Some store news in my area

[eleny]

I was surprised to learn that our Soopers at Quail & Colfax in Lakewood might be closing when they build a new giant store down on Kipling at 6th Ave. But people are complaining so there's talk that they might keep our "smaller" store open.

The new store will be trying to compete with WalMart and even sell some furniture. That's nuts. I made it clear that their plans are urging me to shop at the local Safeway where I won't have to walk to hell and gone to buy my groceries. Super-store my ass. The local Associated grocer will benefit if the local Soopers closes. I'll be darned if I drive 2 miles for one or two items in a pinch.

And then there's JoAnn's Fabrics. They're going to be occupying the building that housed a Circuit City. It's going to be the largest JoAnn's I've ever seen. I'm looking forward to it even though I like my Hancock's fabrics up on Wadsworth near 38th. And I will definitely shop at the family owned Thompson's Crafts just north of Colfax on Wadsworth. They've been there forever. I always check to see if they have an item before I go to a box store. They're a local treasure that's thriving despite the fact that a WalMart opened right across the boulevard.

Anyhow, I guess I wanted to sound off on big vs. small again. Seems like Soopers might be listening to us shoppers if they keep our older store open for the neighborhood. Furniture at a grocery store? Really? Pfui.

[madamesilverspurs]

1. Pfui, indeed.

They just built one of those ultra ginormous super dooper king soopers west of Greeley. Out on the highway heading out of town towards Loveland, just a few miles west of the Walmart supercenter. I chose not to attend any of the "grand opening" insanities, but did stop late one night as I was returning from a trip to Ft. Collins. You're right, it was a very unwelcome hike and a half for the one small item I needed; while I was hiking I checked some of the prices and wasn't remotely surprised to find their opening "specials" considerably higher than what I normally pay.

So for groceries now we have three Soopers, three Safeways (including one of their ginormous fancy versions), two Walmarts, a Sam's Club, one Avanza and one Sprouts. The newer and bigger stores are on or toward the west side, catering to new and future development. Meanwhile, west of UNC there is the old Albertson's building that has been vacant for about a decade. The downtown area has one old Safeway, the only grocery store for a heavily senior population mixed with some students. In my neighborhood the building that used to be a grocery store now houses a rent-to-own store and a bingo hall; other than a couple of 7-11s there is no grocery shopping within walking distance. On the east side there are some newer housing areas, nice houses with good parks, but not one grocery store; if I had the means to do so, I'd put a grocery store on the east side and another in that old Albertson's building. The clientele might not make six figure incomes, but they would gladly welcome and support the business.

The big boxes destroy both the Mom-and-Pop businesses and the walkable communities they used to sustain. What a damn shame.

[eleny]

2. We have a very old Associated called Gold's Grocery nearby

There's no way I'll drive a few miles when I can walk 4 blocks for a loaf of bread or odds and ends. And there's an Ace Hardware just up the street from us, too.

The other stupid thing about this move is that getting in and out of the new Soopers parking lot won't be easy. The area around Kipling St. and 6th Ave is going to need a lot of redoing to make it sensible. People getting on and off a major thoroughfare while others are trying to get in and out of a superstore parking lot is a less than favorable situation to negotiate.

At least it's summer now and there are farmers markets that open for the season.

[locahungaria]

3. Ah, Gold's Grocery!

I used to live in Lakewood years ago and made an effort to stop there to buy meat as often as possible.

Two years ago, I went to visit my daughter who still lives there and was pleased to see that Gold's was still there and still had a butcher and good quality meat....nice to hear that it's still around!

Is the bowling alley still there too?

:hi:

[eleny]

4. Hi there!

And belated welcome to DU.

Yes, the bowling alley is still there. In fact, the bowling alley across from Westland shopping center is still there, too, in case you remember it.

Funny about Gold's and its reputation for always having good butchers and quality meats. We had an elderly next door neighbor who swore by their quality. It's just a little Associated but it has that good rep. These days I like going in for the meats/poultry as well as the Scandinavian specialties that include great herring they get from a Michigan family business. And they carry an interesting variety of Scandinavian cheeses. The store is never crowded but there's always a steady flow of customers. The store interior and exterior still looks the same as you remember it. It just never changes!

:hi:

[mk2guy7355]

5. +1

[donheld]

6. Where would they possibly put a super sized King Soopers

around 6th & Kipling. To my knowledge there isn't room for anything there?
I'm by that area quite often.

[eleny]

7. Every time I drive along there I'm baffled

On the northwest side of 6th there's a Hooters and then shortly north of that there's an Extended Stay America motel. Beats me where it's going in.

When I first spoke with a manager about it he said it was going where the old drive in movie was located. But that was where the Extended Stay was built.

[haydukelives]

9. If you look at the area when driving west on 6 th ave,

You can see the old drive in. "The west" drive in is where me and Mrs. hayduke fell in love

[mbob731325]

8. nvm