Cookeville developments and rumors (Jackson, Algood: sale, Home Depot, luxury)

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by nashvols

I'm not a regular Publix shopper, but what I do like about Publix is definitely their customer service attitude. Overall, they are a little more expensive than Kroger, but if you are a savvy grocery shopper (i.e. wait for sales or coupons), Publix can be very competitive there, too.

The best thing Publix has done in the Nashville market is challenge Kroger to better themselves. If you notice, Kroger has tended to renovate their stores that are close to Publix stores (mainly because they were dirty or outdated). I've also noticed that Krogers that are near a Publix offer a broader range of products, and better meat and produce.

The thing Publix did in the Nashville market is that they didn't dip their feet in the pool. They dove in. I forget when they first entered, but it isn't more than 15 years or so...and now there are 28 locations in the metro, and 2 more in Clarksville.

If/when they move into Cookeville, I wouldn't be surprised if they plan two store simultaneously.

Originally Posted by tragenvol

I believe there are now three Publix stores in Murfreesboro. I would anticipate only one Publix store in Cookeville because of the market conditions, but for sure Kroger will have to up its game to be competitive.

Publix could easily open two stores in Cookeville and impact Kroger and Walmart.

[Jumeby]

Originally Posted by tragenvol

You're excluding the opportunity cost variable. Go to Kroger, people who shop there more times than not shop there to avoid shopping at Wal*Mart. Kroger shoppers pay a premium to shop at Kroger because the cost of the benefit outweighs the actual cost of the items they purchase as determined by their own personal calculation.

Kroger is more expensive and they will always attract certain customers who are willing to pay more to not be seen at Walmart but Walmart will always take the market share of customers in Cookeville due to the lower overall costs. If Publix is even more expensive then they might take Kroger's customers but not many Walmart customers.

When I lived in Southern California most people wouldn't get caught dead in Walmart's and would gladly pay a premium to shop at places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's ... but then they also wore trendy high fashion clothes and drove overpriced Beemers and Benz's.

[Sparkman]

10th and Old Kentucky isn't going to happen, for anyone, is what I've heard. Land is owned by numerous members of 1 family and they cannot agree, including some members who refuse to sell.
I've heard that the Marketplace is coming, has their location picket out, but will not announce anything until the other commitments are final. They are now waiting to see if the 2nd bidder for Jackson/Willow will come thru and what their plans are, and a true commitment for Eagle Pointe before you have an announcement from Kroger.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Sparkman

10th and Old Kentucky isn't going to happen, for anyone, is what I've heard. Land is owned by numerous members of 1 family and they cannot agree, including some members who refuse to sell.
I've heard that the Marketplace is coming, has their location picket out, but will not announce anything until the other commitments are final. They are now waiting to see if the 2nd bidder for Jackson/Willow will come thru and what their plans are, and a true commitment for Eagle Pointe before you have an announcement from Kroger.

That's interesting about the Kroger Marketplace. I wonder where it's going to go if it's not at Old Kentucky & 10th. Maybe the old Norwalk site? Or by Sam's? Or by Kohl's?

[tragenvol]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Would a Kroger Marketplace at East Tenth Street and North Old Kentucky Road be an additional store?

Was the planned Walmart a Supercenter or a Neigborhood Market?

Neighborhood Market.

[tragenvol]

Originally Posted by Jumeby

Kroger is more expensive and they will always attract certain customers who are willing to pay more to not be seen at Walmart but Walmart will always take the market share of customers in Cookeville due to the lower overall costs. If Publix is even more expensive then they might take Kroger's customers but not many Walmart customers.

When I lived in Southern California most people wouldn't get caught dead in Walmart's and would gladly pay a premium to shop at places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's ... but then they also wore trendy high fashion clothes and drove overpriced Beemers and Benz's.

A few reasons to shop at Kroger rather than Wal*Mart:

Kroger is easier to get in and out of in Cookeville than either Wal*Mart.

Kroger has more own brands than Wal*Mart, and Kroger's own brands are usually less expensive than Wal*Mart's own brands, e.g. cream cheese. Up until this year, Kroger's own brand cream cheese cost $1 per box. Wal*Mart's own brand cream cheese was as much if not more than national brand cream cheese for sale side by side. Kroger's cream cheese did climb to $1.79 per box at some point during 2015.

Fuel points.

[Sparkman]

Originally Posted by JMT

That interesting about the Kroger Marketplace. I wonder where it's going to go if it's not at Old Kentucky & 10th. Maybe the old Norwalk site? Or by Sam's? Or by Kohl's?

The old Norwalk site was my guess. I'm pretty sure that Kroger knows where the store will go, just laying low for now. My bet is that they have all of their ducks in a row already, will let Publix have the hype of the announcement of Eagle Pointe, then they'll come in and get their new store built and open before Eagle Pointe gets Publix open. If they choose the old Norwalk site, they could easily keep the existing Kroger open.

[tragenvol]

I sincerely hope a Kroger Marketplace is not built at Norwalk site nor anywhere on Jackson. Too bad that "Stone Henge" development on Old Kentucky between Spring and Jefferson never materialized.

[Sparkman]

Originally Posted by tragenvol

A few reasons to shop at Kroger rather than Wal*Mart:

Kroger is easier to get in and out of in Cookeville than either Wal*Mart.

Kroger has more own brands than Wal*Mart, and Kroger's own brands are usually less expensive than Wal*Mart's own brands, e.g. cream cheese. Up until this year, Kroger's own brand cream cheese cost $1 per box. Wal*Mart's own brand cream cheese was as much if not more than national brand cream cheese for sale side by side. Kroger's cream cheese did climb to $1.79 per box at some point during 2015.

Fuel points.

Completely agree with this, especially with the lack of choice at WalMart. One of the bonuses with Fuel Points is the 4X on Gift Cards specials. 1 $25 gift card can save you $.10/gal when the do that. My son bought a new Macbook at BestBuy with HS graduation $$. We bought $700 of Gift cards toward it from Kroger, 2800 fuel points. $2.80/gal and you can buy 35 gallons each time. So, we saved over $100 on gas from just that. Plus, if you do the online survey once a week you can get another 200 points/month.

Even though we live west of Willow and south of Jackson, if we are going to do any grocery shopping at Walmart, we will drive over to Algood, a much better store overall.

[tragenvol]

As well, at the Kroger pharmacy for our prescriptions it's no less than 50 fuel points.