Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Economy Kroger plans in Little Rock
Posted by Max Brantley on Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 8:17 AM
Kroger will open its first "marketplace" store Friday on Chenal Parkway. It's an expanded operation that includes housewares, jewelry and other hard goods.
Note in the news release the late October re-opening of the Hillcrest Kroger and a mention of "expansions and remodels" planned at other Little Rock Krogers, including the Heights store. (I don't see how it could be expanded without taking away from already difficult parking.)
KROGER NEWS RELEASE
On Saturday, August 28th the Kroger Delta Division will celebrate the opening of its first Marketplace Store located at 16105B Chenal Parkway which is in Little Rock, AR.
The 123,000 square foot Marketplace Store will open with a wide assortment of housewares, toys, school and office supplies, baby items, furniture, bed and bath merchandise, home décor and a Fred Meyer Jewelry Store.
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe attended a ground breaking ceremony for the store last year when Kroger Delta Division President Mark Prestidge announced Kroger’s plans to invest approximately $125 million in a multi-year effort to remodel, expand and build new stores in Arkansas, creating hundreds of jobs.
Since that announcement the Kroger Delta Division has completed several multi- million dollar remodels and expansions throughout the state.
“Over the last two years, it has been very exciting to see our capital investments in the State of Arkansas come to fruition”, said Mark Prestidge, President of the Kroger Delta Division. “Kroger is honored to be part of the past, present and future of Arkansas”, he added.
Kroger currently operates 35 stores throughout Arkansas and employs 3,800 in the state.
Capital plans for Arkansas have included a remodel and fuel center in West Memphis and expansions and remodels at the greater Little Rock store in The Heights, Rodney Parham and Markham locations. In addition, Kroger locations in Conway, Russellville and Benton were each remodeled with the latest offerings to enhance the customer shopping experience. A new location in Maumelle opened in 2008.
Prestidge noted that the much anticipated opening of the Beechwood location will happen in late October and capital investments throughout the State will continue next year as plans are underway for future Marketplace formats in the state.
Comments (46)
Showing 1-46 of 46
I heard last night that the Hillcrest store is not going to be ready until December. I certainly hope that they don't begin any work on the Heights store until the aforementioned one is complete....otherwise I will be shopping elsewhere.
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I agree with you, Max, -- don't see how they could expand the Heights store or parking for it without running into opposition from the boutique business people around it. And, yea, it's been a nightmare since they started letting people come up here from Hillcrest!
How about the Food King (or Giant) up at Tanglewood?
Any word on it? I got info that it is opening by end of September, that coming from cashier at Arby's across the street where some workers eat. How is that for info source?
That could help with the Heights Kroger parking if the new store is on par with a Kroger as opposed to the old IGA/Thriftway equivalent of Harvest Foods.
All the ladies in our area were very excited when Walgreens was in the works but once agian disappointed when they ended up with a "Smallgreens" instead.
I look forward to the reopening of the Hillcrest store, but I won’t move my prescriptions back there until I see how the new store operates. For instance, if the same Sunday morning crew of surly anarchists returns to Hillcrest, I may continue to drive the extra mile or so to the Heights store, where parking may not be a challenge.
Woo hoo!
Now I can tell my wife I got her jewerly present at Fred's and she will think I meant the Fred Meyer Jewelry Store instead of the bargain sidewalk bin at the dollar store.
Spin! It's all how you phrase it! You ain't lyin' just because they misunderstood!
Still no remodel plans for the circa 1972 Kroger store on Shackleford. Meanwhile, a "new" Kroger has been built on Chenal and a "newer" one to replace it since the Shackleford store has been built.
Just sayin!
Arky
It's time for Kroger to go head to head with Walmart and open a store in the Bryant area. I'm sick of my choice being WalMart or driving to Little Rock or Benton.
Snapback, funny how y'all don't want us outsiders coming to your Heights Kroger. But when I get to the cash register there, my money is just as green and spends as freely as anyone else's. :-)
After trying the Elevated Kroger and the one down on Markham, I've decided to take my green dollars to the latter. Much nicer folks there, and outstanding management.
The Heights Kroger: meh. Wonder if the Kroger company has any plans to address the management and customer service issues in their local stores, with all these expansions? If so, I suggest they use the Markham store as a flagship store to teach some of the others how management is done and what good customer service is all about.
Food King is opening soon. They are hiring right now so I suspect that they'll be up and running in 2 -3 weeks.
Does anyone know when the Target at the old University Mall site will open? I heard that this Target will offer groceries. Anyone know if that is correct?
Target to open in October...not sure about the grocery aspect, I assume like out west LR.
Target to open in October, I assume the grocery aspect will be like the one out west LR
I wish Kroger would pay some attention to its NLR stores. And we're still stuck with a run-of-the-mill Target while everyone else gets a Super Target. Nor do we have a standalone Chick-fil-A...
EudoTon
I like the Markham store fine and the people are all cheery and helpful, but, in the maybe 10 times I have been there all goes well till checkout time.
Slow motion baby!
When buying cart full or hand basket trips the cashiers all seem to believe that we are in no hurry to finish and leave.
The last impression during a shopping experience is the lasting impression.
Other Krogers are hit or miss on checker speed but my experience at Markham is always the slow ones.
Citizen1, that's why I use self-checkout. plus it's funner than just standing there waiting, and I can bag my groceries how I want. also, for some reason I feel awkward making the checkers use my cloth bags.
Drove by the Hillcrest Kroger just yesterday, the Craftsman style looks great on the facade of the store...but that parking lot is TINY!
Anyone know when the new Walmart Super Center at Shackleford Crossing is to open. I've heard by Christmas, but that seems a stretch. Max, can you find out? Also, When Walmart opens the Bowman Walmart is to close, early on it was announced that a Walmart Neighborhood Market would go in there. Anybody know if that is still the plan??
I was very impressed with the layout of the Rodney Parham Kroger when I went for some bananas the other day. I have recently moved across the street from the Heights Kroger, though, and I've never like the layout of it.
Say it ain't so.
God help us Hillcrest hippies having to suffer the Heights princesses lowering themselves to our magic land.
It's been bad enough trekking up there lo these many months. How much must we endure?
@Citizen1: I don't discount your experiences at the Markham Kroger and its checkout lines.
But mine have been just the opposite. I find that invariably when I go there, managers are stationed at the end of the shopping aisles facing the cash registers, to monitor traffic. When they see that lines are backing up, they open new ones.
I've actually had managers at the Markham store--twice--come and tell me to move to a new line they've just opened to relieve the crush of people checking out. And though some of the checkout staff at the store are as slow as molasses in January, others are among the fastest I've ever seen.
And nice to boot--smiling, helpful. I don't blame the folks working at the Elevated Kroger Up the Hill for being surly, though, when they deal with such ungracious shoppers on a daily basis. And when their management appears not to give a hang.
NLR is getting a stand-alone Chick-Fil-A on McCain by Lowe's. Under construction.
I read that as saying the improvements to the Heights location have already happened since its grouped in with the changes at Markham and Rodney Parham stores.
Also, do they not think it looks bad that their Asher (excuse me, Col. Glenn) and Geyer Springs stores sit neglected and dated?
@adman0468, a very good point, about Kroger's neglect of the stores in less affluent neighborhoods in LR.
Eudora Tonks and 24fps, I hope you realize I was trying to be funny -- and I have a cockeyed sense of humor. (I do shop at the Heights Kroger, but I'm Cammack Village/Heights, not Country Club/Heights.)
The Shackleford store may be Circa 1972 in it's style, but it wasn't build until sometime in the late 80's. I know because I used to live in that area. Back when it was built you could actually walk across Shackleford to the store without taking your life in your hands and it was very nice store.
The Tanglewood Food Giant has really stepped up the construction pace lately so I know they are getting close. They are currently building a new store front and I know they have done a lot of work on the inside. The Tanglewood parking lot appears to be undergoing a major facelift as well.
I live between the heights and markham store. I shopped at Hillcrest when I was in the area but the Rodney Parham store is where I run at lunch if I need something.
I've got news...........they are just grocery stores...with microscopic differences.
As near as I can tell, they all draw from a diverse socioeconomic group.
If you find you are surrounded by whole groups of grumpy pushy snobby people, I suggest you stop by the Frozen Food section and look at your face in the glass to find the person who is looking to find insult where none exists..
No, we're all dead serious, Snap. The banal displeasures of grocery shopping deserve no less.
RE the Parham Kroger: It's a beyotch to get to and to get in and out of. But a clean, well-lighted place.
Soon to be heard over your local Target store PA system:
"Attention Target shoppers. Attention Target shoppers. We will be going around the store collecting mandatory donations for Republican and Tea Party candidates. Please have your checkbooks ready. We suggest donations of $1,000 or more as appropriate. Again, please have your checkbooks ready to give to the Republican and Tea Party candidates of your choice. The Management thanks you."
@Snap, I did suspect you were being tongue in cheek. Which is why I added my happy-face symbol to my first comment in reply to you.
@Mud, "I've got news...........they are just grocery stores...with microscopic differences."
Uh, no, they're not. They're not just grocery stores with microscopic differences. They're places of business with customers. And those of us who fork over our hard-earned dollars at a place of business have a right to expect good service.
As I've said, one of these two stores strikes me as very well managed and welcoming. The other doesn't. They have totally different demographics, as well. And that makes a difference in their approach to customers.
If you're satisfied with shoddy customer service, that's your business. I'm not, and I let a business know when I appreciate it or don't by voting with my dollars.
Snapback said: (I do shop at the Heights Kroger, but I'm Cammack Village/Heights, not Country Club/Heights.)
LOL
I shop there, too, and I guess I'm equally "ghetto". I'm Kingwood/Heights--not to mention that I grew up as culturally distant from the Heights as a Little Rock person can: I'm an 0-Niner!
These Kroger threads always end up with lots of comments, and they often talk about how snooty the Heights Kroger clientele is, and how rude the staff is. I shop at this store no less than 5 days out of 7. I'm there all the time. (My wife muses at the notion that I'm having affairs with the deli ladies.) I just don't see any remarkable rudeness or snootiness on the part of workers or shoppers--no more than anywhere else. It's probably true that there's less diversity at this Kroger than others in town; and it's definitely true that parking is a pain in the ass. But I just don't see the other stuff.
Eudora, I didn't see your 2:34 comments before I posted mine. I've never regularly shopped at the Markham/RP store, so perhaps I don't know what I'm missing from a customer service standpoint. But I have always gotten descent, friendly-ish service at the Heights. I have been frustrated at the deli meat cutting area a time or two, when the service was really S - L - O - W; other than that, nothing remarkable. What kind of thing have you encountered? (Seriously...I'm just curious.)
Please don't tell me that Target supports teabaggers. I would hate to be forced to make my laudry detergent & toothpaste since that is rapidly the only way to avoid Republican corporations.
The main problem with MY Kroger (in the Heights, but I'm also Kingwood/Heights) is that every other grocery store in the area closed, forcing a population that was previously served by 4 grocery stores to be served by one. And that one was never meant to handle that kind of crowd. It was fine until Harvest at the bottom of Cantrell, Beechwood Kroger, and Tanglewood Harvest closed in rapid succession. I can't wait for the Tanglewood, Beechwood and Target stores to open. I'll get my nice serene Heights Kroger back to myself. Parking will be luxuriously spacious again! Lines will now longer creep into the aisles. Ahhh.
@Hugh, I'm not basing my comparison between these two stores on any specific "encounter." I'm basing them on overall perceptions of how they're run and how much attention they seem to pay to customer service. Because I've shopped between them after my local Kroger shut down for repairs--and finally chose the Markham store--I have a strong overall impression that the Markham store is far better run and cares a lot more about customer service.
And yes, that those who shop at the Markham store just seem flat more welcoming than the folks at the Higher and Better Folks' Kroger. What I can say I have encountered on a routine basis when I mingle with the Higher and Better Folks is plain rudeness--shoving carts down the aisle in direct opposition to the flow of traffic and then glaring if you are in their way; cutting you off with their carts as if you aren't there; yammering loudly on cell phones as if no one else is in the store; refusing even to look at you or exchange a smile or greeting when you excuse yourself for passing in front of them as they look for something on the shelves.
I don't find many of the folks at the Markham store that way. And so I do my business there because the experience of shopping there is far more pleasant. And in my view, that has a lot to do with the management of that store, too--always on the lookout for snags at the checkout lines, quick to open new checkout lines if they're needed, available to be asked questions and willing to find the answers you need.
There's definitely a difference. And I think it has a lot to do with the management of both places--but also the clientele and the impression the Higher and Better Folks seem to give many of us who climb up the hill to shop there now that our store is shut down that we're not wanted.
Sadly, no mention of any upgrades coming to the Roosevelt Rd Kroger. As a long time shopper there, both before and after Mr. Isgrig was killed in the parking lot there, it's a great store, very polite and efficient staff with excellent management. I began using their pharmacy once the Hillcrest store shutdown. Sure, I watch others in the parking lot and inside the store for any suspicious behavior, but I also do the same when I am at the Chenal or Heights Krogers. Thank you Kroger for the security guard at the Roosevelt Road location, that is one big reason I shop there, and not Chenal or the Heights.
I shopped at the Roosevelt location when I lived downtown, but that has been several years ago.
I think conform and be dull hit the nail on the head: clientele from 4 stores converge on one, chaos ensues, and (1) the situation is harder for management to deal with, (2) there are too many people in too small a space, and (3) some of the "new" people blame the chaos on the *Higher and Better Folks* to whom the store "belongs", even though the *Higher and Better Folks* may no longer be the majority of customers. But I'll definitely pay a visit to the Markham store.
DogtownDiva,
Even if you were being sarcastic, here.
http://westseattleblog.com/2010/08/video-m…
Here's the thing about all those extra folks converging on the serene Heights store, Hugh and Conform: it's happening out at the Markham store, too. I talk to lots of folks who live in Hillcrest and who have chosen to go to one or the other store, or back and forth between them.
And in my experience (which may not be the same as others's), the Markham store handles the influx much more effectively and graciously. Admittedly, it's bigger and the aisles are larger.
But the management seems better, too. And the tone of any business's management will affect the tone of all of its staff.
I do have one more concrete example to illustrate my point, Hugh. I shopped at Markham earlier this week. When I went into the store, a manager happened to be standing in the doorway.
I've only shopped there since the Hillcrest store closed. But I've gotten to know at least her first name and we exchange pleasantries when we see each other. I brought a concern to her once and she handled it right away.
She greeted me with a smile and asked how I was doing (I'm old and I'm slow, but I keep chugging). That was a nice beginning to the grocery rounds.
When I left the store, one of the employees happened to be in the parking lot as I unloaded my cart. He came up, asked if he could help, and then asked if he could take the cart away.
Neither of those things ever happened to me when I shopped at the Heights store in the past. And I can't imagine them happening, to be honest. Some people handle an influx of newcomers more graciously than others.
"Ohmigod! Meagan! MEAGAN! I just heard! Congratulations! Lemme see it! Lemme see the ring! Ohmigod! It's FABULOUS!"
"Do you BELIEVE this, Carrie? Biff is just unbelievable!"
"My GOD! I've never seen -- how big is it?"
"Four carats. C color. Clear."
"It's magnificent. Where did you get it?"
"Kroger."
"Uh -- "
"I know. But they gave us such a discount over Roberson's."
"Really."
"There was a little dried tuna salad on it right here."
"Well, it's just beautiful. Who's doing your wedding gown?"
"Home Depot."
"Gotta run, Meagan! Don't be a stranger!"
Nanc--A checker at the Bowman Walmart told me that the Shackleford Rd Super Center will open before Christmas.
As far as Kroger--I shopped at the Shackleford Rd. Kroger for years but in the past couple of years switched to the Colony West Kroger. It has doubled in size now that they took over the space next door. It is clean, brightly lighted and well staffed. The parking lot can be a little crazy at peak shopping times and a little difficult to get in and out of, but it beats the old run down Shackleford Kroger by a mile. It is close to I-430 which provides easy access for me to stop on the way home from work. It's a little further from my house, but a lot more accessible.
Kroger Marketplace grand opening & ribbon cutting Friday, August 28 @ 6pm on 16105B Chenal Pkwy (WLR). Come on down,it's goin to be a great experience & 128,500. sq ft of great customer service.
For all you memory buffs, I worked at the Hillcrest Kroger when it was on Kavanaugh at Beechwood with the Safeway across the street and we closed that one down and opened the one at Park Plaza (yes, there was a Kroger) on the east side across the duck pond from Sterling with a bowling alley on the lower level. And when I was in graduate school, I worked at the Town and Country store. People don't believe that there ever were stores in those locations but the managers of those stores-Harry Giberson (later owned Terri Lynn's named after his daughter), Les Schnautz, and Jim Kline all believed in hiring a lot of students as part timers and I spent 8 years of my high school, college, and even graduate school years working part-time (24-42 hours a week) for these great managers.
Call me crazy but I thought the press release said that the remodels/expansions for Heights, Rodney Parham, and Markham store have already happened.
I really don't think they would remodel something that was done less than a year ago.
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