You know when you read stories of closing stores.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

and you read one or two or three locations of said store are no more? Try here in Metro Phoenix 73 - yes, 73 Albertson/Safeway Stores will be closed if the proposed Kroger/Albertons merger goes through. I was amazed to see EVERY CENTRAL PHOENIX SAFEWAY on the closed list!!! Not only that but up North in Flagstaff, all three Flagstaff Safeways will be closed including the one across the street from NAU. It was like a brick hit me - OMG - this is a lot of stores and will have an impact. Rob

[Tradd]

You don’t work at one of the affected stores do you?

[Tradd]

None of the Jewel chain (owned by Albertsons) here in the Chicago area will be closed, but all the Marianos (owned by Kroger) and a couple of Jewel locations will be sold off.

[iris lilies]

That could work in your favor because you might get their employees.

[littlebittybobby]

okay---I already go to the open forums about the importance of mowing, so we need ta discuss that first . Yup.

[Rogar]

My neighborhood store was on the list. They seem to do a pretty good business and there's not another major supermarket chain close by. I got the impression their were being sold to another grocery store chain and claimed no one would be laid off?

[sweetana3]

The plan is to sell the stores to another company. Don't just read the headlines. Try to investigate gossip. All I did was one google search and found hundreds of articles.

"Albertsons and Kroger have said they will divest of some of their stores by selling them to competitor C&S Wholesale Grocers, owner of the Piggly Wiggly brand of supermarkets."

[iris lilies]

When our local non chain store was bought by soneone elee, it immediately became better. The owners have at least one other store, that other store in the next town. So they do have some grocery store experience.

[littlebittybobby]

okay---long story short----after a lengthy controversy, Walmart got ta ttear down a big 1950s church downtown by sms and literally a 1000 rental units. before they even opened price raiser closed three o their stores in the vicinity. but yeah---the new neighborhood market does a land office business, and there is lots of eye candy in that store, too yup.

[littlebittybobby]

okay---Big Lots has gone into bankrupcy, and is closing stores. So far, the two Big Lots here are open. I was in there the other day. They usta handle more hardware, tools, and electronics. But now--they're mainly housewares, furnishings, and foods.

[rosarugosa]

We have a few Big Lots around here that are closing, but I've never been in one, so it doesn't really affect me personally.

[iris lilies]

We have a few Big Lots around here that are closing, but I've never been in one, so it doesn't really affect me personally.
DH LOVES Big Lots but I do not know why. It is full of junk. Actually, he doesn’t go there but he pretends to love it just to irritate me.

[happystuff]

We used to have a Big Lots in the area, but it closed about 3-4 years ago. Yes, it was mostly pretty useless stuff, but every now and then I would find something useful and worth buying. My yoga mat bag, for example. Still going strong after many years and only $5!

[littlebittybobby]

okay-----you kids don't seem ta realize how many trips Big Lots has saved me inta wall-market. Yup. Plus, waaaay back when they sold "guy stuff", I got a motor crane pretty cheap that I have used many, many times. Plus, they usedta carry Nybco-brand aerosol spray paint and other useful items. SD cards. Both of my Sirius receivers. All going on 20 to-30 years old, now. So, yeah; I hate ta see the decline of Big Lots. They usta also sell trees there--fruit tree saplings, that is, for pretty cheap. Yup.

[pinkytoe]

DH was in the grocery biz for much of his career and explained it thus. C & S who would be "buying" the closed Safeways (at least in this state) is a wholesaler. At some point, they would most likely sell the physical stores to other grocers but put in the contract that they remain the primary provider of grocery items which is really all they want to be.

[catherine]

DH LOVES Big Lots but I do not know why. It is full of junk. Actually, he doesn’t go there but he pretends to love it just to irritate me.

We have (in NJ, not VT) Job Lots which is probably similar. We LOVE it. It has good stuff, like a huge wall of Bob's Red Mill products. Great prices on other things. I can do without a bunch of chain stores, but I love Ocean State Job Lots. When we drive to NJ to see my son, we always stock up on stuff.

On the topic, my BIL has been employed by an Albertson's store in VT and he hasn't said anything about any takeovers.

We don't have any supermarkets in the Islands. I shop off-island about once a month. our two little markets are both family-owned and I try to buy from them as much as I can.

[rosarugosa]

Catherine: I really like Ocean State Job Lots too. They have some very good values and they're my go-to for potting soil, fertilizer, calendars and bug spray, among other things. I also like their charitable deals where you make a contribution and get an equal value in gift cards to their store.