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Thursday, January 14, 2016

Current Shoppers Stores, Then and Now

Welcome back. Today, in the vein of the previous post, we'll look back at Shoppers' past in pictures again. With this one, though, we're looking at stores you can still basically see and compare now.

Burke, VA

Then. Credit: me (BatteryMill Retail), Shoppers Food Warehouse Corp.
Now. Credit: MJHale (Michael's Retail Photos)
This store looks nothing like it did back in the olden days of Shoppers nowadays. Since opening in the 1980s, it has recieved a few interior remodel and, to top it out in 2010 with another interior remodel, a massive exterior upgrade. The layout has also been changed as well.

Falls Church, VA

Then. Credit: me, Shoppers Food Warehouse Corp.
Now. Credit: MJHale (Michael's Retail Photos)
This store opened on August 13, 1997 as a Shoppers Club. In its' lifetime, it has recieved two interior updates, while not recieving any major exterior changes. Several features have been added and shifted since the opening.

Herndon, VA

Then. Credit: me (BatteryMill Retail), Shoppers Food Warehouse Corp.
Now. Credit: me (BatteryMill Retail)
Having been an early 1990s Warehouse-era store, this store has seen a fair share of changes inside and out. The original exterior was much more Tudor-styled with dark brown accents throughout, and a typical right-hand interior was imployed. While the accents were repainted in later years, this store remodeled in 2006. One notable addition was an extended vestibule on the left, as well as a pharmacy inside and other relocations.

Anyways, sorry I couldn't get much, but I'll do more soon. Thanks for reading!


Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Long-Lost Shoppers Stores

Good evening, readers.

Tonight, we will take another glimpse into the olden days of Shoppers. Particularily, the ones you can't really see for yourselves in the real world. That's right, now-closed stores. From 10 years ago or earlier.

...you guessed it, right? Well, let's go. Rules are simple. Plus, no remodeled stores.

Alexandria, VA (Landmark) (relocated/closed)

The store presently, as New Grand Mart. The facade has been remodeled. Credit: MJHale (Michael's Retail Photos)
This store is the very first location, and what other way is there to celebrate than put it first? Just playing, this list is in alphabetical order.

Anyway, this store opened around 1978-1980 in place of a former Safeway, which moved down to Van Dorn Street. This store had minimal decor and a rather strange layout, which forced customers through produce to the rest of the store. The store moved across 236 to a new location at a closed Hecht's Clearance store. In the meantime, this store was downgraded to Shoppers Express until its' closure a few years later. This store is now a Grand Mart.

Annandale, VA (closed)

The store in its' present-day position. Credit: MJHale (Michael's Retail Photos)
This store started life as a former Grand Union, which became the last new Jumbo in 1978. In the 1980s, this store became Shoppers Food Warehouse. This store was shuttered around 1998 to make way for Kmart's expansion next door. As of January 2016, this Kmart is still operational.

Frederick, VA (closed)

The store now, as DEAL$ and Aldi. Credit: COOLCAT433



Most likely opened in the 1980s. Closed down in early 1999, shortly before SuperValu's acquisition of Richfood. Now a DEAL$ (by Dollar Tree) and and Aldi Food Market.

Manassas, VA (Maplewood) (relocated/converted)
The store presently. Credit: MJHale (Michael's Retail Photos)

Store #33
Opened to serve Manassas customers in 1991 as a store during a period of rapid growth for the chain. This store ad a typical layout and features of a Shoppers at the time. The store was converted by SuperValu to a one-time international concept, El Primero Mercado, centering on Latin foods in late 2005. One year earlier, a "replacement" store opened to the south on Liberia Ave. as a larger store. This store was brought back to the Shoppers name as Shoppers International in June 2008, albeit it only lasted a year. Now a Megamart after numerous name changes.

Stafford, VA (relocated)

The store after it closed, shown in 2004. Credit: fredericksburg.com/The Free Lance-Star

Another "retro" Shoppers store, this one is a late 1980s store. Had a standard layout for any Shoppers store of the time. When SuperValu opened a new location across I-95 at the Stafford Marketplace, this store closed on October 4, 2003. The new store opened the next day. Since then, this store has been demolished in anticipation for the redeveloped Towne Centre at Aquia, which is finally under construction now.

Waldorf, MD (relocated)

The store in October 2008. Credit: Google Maps
Opened later in the 1980s during Shoppers' heyday. Was a typical Shoppers and had a very similar exterior to the former Woodbridge store. Relocated in June 2003 into a former Hechinger as one of the last stores with a pre-SuperValu decor package. Now subdivided into a Dollar Tree among several other stores.

Woodbridge, VA (relocated)

The store as of October 2014. Credit: Google Maps
This store was one of the first in Prince William County for the chain, opening in the mid-late 1980s. The store's exterior was based on a chain design which was used at other stores, while the interior Several years later, in the 1990s, this store moved out to a new Shoppers Club along the Prince William Parkway, where it is today. Later became the Family Health Center of Woodbridge, which closed at one point and is now subdivided into a MOM's Organic Market and a Ross (under construction).
There might have also been a Shoppers at the Lowe's plaza off of Smoketown, but I do not know.


Anyways, thanks for reading this exclusive insider dish on Shoppers history. Hope you want to see more! :P

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The Future of Shoppers (slightly opinionated)

Note: These opinions/predictions are mine and do not represent anyone associated with Shoppers or SuperValu, like the rest of the blog. This also does not do, or condone any libel against these two companies.

Shoppers then. Credit: sfwcorp.com on archive.org
As Shoppers is facing fierce competition in the crowded Washington D.C./Baltimore grocery markets, you may stop and wonder: Is this store even a thing anymore?

Shoppers, once the famous warehouse chain touting low prices in comparison to Giant and Safeway, has fallen behind in the past decade thanks to changes in the corporate atmosphere and major competition as a result of becoming a midscale grocer. In a simpler time, the retailer reached the top three in the region; now, it does not even make the top ten.
Less favorable locations in areas have shut down in recent years, at a higher ratio to new/vastly remodeled stores and to other chains as well. Several stores dotted throughout are staying open despite criticism and a lack of shoppers.

It is not uncommon that many citizens in the area tend to forget or forgo this store. Local business news rarely mentions the chain as well. On top of these, one of the largest points of Shoppers's recent unsuccess is the fact that only two new stores have opened since 2007 (one which has closed). There have also been no new-build stores since then. In the meantime, SuperValu has been focusing more on streamlining the chain with their other properties via decor packages, signs, and ads.

On a positive note, the chain still shows loyal customers at their dozens of locations. People carry out their grocery shopping affairs and shop in all 56 locations daily. Several hotspot locations can be packed with customers on a daily basis, one even being open 24 hours a day. The iconic Colossal Donuts are also a hit at Shoppers, attracting many customers to their stores even today.
Overall, Shoppers has an average reputation in the D.C./Baltimore grocery market in 2016, remaining mostly stagnant but still profitable.

Now, the question is: What will/should happen to Shoppers in the next several years? That's not-so simple, but it will be simple in the end.

Prediction for the future

As critical to this post, we will start with a more fact-based outlook on Shoppers' future. While we may not know exactly what happen, feel free to enjoy this unbiased prediction of the store's coming history.
To start, Shoppers has been running strong as a SuperValu brand for sixteen years. That means it's surpassed other numerous brands such as Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Scott's Food & Pharmacy, among others. As I've mentioned before, changes in the marketplace and in the company have also takened place, leading to Shoppers being easily beaten out by the competition. As of late, Shoppers is also becoming more homogenized to the other SuperValu brands, sharing nearly identical websites, advertisements, and private products.

Several people (including me as well) have generally criticized this move for stealing the identity of Shoppers and some competition points, as more have remodeled to the current interior look since 2014. Adding on to this, some have also commented that the interior decor is "bland" and "generic".

In July 2015, SuperValu announced the possibility that it may spin off its' famed Save-A-Lot division, a slight competitor to Shoppers in Maryland. Later, current CEO Sam Duncan announced his retirement at the end of February 2016. The Save-A-Lot spin-off was filed in January 2016.

What could this mean for Shoppers? As of late, SuperValu has stated that the reason of selling Save-A-Lot is to expand the profitability and let it go with its' success. They are then looking at improving their individual brands, which have all been described as "mid-scale". It may indicate that SuperValu is to hold on to Shoppers, even though it is not weak nor is it strong by any means.

Will Shoppers make it if things remain stagnant, though? Well, SuperValu may put some effort in, of course, but I may have a feeling that things won't change too much for the most part, even if these things don't go through. Sure, Shoppers may experience some changes with branding and look, but I may have a bad feeling that a few more stores could close by 2020 if these things happen.

Continuing, more closings may happen if more competition happens around, especially with the expansion of more low-price chains, as seen in multiple places. Shoppers, however could have a mix of changes.
Back to the good old days, though? "Warehouse" shelving on its' way? Well, if Shoppers listens by any chance, we could see some change. We'll see on that soon.

Anyways, in summary, these next few years could be tumultous for Shoppers besides a couple of changes. Expect to see a remaining few stores remodeled along with a crop of adjustments to ads and more. See you soon!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Colossal Donuts

Woah, I haven't done a whole blog post pertaining to Shoppers' crown jewel at all.

...

Okay, let's get moving. So, if you're wondering about this, they're (of course) the Colossal Donuts. Being a long-time staple of Shoppers, these impressive donuts bring back customers weekly and appear in dozens of flavors at only 69 cents each.

The donuts on display at the Manassas (Liberia Ave.) Shoppers. Credit: me (BatteryMill Retail)



Yeah, you may be a little guilty after eating these monsters, but here's the thing: I don't care (I love it). Lots of popular flavors have taken stage (as I've said before), such as chocolate, powder, honey, sprinkled, and the latest and greatest: Cronuts. Yes, these have become such a hit at this store.
Some Colossal Donut spectacle. Credit: Ben Schumin

There are also options to pack these all into a box for 5 bucks a piece, making these great tools for being the life of the party. Now I wonder how they could make these so well. :P

Sorry for a bit of rambling about how "amazing" they are, but these donuts are sure worth a try and a great morning jumpstart as well. ) Thanks for now!