Polly's Country Market in Saline to close
Polly's Country Market in Saline will close by June 19, according to employees who said they were told they could apply for transfers to other stores in the Jackson-based chain.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
Todd Kennedy, part of the family ownership group of Polly's Food Service Inc., said late Thursday that he expects the company to release a comment on Friday. He would not confirm the closing.
However, employees said they were told in two meetings on Thursday - one for the morning shift, one for afternoons - that several circumstances were driving the decision to shutter the grocery.
They include, according to employees, state and federal taxes and overhead costs at the store. It's located at 1335 East Michigan Avenue at North Maple on the east side of the city and just one mile from the Walmart store in Pittsfield Township.
The closing comes "as a result of inflationary rent, higher property taxes and escalating payroll taxes and insurance coverage costs," according to a letter dated May 21 that was distributed on Thursday to employees and signed "Human Resources Department."
Store officials said in 2011 that the Walmart opening cost Polly's about $1 million in annual sales, or about $25,000 per week.
Some employees speculated that increased competition from the Costco that will open in Pittsfield Township in June prompted the move now.
The closing affects an estimated 70 employees. They are being given applications for positions at stores in Dexter, Chelsea, Brooklyn or Adrian.
However, according to the letter, "we cannot assure all applicants of a position at an alternate location or guarantee their seniority within that location."
The store will close to the public by June 19, according to the letter, with some employees working until June 30 to vacate the premises.
Polly's Country Market operates 9 stores outside of the Saline location, according to its website. It opened in Saline after it took over the closed Farmer Jack in 2007.
The property is owned by Sauk Trail Commons LLC, according to real estate records. The shopping center was valued at about $10.6 million in 2011, when it generated just under $320,000 in property taxes.
State records indicate the business is "active but not in good standing" as of 2007.
Comments
ruminator
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 1:40 a.m.
So, the repeal of the item pricing law could not save the day? Let me show you my shocked face. Keep up the good work Lansing. 1.8 Billion to your BIG business buddies. No helmet law, new bridge to Canada. Come on Rick, do to us like you did for Gateway Computer. Sell us to China. Wait. That may have already begun with the advance planning necessary for Chinatown in Milan.
Jamerican28
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
I'm not sure how Snyder has anything to do with a small chain deciding to close a location due to experiencing increased costs in both rent and property taxes due to a new landlord purchasing the strip mall for too much while operating in a market area that has too many retailers for its population base.
Terrin
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
I wouldn't shop at either Country Market or Walmart at least for food. Both stink. Both offer the same mass produced largely unhealthy products that just about every other grocery store offers. Walmart's food selection is somewhat limited, but Walmart is cleaner and offers things other than groceries. Further, people mistakenly think Walmart always has the lowest price, when often that isn't the case. Country Market can't compete with that. Further, Saline favors big business over the local businesses by making it harder for local businesses to gain appropriate zoning approval.
snapshot
Mon, May 28, 2012 : 6:37 a.m.
Government should take notice of how the real world of economics works. When you can no longer provide a service, or be competative, you've outlived your usefulleness. Government employment is not a "jobs program".
Terrin
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.
I am confused, your comment doesn't seem to have a point.
McFly
Sun, May 27, 2012 : 5:17 a.m.
Polly's has always had excellent meat selections and meat prices that have never disappointed me, but other than meats Polly's seems limited in their selections. They have never, ever responded or acknowldeged my requests for items, and the international food section and dairy selections are very limited and mediocre at best. For those reasons I rarely shop Polly's and spend my money elsewhere as I prefer to drive farther to get exactly the items I want and need. The other Polly's stores appear to be stocking more and more of the off brands which makes me wonder if they are also struggling.
ypsicat
Sun, May 27, 2012 : 3:40 a.m.
This is sad, I love Polly's. I shop at the ones in Dexter and Chelsea. The Chelsea store is always bustling but I worry about the Dexter store (right across the street from expensive Busch's). I hope this doesn't happen to them, too.
Ivor Ivorsen
Sun, May 27, 2012 : 1:06 a.m.
J-smith wrote: "If you hate communism and socialism you should steer clear of WalMart, not hold them up as some sort of capitalist dream come true." I assume by this statement that J-smith has thoroughly scoured his/her house of all products produced in the People's Republic of China or the Socialist Republic of Vietnam . It's great that he/she has removed all of those godless/socialist (but reasonably priced!) athletic shoes, shirts, pants, electronics, and sundry housewares that were produced in those "communist" countries. I applaud his/her commitment to true capitalism!
J-smith
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 2:40 p.m.
Well, it looks like communism and socialism win out over local capitalism! Communist supplied goods are WalMarts bread and butter and their policies of foisting employee medical costs onto taxpayers support their low pay. If you hate communism and socialism you should steer clear of WalMart, not hold them up as some sort of capitalist dream come true. I just have to laugh at people that think WalMart is some kind of perfect company utilizing capitalist only agendas to drive their profits! Their employees have been directed by management to use social service provided by those that hate supplying those services to "the lazy". They have a long history of using illegal immigrant labor. If you support tighter immigration, less fewer entitlement programs, and a better America, then you should not shop at WalMart. An awful lot of profit that used to stay in SE Michigan will now be going to Arkansas, never to be spent here again.
Diane
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
This store has a lot of items to choose from, however their employees were not very friendly.
Annette Poole
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
I would rather shop at small places like this, but I have to go where I can stretch my dollar the farthest and, unfortunately, that tends to be places like Walmart 9 times out of 10. :(
Terrin
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
I agree people have to watch their pennies nowadays, but Walmart really isn't cheaper than Kroger or Meijer. Perhaps for a particular item occasionally, but on the whole Kroger and Meijer are very cost competitive.
ffej440
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.
Annette times are tough for sure, but shopping at Walmart is like throwing gas on the fire. Please take some time to see the movie mentioned by OlDTIMER3 or read up on Walmart. Just the way they treat females should be enough to drive you away forever, and that is just part of the Walton story.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
@ all who love walmart Especially EAGLEMAN should watch the DOCUMENTARY called THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES.Don't know where to find it anymore but it is very informative.
taxpayer united
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
Sorry to hear. Baloney on the higher taxes. Wal-mart hurt them and Costco finished them. Employees at store have said Kennedy family who owns the chain are backward and not very good in business. One example they said is Country Market does not offer direct deposit it is to hard for corporate is set-up or offer to its employees. In this day and age direct deposit is simple to set-up and handle. I found Country Market cheaper than Wal-mart and their sale flyers had many bargains. Of the employee's some are very very good and some not. Hope all find employment. I would think this is the first of a few losing stores they might close in the chain.
Kristine
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 5:59 a.m.
Well, I am truly saddened by this news. I shopped at this location when it was a Farmer Jack and continued to shop there when Country Market moved in. I literally drive past Walmart to get to Country Market. I'm not at all sure where I'll do my grocery shopping now. I do like Busch's, but they're priced out of my league, as is Hiller's. I guess I'll be going back to Meijer after a 10-year hiatus. After all, Meijer is a Michigan-based company, too...
TinyArtist
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
Choose Dexter's Country Market!
BigSexy76
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 4:44 a.m.
Newsflash for all of the penny pinchers out there. The Wal Mart in Pittsfield Township is more higher end and isnt any cheaper!
Cindy
Sun, May 27, 2012 : 2:05 a.m.
Crap! People want healthy foods, Walmart does not provide what the community wants. Buschs will get the business now. Walmart is poison.
Basic Bob
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
I agree, their prices are not any lower than their competitors. But the barn-like stores with strangely limited selection, minimal customer service, and clever marketing convince us that we are saving money when we shop there.
Robad1
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 12:14 a.m.
Wal-Mart comes to town and you lose your town. The high cost of low prices as the saying goes. I will miss Country Market, particularly the pharmacy. I will be shopping at Busch's more and refusing to sell my soul and become a Walmartian.
djacks24
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 11:02 p.m.
This really sucks! I moved from Saline to Ypsi township a few years ago. I still made special trips to pick up some things at Country Market for certain items that were usually always a great deal at Country Market. I've noticed in the last couple years whenever I went there the store was practically a ghost town. It used to drive me crazy coming there later at night and basically seeing the place way, way, overstaffed with kids that were supposed to be stocking shelves, but instead were goofing off and hanging out with their friends with only a few shoppers there having to navigate around them, and management just looking the other way. Also, their sales specials were always confusing. I've had to take back items on a few occasions because the sale ads were so misleading or just not even priced correctly. I would bet that mismanagement had a lot to do with their closing. I guess the writing was on the wall, but I put up with it for the items that I could get there that either I couldn't get anywhere else or could get for their price. I can't believe Busch's seems to always phosphor? Their prices are outrageous, selection is a joke, yet the place is always packed. It's like some Saline, soccer mom, cult following that Busch's has that can only work happen in Saline?
Jamerican28
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
Busch's isn't prospering in Saline. Just ask the vendors. Their sales are comparable to Country Market's in that town. Like Country Market they have profitable stores in other areas that are keeping this one afloat. I think Country Market's strip mall's increased rent and property tax amount is the straw that broke the camel's back.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 12:09 p.m.
PHOSPHOR? Or do you mean prosper? You evidently haven't done much comparison shopping. I have shopped at Sams Club,Meijers, Buschs, Country Market, Hillers Meijers Whole Foods and Trader Joes ,ect. Some things will be higher priced at one store or the other some lower but just about all the stores use their adds as lures to get you in their stores. Buschs is usually a cleaner and less clustered store than some.
BigSexy76
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 4:42 a.m.
My suggestion is if you are that disgruntled with Country Market and even more disgruntled with Busch's "outrageous prices" and "no selection". Im sure the "image/selection" and "customer service" of Wally World will win you over
ffej440
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
"My philosophy is that competition is good, it makes everybody stronger and a rising tide lifts all boats," said Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell, whose city borders Pittsfield. "If we're bringing in new business from outside the county, this is new business and wherever it ends up going, it's going to benefit the whole county." 5-23-10 First Walmart, now Costco. Gretchen I think the boat is sinking- Newsflash small town stores can not compete with giant box stores.
ffej440
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
@eagleman- I would dispute that they employ more. Big box stores condense workload by using fewer employees to cover more stores, sharing accounting, HR, and management. Take ACE hardware Saline or even AA Stadium Hardware- They both do well because they have great service from the same employees every time you go in. Sure we may pay a little more- Well worth it for quality. They have no monopoly and go head to head with the biggies. You may also note the property tax is paid in Pittsfield NOT Saline where Gretchen is mayor. The same mayor who is crying us a river over tax shortage.
eagleman
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
NEWSFLASH: big box stores employ many more people than small businesses. They also pay more in property tax. Meanwhile, your small business charge more for goods, employ far less people, and succeed only when they have a monopoly.
jmac
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
I do think that having nearby a Meijer (not that far away on Carpenter and Ellsworth), Walmart, Busch's, and now Costco has put a big dent in Saline Country Market margin. Plus they were the victims of a manager stealing a lot of money last year (several thousands of dollars) which had to hurt. Several stores have moved out of that shopping center citing higher rent - could be that was the final straw for Country Market. Very unfortunate but these small chains just can't keep their heads above water in a bad economy. Guess I'll have to get used to spending 2 hrs at a big box store to get my groceries; it was nice to be able to get all my shopping done in under an hour at Country Market! Best of luck to all the employees, hope they find comparable jobs at other locations.
Saddened
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
I have three comments and will keep them short: 1) i don't know what the rush was to publish this article when not all facts were in or verified. the store address was reported incorrectly which doesn't give me much confidence that any of the other facts are accurate. 2) many people have comments/opinions about the financials of competing stores and what is/isn't true, however, from the comments made here, i doubt very much that anyone knows the full picture of how the economy has impacted Saline merchants, nor what the actual taxes and lease fees are for store fronts in Saline unless they write the checks or sign the contracts. There's a lot of distance between knowledge and assumption. 3) it still baffles me when local residents think it was a good idea that walmart strongarmed their way into Pittsfield township. There presence and method has nothing to do with healthy economic competition and everything to do with a national multi-million dollar company wanting to capitalize on small locally owned businesses. very sad day when people think wal-mart is a good thing for a small community or that somehow they aren't, to some degree, part of America's economic problems.
Basic Bob
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
You need to reconsider how Walmart strong-armed their way into the community. All they did was buy the property, comply with existing zoning, improve the utilities and roads, and build it without any kind of tax breaks or backroom deals. I do agree with you on their economic impact to the community. After the initial benefit to the construction trades, it is a net loss.
eagleman
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 10:28 p.m.
What a load of BS, saddened. It's obvious that Saddened is an elitist. Walmart once was a small business, Saddened, but through hard work and good business sense it became a national powerhouse. Millions of Americans can purchase quality products at reasonable prices because of Walmart. Meanwhile, small businesses WITHOUT competition can change whatever they want. Well, that's great if you are an affluent and live in Saline. But what of those who make less money? What about them? Saddened thinks they should kick rocks and buy their goods from convenience stores like they do in Detroit. Saddened is an elitist who is trying to use populism to advance his agenda of eliminating competition for small businesses. Without a Walmart or Meijer these businesses can change whatever they want because they have no competition. People like Saddened only believe in capitalism insofar as it benefits themselves. How very corporate of Saddened.
Saddened
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 6:25 p.m.
Oops - I made a typo in the second sentence of item 3). It should be "Their" not "There".
Paula Gardner
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
Just updating this story - I've left another message at the corporate office and still hope to get a comment today regarding the decision to close this store.
Jamerican28
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.
Ann, their corporate office is in Jackson. They have four stores in that city. I usually shop at the one on Parnall Rd.
BigSexy76
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.
Why hasn't there been any updates or press releases from Polly's? Are they going to close earlier than June 19? Also why hasn't the article been updated?
Ann English
Sun, May 27, 2012 : 12:01 a.m.
I can imagine customers passing empty shelves in the aisles, empty here and there. When Ann Arbor News was a daily hardcopy, it would show us photographs of partially empty shelves in grocery aisles, possibly A & P stores. Sure, they're going to find out in a hurry about the store closing if shelves aren't restocked. I wonder where Country Market's headquarters are located? Could that be a factor in this closing?
TrappedinMI
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 5:33 p.m.
Bummer! This is my main grocery shopping destination. Back to expensive Busch's and Walmart. Walmart doesn't always stock the products I want. I haven't shopped at Busch's in years. They're probably thrilled!
Ann English
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
You say you haven't shopped at Busch's in years, but have you looked at their ads since last year? You can get different sale items for months there IF you shop there on ONE particular day of the week, such as a dozen eggs for 69 cents every Sunday. It's over now, but for the past few months Busch's was selling boneless, skinless chicken breasts (avg. 4 1/2 pound packages) for $1.39 per pound, so it was a savings of over 50%.
eagleman
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
ffej, which shop is yours in Saline? I want to know so I can tell people not to shop there.
ffej440
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 6:25 p.m.
I will never shop Walmart and Busch's is too expensive. I guess its back to Ann Arbor for me.
BigSexy76
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.
The closure of Country Market will lead to more business for Both Busch's and Wally World. The article fails to mention the impact that the closure is going to have on the other businesses in the strip mall. Its also going to be hard to convince any other supermarket to be the anchor after 2 have came and failed at the same location.
Jamerican28
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
No other supermarket will come until the rent and the amount of tenant's property tax obligation is reduced. The strip mall already had vacancies in it before the Country Market announced going out of business.
ffej440
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
Some of the blame goes to the City of Saline for letting this shopping center turn to a dump. I have complained to the city about the massive trash mess all around the property and they do NOTHING. The lot is a mess of giant holes, handicap signs down, violations galore. No wonder all is vacant. Thanks Mr.Taylor, perhaps my store will be the next to leave Saline.
Ann English
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
Next will be the Dollar Tree in that shopping center, if you're right about it turning into a dump. I couldn't buy some nutritional supplements there that I could always find in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti locations.
ffej440
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 2:45 p.m.
A little history of Saline - 2008 Todd Cambell hired as city manager for $86,886 per year and a $4,500 car allowance and $7,000 in moving expense. 2009 Todd lays off the code enforcement officer.It's an extremely tough budget and as far as the layoffs, it was excruciatingly tough," Campbell said. "It was certainly our last choice. We looked at a number of items prior to that Todds pay for 2009= $98,607. 2010- Todds new pay $104,878. 2011- present Todd is trying to leave Saline for another city. Who in the private sector got $10,000 per yr raises during this time ?
ffej440
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
@ Julie Lee - Easy to find, impossible to contact. I tried this one and also tried contact through the leasing company. I agree its the owners job to keep it clean, but if its not done the city is to enforce code, A home owner in Saline would be given a 15 day notice and if not cleaned the DPW would do it and send a bill. So you are saying all codes are null since we have no "official" code enforcement officer ? Compared to the other shopping centers in Saline (including the westside) this place is a slum. Like your opinion on management , we agree to disagree.
Julie Lee
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.
@ffej440 Sauk Trail Commons would not qualify as a slum. So the landlord wouldn't qualify a slum lord. SAUK TRAIL COMMONS LLC 22580 TELEGRAPH RD SOUTHFIELD, MI, 48034-4107 The Landlord was easily found on the Washtenaw property lookup. To reduce budget a few years ago Saline cut there full-time code enforcement officer. And those duties where added to someone else job. If trash was around CM, MANAGEMENT should have had someone pick it up. If shop lifting was a problem MANAGEMENT should have come up with a solution. If money was embezzled MANAGEMENT should have had procedure in place to make this difficult. Regardless if it was a trusted employee. Shouldn't all employee be trusted? " Reporting/catching the shoplifters shows good management not poor." HUH!! So a high crime rate in Detroit shows good Law Enforcement?
ffej440
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
@grimmk- I feel your pain over job loss, but the last register was always open to watch the liquor and for a while outside security was working there. Also there are security cameras, you can see the active monitors inside the store. Clearly action was taken to prevent theft. I recently returned an 18 pack of Bud that was left outside in a cart, with the sales receipt. I was told it happens all the time. People that steal take it home.
ffej440
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 6:20 p.m.
@ Julie Lee- City code violations get reported to the city, which is what I did several times. Like most slumlords the property owner is cloaked under a myriad of company names. Having a trusted employee steal money is not bad management, just bad luck. Reporting/catching the shoplifters shows good management not poor. A small chain never can compete with HUGE companies like Walmart on a price level, the only thing to help them was the convienence of other stores in the center bringing customers in to all. No other stores= No other customers.
Julie Lee
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
You're complaining to the wrong party. Your complaints need to be directed to the Management Property that owns the shopping center. Country Market is closing because it's run poorly. You have an manager embezzle $81K over a three year period. Every few weeks in the paper there either catching someone stealing or saw someone stealing.
sellers
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.
It's interesting that downtown saline is doing better than the outskirts of the city. I think that is a good sign that the area is not interested in urban sprawl and sustainability will keep us from becoming like a Flint, Detroit, or other suburban sprawl.
Jonny Spirit
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
TCF just in front of the store just got robbed at 11:20 Today
sellers
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
Lockdown is not anymore, and the area is deemed safe. (source: SAS)
ffej440
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
The school is on lockdown, chopper flying around and police from Saline and Pittsfield searching the area.
Basic Bob
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
The disgruntling has started already.
GreenPus
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
Another Walmart victim. Too bad. Their prices were lower than Walmart and Busch's on most grocery items. Watch for those two to jack their prices up even higher now.
sellers
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
I don't think they were. Walmart's impact was already felt the first year, and they I believe increased customers in the past few years, but the costs increased more than revenues.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Thanks Walmart.
Basic Bob
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
Now I know all the McMansion dwellers weren't shopping at Walmart, so why would Country Market need to close? You mean those people living on dirt roads in the hinterland were driving right past Busch's and Country Market to shop at Walmart? Shocking.
Rob Pollard
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.
It's tough any time a business has to close, but their letter shows they really don't have a handle on business. Specifically, "escalating payroll taxes" - seriously? The ones that have been cut for the last two years and have been a cause of budget fights every year? What on earth are they talking about? I'd also love to see proof property taxes have gone up since 2007. That seems highly unlikely. Just admit that more people in the area prefer to go to the Wal-Mart (whom I have no particular love for) and go from there to try and improve your business to compete with Wal-Mart and others elsewhere. Making up reasons doesn't help.
Jamerican28
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 5:56 p.m.
Rob I'm not sure if it is you or them who does not have a handle on business. They operate 9 other locations so I'd assume they must have some handle. The truth is that a new landlord purchased that strip mall awhile back as an investment. They severely overpaid for the property and both the rent along with the property taxes went up for the tenants. So those expenses did go up since they originally opened as it did for the other tenants in the strip mall. I'm sure you've noticed all of the other vacancies in the strip mall. Coincidence? I don't think so and I guarantee that you'll be seeing more if the rent and taxes do not come down soon. The next point is that Saline is not a very big town. It might have 10,000 people in it and I think that is an overestimate. That is nowhere near enough to support 3 supermarkets let alone 4. Large corporate chains like Wal-mart and Coscto can afford to lose money for several periods to wait out their competition. Smaller independent chains like Busch's and Country Market can't afford to do so as long. The writing was on the wall. Either Country Market or Busch's was going to have to go. Honestly once Costco opens I'll be surprised if Busch's can hang on because I guarantee you they are not turning a profit in Saline right now either as their sales are comparable to Country Markets. I assume their overhead is a bit less but they operate on a higher labor cost cushioned by their higher prices too. I think Country Market's handle on business was quite good. Why would they renew an overpriced lease on a store that was not doing enough in sales to cover their overhead now? It was only going to get worse once another competitor entered the retail arena. Cutting their losses and not duking it out in an oversaturated market area was probably the best business decision they could have made given the circumstances.
NoMoreMrZero
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
Escalating payroll taxes? Yes seriously! The lowering of the amount of social security payments didnt lower the employer cost they lowered the employees contribution by 2% from 6.2% to 4.2%. And yes payroll costs have gone up, unmployement contributions have gone up considerably both on the federal and the state side thanks to those near unlimited unemployement benefits (99 weeks) that congress and foisted upon business. That doesnt even include workmens comp insurance etc etc etc. So as some of the readers have pointed out its not just about the money. A small operation like Pollys Country Market cant compete on price but they also cant compere when it comes to administrative costs. Having a legal department or a compliance department or tax department divided over 9 stores can be costly but the cost divided over the universe of Walmart stores can greatly reduced. Try being a one man operation and having to absorb all the hoops federal state and local governments make you jump through and perhaps you can see why it is near impossible to sustain a small business for long unless you are just a master at just about everything and have unlimited time to do so.
81wolverine
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Yes, the REAL reason they went out of business was they didn't have high enough sales to cover their overhead expenses and make a profit. Every business in this area has seen increasing costs. Rents and taxes have a tendency to creep up. Usually these incremental cost increases are not so high where they can't be recovered in slightly higher prices. Ultimately, with more competition in the area that offered customers more (either lower prices or a better shopping experience) someone had to lose.
mbill
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
People prefer to shop at the Communist outlet center.
J-smith
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
Except for the fact that they get an awful lot of product from communists! "The world's biggest retailer, U.S.-based Wal-Mart was responsible for $27 billion in U.S. imports from China in 2006 and 11% of the growth of the total U.S. trade deficit with China between 2001 and 2006. Wal-Mart's trade deficit with China alone eliminated nearly 200,000 U.S. jobs in this period".-http://www.epi.org/publication/ib235/
hermhawk
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 11:55 a.m.
I would NEVER put Walmart and communism in the same category.
xmo
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
More good news, the economy is improving!
cmb
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
sorry... I made a typo. The map is not accurate. Country Market is at the corner of Michigan and S. Industrial, about a mile east of N. Maple.
cmb
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
Your map in not accurate. Country Market is at Michigan and S. Industrial Drive, about a mile east of North Maple.
mixmaster
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
A business has to do something noticeable better than their competition to stay alive unless the competition has the financial ability to undercut and outlast you regardless of the quality of their service or the products they sell. So goes Walmart, so goes the US economy, straight to the bottom in wages and benefits, the quality of their products and what they give back the the community that supports them.
eagleman
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
mixmaster, your posts contradict themselves. You mention money, but when someone asks for a comparison you say that "there is more to the equation than money." As for the quality of their products. Have you or Basic Bob conducted extensive and intensive research on the subject? If not, how can comment about the quality of their product? It's obvious that mixmaster is an Unionist who hates Wal Mart because they refuse to unionize. How else can one explain his obsessive hatred of Walmart? Mixmaster ought to be angry at the people because Walmart is only doing what it has to do to generate money. They are not forcing anyone to buy from them. I have a question: Why is it always upper middle class people who rail against Walmart? It's great that mixmaster and others can afford more expensive food and goods, but what of the lower classes that cannot? Walmart fills that gap.
Basic Bob
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
@mixmaster, "The financial ability to undercut and outlast" has everything to do with money. I think we can agree that Walmart isn't attracting customers with the quality of their products, only perceived value and the convenience of 24-hour service.
mixmaster
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
There's far more to the equation than money.
justcurious
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.
Please enlighten us as to how Walmart's wages and benefits differ from Country Market. Do you have those figures?
Saline_Wins
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
I have used both Country Market and Walmart for my grocery needs. I will be sad to see Country Market leave the area. Although I shop at Walmart also I have yet to know where everything is located.
Ann English
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
When the Walmart Super Center first opened, shoppers got a brochure of the store, with a layout map of the store. Are the store employees available to help you find what you're looking for, or do you have to look for the store employees as well? The Ellsworth Walmart responded to the Super Center opening by selling fruits and vegetables they had never sold before. I miss the Busch's that used to be off Ellsworth close to Hewitt, but NO grocery store is in that particular location today; whoever can afford hardcopy ads or legible online ads wins the customers; there are a lot of us who compare prices between stores
justcurious
Fri, May 25, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.
I guess they just couldn't compete with Busch's and Walmart. So it goes in the business world. Sometimes a business has to do something noticeably better than it's competition to stay in the running. I hope the employees will find new positions in the area.
Jamerican28
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 5:41 p.m.
It is amazing how ignorant some people are. The truth is Busch's and Country Market were essentially doing the equivalent in sales after Wal-Mart opened. Just about any vendor who supplies the area will tell you that. Saline is not that big of a town to have that many supermarkets let alone having a 4th opening soon (Costco). Add to that a new landlord who overpaid for the strip mall causing both rent and property taxes to increase for Country Market and the writing was on the wall. They simply couldn't cover their overhead cost with the amount of sales they were doing. Look around that strip mall. There are several spots already vacant and you'll almost certainly see more in the future if the rent and taxes remain the same. They're a victim of operating a store with expanding overhead costs in a market area oversaturated with retailers. To remain open while losing money now and another competitor just about to open would have been fiscal suicide.
Ann English
Sat, May 26, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.
Unlike Busch's and Walmart, Country Market doesn't send many people hardcopy advertisements. It must have been too expensive for this Country Market location to do this for me, even when I went there and asked them to. It was hardcopy advertising from the Dexter Country Market that got me going there years earlier. And the substandard online advertising text may have turned off a lot of customers to going online to read about sales. Nice animation with the Polly's airplane coming in for a landing, but the text was hard to read.