere near as dense in Houston (or most places - 9 in Plano alone?! Jeezus).

But I can't knock it - I wouldn't drive past a Walmart just to go to Tom Thumb or Albertsons either. Maybe Kroger.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

This makes sense - I do remember them having quite a few locations up there. They aren't anywhere near as dense in Houston (or most places - 9 in Plano alone?! Jeezus).

But I can't knock it - I wouldn't drive past a Walmart just to go to Tom Thumb or Albertsons either. Maybe Kroger.

If they opened and H-E-B up there, Lots of people would drive past a Walmart to go there. I have a feeling Walmart has some thing up their sleeves