QuikTrip @ I-44 & Peoria

[TheTed]

I'm not sure you can call either of those places a full grocery store. They're both a fraction the size of the types of grocery stores most people shop at.

[jacobi]

For the record, there is a conveinience store downtown.  They even sell beer now.  They are only open til 6 though.  The owner claims that depsite having a larger population living downtown, his business has gone down.

[DTowner]

I heard that c-store at 4th and Main used to be a QuikTrip a long time ago. It definitely looks like a store that hasn't been updated in decades. I'm assuming some of those bags of chips in the back of the racks are vintage.

I walked by that store yesterday and I realized I always forget about it.  Indeed, when talking about the need for a downtown conveninece store it almost never gets mentioned.  Do you think that is because it is an independent and lacks the branding of a chain?  Would improved product offerings and hours of operation help, or is it doomed by its location on Main?

[custosnox]

I would love to see something like this downtown, just with something like QT on the front

[jacobi]

The owner was convinced that businesses were fleeing from downtown.  He is right nixt door to the almost full mayo building.  I think he isn't marketing enough.

[TheTed]

For the record, there is a conveinience store downtown.  They even sell beer now.  They are only open til 6 though.  The owner claims that depsite having a larger population living downtown, his business has gone down.

It's also not open on weekends. It's also an old-style convenience store. It's nothing compared to a QT or 7-11 when it comes to food offerings.

There's a strong correlation between when he started selling beer and the increase in the number of vagrants brown-bagging it outside the store.

[BKDotCom]

I work a block away from Treats and never go in there.
Overpriced dusty merchandise.
The place could use an upgrade.

[TheArtist]

  I noticed it the other day when running an errand.   My first impression was that the appearace was out dated and a bit run down, bad signage.  Didn't have an interesting look to it at all.  I wouldn't likely go in there.   

[jacobi]

When I was in NYC this summer every bodega went in reminded me of that place.  I might occasionally be one of he people brown bagging it. . I know I keep it classy.  But in the summer when it's hot and I go for a nce long ride on my bike, I'll stop in there and buy two or three 32oz cans of high life then go find a shady place in a park (there are quite a few options now) and hang out and read til the sun goes down.

(thread drift!)

[TUalum0982]

Looking at the plan, the overhead looks like a GenIII store.

you are correct, it will be a Gen 3 store. 

[DolfanBob]

The Gen 3 store at 61st and 145th E Av opens this Thursday the 2nd. It has the most gas pumps that I have seen for a QT. Even Diesel fuel.

[Hoss]

The Gen 3 store at 61st and 145th E Av opens this Thursday the 2nd. It has the most gas pumps that I have seen for a QT. Even Diesel fuel.

My brother was telling me they had a lot.  I know the first Gen3 (51st/129th) has diesel also, but I've never counted how many pumps they have.  I think 20, but I may be wrong.

[rdj]

I also used to think a Braums with their expanded market would be a good business model downtown to fill the need for a grocery store while staying profitable with fast food lunch and ice cream sales.  I never expected to have two grocery stores prepared to open this quickly though.  I much prefer the full grocery stores going in.

I understand OKC begged for the Braums family to open a store downtown and they refused.  If they won't do it in their hometown where will they do it?

I still hold that QT would do great business downtown but I'm no c-store guy.

[YoungTulsan]

My guess is that they could probably do gas-less, but they can't do giant parkinglot-less.   And it isn't really their fault, it is just the state of the average consumer.   If they offered a location with limited parking, "Urban" if you will, people in cars with expectations about QuikTrip will go there and leave angry if they are inconvenienced in the process of parking, getting in, and getting out.  People, even in their own ignorance about what QuikTrip would be trying to do with an urbanized location, leaving with a bad impression about QuikTrip is bad for QuikTrip.   And I'm sure they've already done this math.  And that is why they keep adding parking capacity and space to maneuver in and out at every location they can (see 21st & Harvard or 36th & Peoria for instance).

At the very least they would have to use different branding for an urban shop to differentiate expectations and lasting impression.

[jacobi]

I wonder what their product mix is like.  It may not be worth it for them to do an urban (gasless) store.  If it was a matter of brand synergy (Christ!  I sould like a yuppy). Then all they would have to do is rebrand their urban store as something slightly different.