On November 13, 2011 King Soopers, Lake Arbor, opened a whole new look to grocery shopping. The store has increased in size dramatically. This does mean that the walk from the front door, where you are greeted with a lovely living room set filled with several husbands glad not to accompany their wives into the store relaxed, to the bottle of milk you want to purchase is much longer. This is an event store. The concept is likely designed to raise profit margins as the grocery industry is notorious for low margins
There are some great bargains in this Arvada store this week. Rump Roast is $1.99 a pound, a gallon of milk is $1.49 a gallon and eggs are $1.29 for a carton of 18. To add to your Thanksgiving bounty Blue Bell ice cream is $2.99 a half gallon and Sara Lee Pies are BOGO. All good prices and they have the regular Wednesday ad prices as well. You can check that circular here.
I am one of the loyal patient shoppers that have waited the 14 months of construction to the completion of this new format. The now completed parking lot has fewer contractor trucks in it but also seems to have many few spots than before. There is no longer direct access to the store from the south lot. The heating, cooling, lighting and flooring systems that have challenged all who shopped this King Soopers are lovely and complete. It is nice not to need to wipe construction grime from my purchases. I had great hope for this new store and seeing the relief on the staff faces for when it was done.
My visit on Tuesday was a full 48 hours after the grand opening. The store is bright and fresh. I noted the addition of fresh made nut butters and large bulk dry goods section. The store is so large that no one seems to know or even care where anything is. Repeatedly I heard, ‘Don’t know, that’s not my department,’ as an employee moved past a mystified customer. I never did find the French’s Onions for my Green Bean Casserole, but that is ok there was a large display just inside the door at Safeway across the street.
The deli department has a large selection of Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. There is a nice salad section and Sushi available in the southwest corner of the store. The sale items were evidently still flying out of the store as the rump roasts were being left in grocery carts as there did not appear to be a need to stack them in the refrigerator case. Eggs were hard to find as the first display was empty but an employee of the department was unable to tell me there was a second display 30 feet away.
Unfortunately, the store is huge with a seemingly small amount of new product for the grocery side. I guess I am glad that I can earn point to use for gas credit by purchasing a new rug there. There is a lovely baby section with a wonderful selection for the next Baby Shower I may attend and the same for housewares. These sections are difficult to miss as they are center of the store right in line with the check-out stands. I am sure that this will be handy for the few days a year when the store is crowded and the lines are long. At least no one will be blocking the foodstuffs as they wait for a cashier.
They have refreshed the store, now they need to invigorate the employees. The most help I received was at check out where the young girl bagging my purchases offered to assist me out with my groceries. Much appreciated since I was on crutches.
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