Quality grocery stores in OKC

[oklip955]

Anyone have any current info on what is going into the remodeled shopping center at 33rd and Blvd in Edmond? Still no sign of new tenets.

[bchris02]

Years ago I would go to visit a friend in the Pauls Valley area, there was a Sav -a-Lot down there. Due to a limited choice of grocery stores, we would go in there for a few items. I've stepped into the one on the south side once. With that in mind, I would rate them a few steps lower then your bottom listed grocery stores.

I agree. I haven't been in a Sav-A-Lot in OKC but the ones I have been in were worse than the worst Homelands. They are more on par with Whitaker's on NW 10th.

[soonermike81]

I agree with everyone else's take on save-a-lot. I used to work in the grocery industry, and save-a-lot was, by far, the dumpiest grocery store I had ever been in. Their model is very similar to that of Aldi, in that the majority of items are private label. But the place is just nasty, whereas Aldi is one of the cleaner stores out there.

Also, my prediction for the store under contract is Reasors. I feel like we're still a couple years out from getting a Trader Joes.

[bchris02]

Also, my prediction for the store under contract is Reasors. I feel like we're still a couple years out from getting a Trader Joes.

Pete, do you have any information on this?

[Filthy]

I'm hoping their next one is in NW OKC. Gaillardia or near Quail Springs would be perfect. There is a lot of money in that area and right now pretty much the only options are the Supercenter on N Penn or SuperTarget. Neither are what I would consider quality options.

Still hoping for a nice grocery store in this location. I'm at 150th/Macarthur, and like you stated...have to choose between Super Target at Memorial/Penn, or even the Homeland at 122nd/Rockwell. Neither of those places are quality options. Here lately, I've been actually buying some groceries at the Braums on Macarthur/Memorial just because its so close. I would love to see an upscale grocery store go in, right at the corner of Memorial/Macarthur in front of Gaillardia. But, not sure how it is currently zoned.

[bradh]

Still hoping for a nice grocery store in this location. I'm at 150th/Macarthur, and like you stated...have to choose between Super Target at Memorial/Penn, or even the Homeland at 122nd/Rockwell. Neither of those places are quality options. Here lately, I've been actually buying some groceries at the Braums on Macarthur/Memorial just because its so close. I would love to see an upscale grocery store go in, right at the corner of Memorial/Macarthur in front of Gaillardia. But, not sure how it is currently zoned.

We're building at that same intersection, I'm just hoping that that stretch of Memorial between MacArthur and Rockwell turns out a Lifetime Fitness and a nice grocery store in the future.

I believe that parcel you are referring to on the NE corner is planned to be part of that Promenade development that's already started there, but I could be wrong.

[Plutonic Panda]

I just would like Walmart to move their HQ here given the amount of stores they have built in this city. It's like they view OKC as their main city.

[Pete]

Yeah - I'm wondering if the 'significant grocer' that is under contract is TJ. It would seem if they were under contract already one of the sleuths on here could find it.

"Under contract" implies a sale and that is not TJ's m.o.

Not sure who it is but I'll see what I can find out.

Save-A-Lot is really bad -- I'd rather they stay out of OKC.

[bchris02]

If it's a significant new-to-market grocer and its not Trader Joe's, then my next guess would be either Reasor's or Kroger. Reasor's has shown interest in entering the market in the past but the location in Edmond where they wanted to be was heavily protested by NIMBYs. Kroger is in every surrounding state so it wouldn't surprise me if they want to try to get into the Oklahoma market, especially OKC where a strong, mid-tier grocer is lacking.

[Pete]

Reasor's perhaps, as they were committed to an Edmond location before the development went sideways.

But Kroger is very doubtful. The middle-market grocers are getting squeezed by the higher-end and specialists (Whole Foods, TJ's, etc.) and the deep discounters (Wal-Mart, Costco, WinCo). I seriously doubt they would want to invest in the distribution infrastructure that would be needed to come to a new state. But I'd love it if they did.

Fresh Market is coming; they have a conditional deal in Norman and will expand from there.


Also, I learned today that Chisholm Creek is heavily courting a grocery tenant for the area directly west of Cabela's, so we'll see what comes of that.

[bchris02]

I would love to see OKC's second Whole Foods end up in Chisolm Creek.

[Pete]

^

That would seem to fit the plans of both WF and CC.

I'm hearing really good things about Chisholm Creek. That they are setting high standards and doing things right.

Looks like it will be very different than most the junk on Memorial Road. They are getting close to announcing a large up-scale apartment complex that would be built west of the proposed grocery site.

[bradh]

I understand the economics of why the Kroger's of the world are getting squeezed, but man when I go back home to Katy and walk in the HEB's, Randall's and Kroger's I used to shop back in the day it makes me so angry. Hell even the old Brookshire Brothers in my hometown is an upgrade, and that's saying something.

[Geographer]

One of the few things I enjoy about being in D/FW now is that I am able to shop at Central Market (an HEB store). It's fantastic.

The Kroger near where I live is being remodeled and expanded as well...so I'm excited about that too.

[Plutonic Panda]

One of the few things I enjoy about being in D/FW now is that I am able to shop at Central Market (an HEB store). It's fantastic.

The Kroger near where I live is being remodeled and expanded as well...so I'm excited about that too.

You like that store in the midst of the horrible walkability in that area? j/k... ;P

I assume you're talking about the one near Coit and G. Bush Turnpike. Not sure if there's others, but that's the one I went to. Great store and that would be awesome to see here although that might be the one grocery store I'm not sure would come here due to liquor laws in Oklahoma. There is tons of wine in that store.

[Geographer]

You like that store in the midst of the horrible walkability in that area? j/k... ;P

I assume you're talking about the one near Coit and G. Bush Turnpike. Not sure if there's others, but that's the one I went to. Great store and that would be awesome to see here although that might be the one grocery store I'm not sure would come here due to liquor laws in Oklahoma. There is tons of wine in that store.

The one I frequent is actually in Southlake, near the Southlake Town Square area. It's great for fresh produce and meat. The prepackaged and frozen items a bit pricey for me so I mostly just get produce at Central Market....and yes the wine and beer selection is pretty great.

[Pete]

I understand the economics of why the Kroger's of the world are getting squeezed, but man when I go back home to Katy and walk in the HEB's, Randall's and Kroger's I used to shop back in the day it makes me so angry. Hell even the old Brookshire Brothers in my hometown is an upgrade, and that's saying something.

Right, the grocery standards in OKC are still ridiculously low.

Thankfully, that's starting to change.

[bchris02]

Right, the grocery standards in OKC are still ridiculously low.

Thankfully, that's starting to change.

Uptown Grocery in NW OKC will be great and much needed. For a nicer part of the city, NW OKC has some of the worst grocery stores. There are a couple that are acceptable such as Buy for Less on NW Expressway and the N May Homeland, but the crappy ones significantly outnumber the decent ones. For a city this size the situation is still pretty dire, but at least there are some options now. The newer Crests in the south metro are in line with what is standard in other cities. From what I understand a few years ago prior to Whole Foods entering the market, the best it got here was a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market.

[Jersey Boss]

Kroger owns the FOOD 4 LESS in Tahlequah, maybe they will open one in the metro.

[tfvc.org]

Anyone know what happened to Pratts? I used to really like that store. They were the only grocers at that time (15 years ago) that seemed to have any natural foods and vitamins.

[windowphobe]

Where is 2120 SW 89th located? What is currently on that property ?

I have no idea what's there, but that would be just west of the southwest corner of SW 89th and Pennsylvania. (And therefore in Cleveland County, so I can't use the handy Oklahoma County lookup.)

[bluedogok]

It doesn't seem like all the other options affect the King Soopers (Kroger) here in the Denver area, they are packed all the time. Safeway and Albertson's on the other hand are moderately busy to slow most of the time. The same thing happened in Austin where HEB was busy all the time and Randall's (Safeway) was always slow. Albertson's had already vacated the market before I moved.

King Soopers also has their Fresh Fare concept in South Denver which is kind of a Whole Foods/Sprouts hybrid. They did announce a new Whole Foods flagship store (about 56,000 sf) next to Union Station.

[Plutonic Panda]

This was HEB's response to me today

Hi Campbell, thank you for reaching out and wanting an H-E-B closer to you but we plan to stay in Texas for now. Hope you come and visit us next time you’re in town.

[bchris02]

I really do hope the subpar grocery store situation here is on its last legs.

Things are the way they are partially because of Wal-Mart, but they simply filled a niche. It's not like the stores they pushed out were quality and up to the standard taken for granted in other cities. Every major grocer such as Safeway, Bakers, Albertsons, Food Lion, etc that has tried to establish roots in this market over the past several decades has had bigger problems and had to pull out for one reason or another giving Wal-Mart free reign.

[Pete]

The current situation is due to the fact that a group of locals spun off from Safeway and formed Homeland, and thus OKC's dominant chain was completely insulated from all the great evolutionary changes that happened with Safeway, Kroger and the others. Homeland stayed mired in the 1980's and then Walmart came in and pretty much took over.

We are only now starting to recover.