Retail Trends That May Affect Central Florida

[spenser1058]

Florida’s first Amazon Fresh Store is on its way to Boca:

https://www.bocaratontribune.com/bocaratonnews/2021/05/amazons-new-grocery-store-is-coming-to-boca-raton/?amp=1

From The Boca Raton Tribune 

At 35000 sf, it will be about 20-25% larger than market Publii like Eola’s and smaller than their regular stores which run 45-60k sf.

Got your Prime Visa ready?

 

[spenser1058]

An interesting take on SEG’s plans for Winn-Dixie as Florida moves beyond the pandemic. Several new stores are underway, but Orlando proper seems not to be in the picture.

I noticed that the SEG store count including W-D is now roughly 1/3 over five states compared to Publix in eight. What a complete reversal of fortune from the way things were when the natives among us were growing up in Central Florida.

One other curious thing I’ve noticed while binge viewing some old shows on Prime Video. W-D has a really odd ad featuring two total bro types saying what a “Winn-win” the stores are for them. I know that during the pandemic, grocery shopping by males has edged up to the 40% mark (it was long a chore left to the women) and that Millennials and Zoomers approach things very differently from previous generations. Nevertheless, it just seemed a weird placement for shows I doubt anyone under 55 ever streams. I guess the cost must have been a real bargain.

https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/southeastern-grocers-primes-winn-dixie-expansion

From Supermarket News 

Somewhat unrelated: on a recent earnings call, Target noted store remodels, which were halted for the pandemic, are resuming. Could it finally be SoDo’s turn? That interior is just waaaaay too red compared to the refreshed versions. The layout in Grocery is also abysmal.
 

 

 

Edited May 9, 2021 by spenser1058

[AmIReal]

I've been away for a while. Has it already been noted that Amazon is opening a 4-star store in Colonial Plaza?

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/05/12/amazon-new-retail-store-orlando-florida.html

 

[spenser1058]

I have often waxed rhapsodic about the amazingness that is Wegmans and been asked what makes it special. So, if you’ve never lived the dream, here’s a look:

https://www.businessinsider.com/wegmans-grocery-store-first-time-review-2019-11?amp

From Business Insider

The thing about Wegmans is that there’s plenty of exotic stuff for a special occasion but they also have plenty of items (note just how broad the private label selection is) that make it viable for a daily shop.

I suspect that’s because the company is family owned and still relatively small (100+ stores) so they don’t do the gouging a PEF-owned store would do and which Publix has succumbed to since the passing of Mr. George.

The stores are huge, so if they ever make it to Florida any local outpost will almost have to head to the ‘burbs, but this dedicated urbanite would make the trip.
 

[spenser1058]

On 5/12/2021 at 5:23 PM, AmIReal said:

I've been away for a while. Has it already been noted that Amazon is opening a 4-star store in Colonial Plaza?

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/05/12/amazon-new-retail-store-orlando-florida.html

 

2746 E Colonial Drive is Colonial Town Center, not Colonial Plaza. OBJ’s vaunted accuracy strikes again.

I am intrigued by the demographics, though, as Bungalower notes amazon’s other Orlando store is in Mall of Millennia. If that’s true, it suggests retail is picking up on the folks living in Baldwin Park at long last instead of just the lower economic neighborhoods nearby.

Or maybe amazon just isn’t targeting although I don’t expect a Whole Foods in Pine Hills any time soon.

[AmIReal]

18 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

I have often waxed rhapsodic about the amazingness that is Wegmans and been asked what makes it special. So, if you’ve never lived the dream, here’s a look:

https://www.businessinsider.com/wegmans-grocery-store-first-time-review-2019-11?amp

From Business Insider

The thing about Wegmans is that there’s plenty of exotic stuff for a special occasion but they also have plenty of items (note just how broad the private label selection is) that make it viable for a daily shop.

I suspect that’s because the company is family owned and still relatively small (100+ stores) so they don’t do the gouging a PEF-owned store would do and which Publix has succumbed to since the passing of Mr. George.

The stores are huge, so if they ever make it to Florida any local outpost will almost have to head to the ‘burbs, but this dedicated urbanite would make the trip.
 

I see your Wegmans and raise you an H Mart (coming soon to W. Colonial) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/11/dining/h-mart.html

4 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

2746 E Colonial Drive is Colonial Town Center, not Colonial Plaza. OBJ’s vaunted accuracy strikes again.

I am intrigued by the demographics, though, as Bungalower notes amazon’s other Orlando store is in Mall of Millennia. If that’s true, it suggests retail is picking up on the folks living in Baldwin Park at long last instead of just the lower economic neighborhoods nearby.

Or maybe amazon just isn’t targeting although I don’t expect a Whole Foods in Pine Hills any time soon.

My Gmaps says that address is the old Lane Bryant's. Wasn't that in Colonial Plaza?

I agree it seems incongruent to their normal market.

[spenser1058]

39 minutes ago, AmIReal said:

I see your Wegmans and raise you an H Mart (coming soon to W. Colonial) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/11/dining/h-mart.html

My Gmaps says that address is the old Lane Bryant's. Wasn't that in Colonial Plaza?

I agree it seems incongruent to their normal market.

The Walgreens is at 2420 - not being a plus size woman (hmmm, something to consider if I ever take up drag?), I confess to not having paid attention to the Lane Bryant although there was one in the old CP mall.

Yep, I pulled it up on Gmap and got CP also. When I just pulled it up on Safari, it showed it further east. The pic in Google sure looks like CP.

Edited May 14, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Publix is going maskless for vaccinated folks unless local restrictions vary. Yay! Glad I got my shot.

Edited May 15, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Amazon is dropping its Amazon “Go” branding first used on its convenience store featuring cashierless technology in Seattle.

Instead, it is going with Amazon Fresh, the name used for its new mid-priced grocery chain and delivery service:

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-to-scrap-its-go-grocery-store-branding-close-redmond-location/?amp=1
 

From Seattle Times

[spenser1058]

Woohoo! Nathan’s wants to bring back Aaaarthur Treacher’s, the Original Fish & Chips (sing it!)

Most folks don’t know that the largest fish chains, which peaked in the ‘70’s, originated not on the coasts but in the middle of the country (LJS was from KY, AT was from OH, D’s was from Nashville and H. Salt ended up with KFC in Louisville).

In any event, the rising cost of imported cod all but killed the business as did other corporate priorities as fast-food chains bit off more concepts than they could chew. As hard-charging CEOs like Dave Thomas from Wendy’s and Dave Wachtel from Shoney’s moved on from the scene, the remaining corporations found it easy to spin off the seafood operations.

Anyway, I was a devotee of the Treacher’s on West Colonial across from the tag office in its heyday. (Of the chains, Treacher’s had by far the best slaw).

https://www.qsrmagazine.com/exclusives/nathans-plans-revive-fast-food-icon-arthur-treachers

From QSR
 

[spenser1058]

In this article from BoiseDev about how Albertsons tried and failed to buy Whole Foods, it notes year over year revenue at WF was down 16% in the March quarter. This is particularly shocking given that most grocery chains blew out the doors with increased sales during the pandemic.

Now we know why Amazon is paying more attention to its more traditional grocery concept, Amazon Fresh, for growth, and why standalone Publix GreenWise openings are rarer than hens’ teeth.

I wouldn’t count on the SoDo Earth Fare sticking around long, either, unless one of the newfound investors is willing to dig into some mighty deep pockets.

https://boisedev.com/news/2021/06/01/albertsons-whole-foods-amazon/

[spenser1058]

There goes Mattress One - I for one shall not miss them. Thank goodness for the Original Mattress Factory, which unlike M1 actually has some integrity…

Facing lawsuits, Mattress One files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-mattress-one-bankruptcy-20210604-n7hh7h7o7naohnkss3wka7zr3m-story.html

From The Sentinel 

[spenser1058]

Walmart has decided to join Publix and Target to allow their employees to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. As a result, they will also be closed.

You’ve almost got six months to get ready and stock up or you’ll have to head over to @JFW657’s to borrow a cup of cranberry sauce.

[JFW657]

Won't have any luck here.

I hate cranberry sauce.

Never eat it.

I drink cranberry juice, though.

[spenser1058]

1 minute ago, JFW657 said:

Won't have any luck here.

I hate cranberry sauce.

Never eat it.

I drink cranberry juice, though.

I love whole berry cranberry sauce but Target stopped carrying it. Last year, I made my own with stuff from Publix but it’s definitely a work in progress.

[spenser1058]

Just got an email from Freshfield Farm that they’re gonna test free curbside pickup. Since the only thing I hate about FF is how crowded it gets, this is YUGE.

Sadly the test is only in Orlando so far, not Jax. *sigh*

[spenser1058]

Orlando gets a new Sprouts distribution center near OIA and the Colonial Plaza store will open sometime “this fall”:

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/06/07/phoenix-based-grocer-shares-more-info-on-local-gro.html?ana=maz

From OBJ 

[spenser1058]

CNBC is suggesting that Amazon will surpass Walmart as the biggest US retailer in 2022.

I certainly won’t miss the Waltons. Now if the DeVos family would just go away…

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/06/11/amazon-to-overtake-walmart-as-largest-us-retailer-in-2022-jpmorgan.html

[spenser1058]

The Tampa Bay Times looks at how Kroger is taking groceries from Jacksonville to St. Pete from its huge automated warehouse in Groveland (west of Clermont via FL 50).

Although previous attempts to compete in Florida against Publix by Kroger (albeit under different names) were flops, this time they’re proudly displaying their banner on billboards in the Tampa Bay area.
 

That only makes sense given all those folks (especially retirees) along the I-75 corridor have been Krogering for years in the Midwest before moving south. I always wondered before why they missed that connection.

Will it work without actual stores? I guess we’ll find out:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/2021/06/26/hey-tampa-bay-kroger-now-delivers-groceries-here-but-how-does-that-work/
 

Meanwhile, everybody sing: “Let’s Go Krogering” although we may have to flip that now… whatever would Barney Kroger say?

 

[spenser1058]

Why Amazon Really Bought Whole Foods and What Comes Next:

https://slate.com/business/2021/06/why-amazon-bought-whole-foods-groceries-online.amp

From Slate

It’s important to note when talking about Amazon learning the grocery business from WF that Walmart did the same thing but in a trickier way- Sam Walton got himself on to the Winn-Dixie board, learned their secrets and then led to their demise.

 

[spenser1058]

The new Aldi in Colonialtown opens this Thursday, Aug 19

https://bungalower.com/2021/08/15/new-aldi-in-colonialtown-to-open-this-week/

From Bungalower 

 

Edited August 16, 2021 by spenser1058

[dcluley98]

Amazon plans to open large physical retail stores in U.S.

 

Amazon.com Inc. is planning to open large physical shops in the United States that will operate like department stores, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, as the e-commerce giant expands its footprint in brick-and-mortar retail.

Some of Amazon's first department stores are expected to open in Ohio and California, the report said, adding that the shops will be about 30,000 square feet in size and offer products from well-known consumer brands.

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazon-plans-open-large-physical-retail-stores-us-wsj-2021-08-19/

 

Hmmm. . . kill the other other businesses and then bring back full circle under your own business. 

[spenser1058]

1 minute ago, dcluley98 said:

Amazon plans to open large physical retail stores in U.S.

 

Amazon.com Inc. is planning to open large physical shops in the United States that will operate like department stores, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, as the e-commerce giant expands its footprint in brick-and-mortar retail.

Some of Amazon's first department stores are expected to open in Ohio and California, the report said, adding that the shops will be about 30,000 square feet in size and offer products from well-known consumer brands.

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazon-plans-open-large-physical-retail-stores-us-wsj-2021-08-19/

 

Hmmm. . . kill the other other businesses and then bring back full circle under your own business. 

Well, Sears became a behemoth that way - catalog first, then brick and mortar. Of course, the way it was done, Sears ripped itself apart for decades because the catalog and store businesses were separate and they hated each other.

[spenser1058]

The bloom may be off the rose for dollar stores:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/business/dollar-stores-struggling-pandemic.html?referringSource=articleShare

From The New York Times 

[JFW657]

3 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

The bloom may be off the rose for dollar stores:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/business/dollar-stores-struggling-pandemic.html?referringSource=articleShare

From The New York Times 

Well, what I and many others were predicting re: the $15/hr min wage is already beginning to occur....

 

Look for prices across the board on everything else to begin rising in the near future as well as fewer jobs as companies look to technology to replace human labor.

And let's not lull ourselves into thinking this is the end. The traditional unskilled, low-wage workers will not be satisfied with this. They are going to keep on demanding more and more as long as society gives in. 

Just yesterday, and again this morning, I saw on the news, demonstrations here in Orlando by these folks, demanding that the $15/hr not be phased in as the law dictates, but that they get it....

News video report link:

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county/workers-rally-higher-wages-same-day-florida-minimum-wage-bumps-10/BZHBFAD4ORD4RETVCZ3XSB3M7I/