Richmond Grocery Wars

[plain]

1 hour ago, ancientcarpenter said:

It gets so much worse: There's a reason it's nicknamed Klanover

I have friends out there (Hanover, Mechanicsville, Ashland, etc.) in new developments for cheap prices. Idc to live in the suburbs so I will stay in the city but at one point we seriously entertained it but visiting out there during 2020 election I refused to raise my kid around that extreme hate stuff. Some areas are just stuck in the past and have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern world. No thank you.

I'm black, but I'm not going to dwell on some of the bad experiences I've had out there (which was mainly do to the cops). I will say this: I have friends out there who I do miss, but I haven't even stepped foot in the county since 2013. Just go up 95 without stopping.

 

I'm in agreement with I miss RVA. Hanover is definitely growing and that's definitely a good thing. But as long as there's still plenty of residents with the same attitudes towards everything in life, the county will continue to be the bane of the entire metro. I'm not at all saying the entire county should be suburbanized, that would be silly. But every little thing shouldn't be fought tooth and nail either. 

 

Take for instance the western part of the county. Eventually the US 33 corridor is going to see some kind of substantial development up to Montpelier, those residents should prepare for the inevitable. That road has already experienced traffic headaches for decades now (including numerous fatal accidents) and widening should've been done long ago. With more and more people moving into that area, it's only a matter of time before substantial growth takes off there.

 

Goochland County has a plan to develop "growth villages", where growth is encouraged in those areas while still keeping the rest of the county rural. Hanover should really consider doing the same if their residents are that concerned about losing their way of life.

Edited May 16, 2023 by plain
Fixed spelling

[wrldcoupe4]

Hanover is updating their master plans for the county now, so those discussions will guide future growth over the next 10-15+ years. Not sure how any changes compare to the current master plans.

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, ancientcarpenter said:

It gets so much worse: There's a reason it's nicknamed Klanover

I have friends out there (Hanover, Mechanicsville, Ashland, etc.) in new developments for cheap prices. Idc to live in the suburbs so I will stay in the city but at one point we seriously entertained it but visiting out there during 2020 election I refused to raise my kid around that extreme hate stuff. Some areas are just stuck in the past and have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern world. No thank you.

 spot on!!! On all points, @ancientcarpenter Couldn't have said it any better. 

[RiverYuppy]

I think generalizations about groups of people are not helpful. I don't like it when people in Hanover do it about the city. I try not to be the same as those people.

Hopefully Hanover's reluctance for development in its county pushes some of that demand closer to the city to increase density. 

[whw53]

The fact that we still don't know the mystery grocer at Willow Place this long out now has almost swung me back around to Amazon Fresh for the sole reason they may never open. 

While Amazon opened a new Whole Foods in DC last week it's other Amazon branded retail chains seem to be losing momentum and or closing. 

They may be delaying or even reconsidering this site - I don't know. Somethings off about the secretiveness here - its not normal after work has already begun.

 

https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/another-amazon-go-time-seattle-has-closed

 

[Flood Zone]

Saw someone on RVA Reddit a week or two ago say they heard it was going to be a Home Goods. That's both accurate and inaccurate. IIRC, Home Goods is going there, but not in the grocery store space (they're on opposite ends). My guess is you're right, @whw53, and the grocery piece is in limbo. But who really knows.

Edited June 22, 2023 by Flood Zone

[I miss RVA]

I know I'm looking at this particular topic through a very long-distance lens - but it strikes me that this whole grocery-in-limbo situation has been going on for quite a while and not just at Willow Lawn. - aren't there at least one or two other locations (both suburban, I think) where there's space for a grocery store (either being built as part of a new project - or - existing space) where there's been speculation about who/what grocer is going in -- only to find that the space is STILL sitting vacant? Is this the case or am I misreading the tea leaves?

[wrldcoupe4]

I've heard they paused their Amazon Fresh rollout but that it's back on.

[whw53]

another Wal-Mart Neghborhood Market bites the dust. Dam this was actually a nice store. Not as crowded as normal Wal-Mart , guess that was the problem.

 

https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/07/06/walmart-to-shutter-northside-grocery-store-christmas-tree-shops-to-close-in-henrico/

[whw53]

This one is more surprising.

Lidl is closing their location at Green gate shopping center. This leaves the retailer without a location in Short Pump.

https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/two-virginia-lidl-locations-closing-july-16/

[Brent114]

I liked that location.   It’s lame that they are closing before the housing even gets built out.  More customers are only a year away. 

[I miss RVA]

11 hours ago, Brent114 said:

I liked that location.   It’s lame that they are closing before the housing even gets built out.  More customers are only a year away. 

Am guessing profit margins weren't meeting shareholder expectations - and the shareholders couldn't wait the extra year.

[Brent114]

I understand the motivation… but for a brand that is still somewhat new to the market they should be a bit more patient, especially with a location that opened long before the housing around it was built. 

[Flood Zone]

Apparently they've closed several in the Mid-Atlantic region recently.

[Brent114]

Supper markets are going the way of other brick and mortar retail.  I detest the delivery concept (for  able-bodied people) but it’s here to stay and it’s really cutting into store traffic. 

[RiverYuppy]

With he Walmart Market closing in Northside, I wonder if that will open up room for something new. The thing is most people living in Bellevue, Ginter Park, Seminary, Rosedale, etc. aren't shopping at Walmart Market. And for people who want the Walmart experience, the super center is only a mile farther from the city.

Currently living in Highland Park my options are really just Food Lion, college Kroger, or Whole Foods. That's the choice for pretty much everyone in Northside. That means I end up doing 90% of my grocery shopping at Whole Foods.

I wonder if Walmart's spot will be taken by something like a family-oriented Kroger. 

Though what I would prefer to see is something like a Publix so middle class families that live in Northside could have a choice that isn't between a Food Lion where you can't consistently find meat or vegetables you might want or Whole Foods which is much more pricey. 

[I miss RVA]

On 7/8/2023 at 6:11 AM, whw53 said:

This one is more surprising.

Lidl is closing their location at Green gate shopping center. This leaves the retailer without a location in Short Pump.

https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/two-virginia-lidl-locations-closing-july-16/

Here's RBS' reporting on Lidl closing in Short Pump.

https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/07/10/grocery-chain-lidl-to-close-short-pump-store/

[Flood Zone]

According to a poster on the RVA subreddit named ramblingclam - surely an unimpeachable source - the Willow Place mystery grocer is indeed Amazon Fresh. If “everything goes as planned” next week,  he added cryptically,  “we’ll be a huge step closer to having this one open as planned.”

[whw53]

Woah. Aldi has entered the traditional supermarket category in a big way with the purchase of Winn-Dixie and Harvey's banners from Southeastern Grocers.  Yes, they plan to retain the banners and concept parallel to their Aldi discount brand. Over 400 locations. Could they try to push these banners or another traditional format north? Something to keep an eye on. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/phillempert/2023/08/16/aldi-enters-the-traditional-supermarket-business-why-its-a-smart-move/?sh=4fee16523a36

Edited August 16, 2023 by whw53

[KJHburg]

New Wegmans distribution center in Hanover County is closer to opening.  I am following this closely as this will allow Wegmans to enter the Charlotte market where it is rumored to do so.

The 4 the Raleigh Chapel Hill area stores are served by the warehouse in PA currently as I am sure the Richmond and Tidewater stores. 

https://www.wegmans.com/news-media/articles/introducing-our-virginia-service-center/?fbclid=IwAR3qbEExlu-bNw1aXOy1Tyly9TqkEmhQRs35nd2aNY5leyU5I6hcz0roqgU

[whw53]

 

A second international chain HQ'D in Northern Virginia has entered the market - Lotte Plaza market.

[keo091]

Finally! Definitely excited about this one! Now we just need an H Mart.

[whw53]

Latest on Wegmans distribution center - c'mon toss this case. The plaintiffs hope to get this facility ruled an 'illegal building'. If someone at the county level needs to be penalized for what I can tell are trivial site entitlement approval process errors so be it. Or blame the then governor for the silly stay - at - home orders. IDC Just don't take this out on Wegmans who is following from this process and their 700 future workers. 

 

https://richmond.com/news/local/business/development/wegmans-hanover-brown-grove-ashland/article_01ff5682-412c-11ee-9da9-47053eddd4f9.html

Edited August 23, 2023 by whw53

[whw53]

No surprise here really , Wal-Mart still leading the grocery wars at 16% of the market. This is despite losing whw53 as a loyal patron of the now shuttered Brook Rd Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. -sigh-

https://richmond.com/news/local/business/walmart-wegmans-kroger-aldi/article_bd497d74-3b9a-11ee-8f31-5753c65df8be.html

Kroger in close 2nd  and Ahold Delhaize's Food Lion in 3rd with 15% and 14%  of the market respectively. 

[Downtowner]

On 9/6/2023 at 3:15 PM, Brent114 said:

Because I like how things fit together….

Here’s Soda Flats as seen from the Museum District….

 

 

On 9/13/2023 at 7:28 PM, whw53 said:

No surprise here really , Wal-Mart still leading the grocery wars at 16% of the market. This is despite losing whw53 as a loyal patron of the now shuttered Brook Rd Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. -sigh-

https://richmond.com/news/local/business/walmart-wegmans-kroger-aldi/article_bd497d74-3b9a-11ee-8f31-5753c65df8be.html

Kroger in close 2nd  and Ahold Delhaize's Food Lion in 3rd with 15% and 14%  of the market respectively. 

I can understand why the more average joe type grocery stores are doing so well. I can’t even afford to eat or go to the grocery store as much anymore, it’s getting to the point where I can’t afford to live. Where living and breathing is unaffordable. I get mad every time I go to the grocery store or the gas station or get a bill in the mail. Everything too expensive for anyone to afford.