http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/winco1.jpg

As we first discussed back in July of 2013, a national retailer has been scouting for 4 sites in Oklahoma City and we can now report that it is WinCo Foods.

Several sources have confirmed they have agreed to terms on four locations: Memorial & Penn, 39th & I-44, Reno & Midwest Blvd. in Midwest City, and 19th Street in Moore.

(Original thread: Big retailer is eyeing OKC & Tulsa - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Big+retailer+is+eyeing+OKC+Tuls a&highlight=retailer) )

WinCo Foods is based in Boise, ID and has been on an aggressive expansion bent. Primarily based in the western states, they just opened two stores in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in February with several more already in the works for that market. They are also planning a distribution center in the Dallas area once they hit 15 stores in the region.

Typical store size is right around 90,000 square feet, which is more than twice the size of a traditional grocery store. By way of comparison, a Costco or Sam's Club is about 140,000 sq. ft.

They have also been seeking two sites in Tulsa. Certainly, they will try and open all the Oklahoma stores around the same time, which would likely be mid-2015.


They are certainly not afraid to go head-to-head with Walmart. They are employee-owned, so a very different model than WM.

WinCo stores are open 24 hours.


Links:

We shop at a WinCo and provide a detailed review. (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=WinCo&page=2#post790227)

WinCo Foods (http://wincofoods.com/)

Time Magazine: Walmart's Worst Nightmare (http://time.com/4701/walmarts-worst-nightmare/)


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wincoall.jpg

39th and I-44? On the northwest corner where the old motel used to be?

39th and I-44? On the northwest corner where the old motel used to be?

Yes, possibly incorporating some or all of the shopping center to the west.

..

Yes, possibly incorporating some or all of the shopping center to the west.

Interesting, especially with a Sam's going in a half mile to the east.

Where is it going on Memorial and Penn? North of Dick's, or around from Sam's on the South frontage road? That's the only place there's any open real estate. Interesting. (Although TBH, I'm more stoked about the Natural Grocer's a mile and a half from my house.)

Where is it going on Memorial and Penn? North of Dick's, or around from Sam's on the South frontage road? That's the only place there's any open real estate. Interesting. (Although TBH, I'm more stoked about the Natural Grocer's a mile and a half from my house.)

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/retail-services/7739d1399385688-winco-winconorth.jpg

This is good news. Even though this isn't the kind of mid-level grocer that OKC is lacking, hopefully this will finally cut into Wal-Mart's marketshare in OKC.

I love the West OKC and Midwest City locations; I bet they absolutely kill it in both places.

And interesting how they went out of their way to choose a spot at Memorial & Penn that is literally across the street from a Walmart and Sam's. Shows the confidence they have in their concept.

right next door to an aldi's too

This site provides pricing for their bulk items:

Bulk Foods Savvy: WinCo Foods Bulk Price List (http://bulkfoodssavvy.blogspot.com/p/current-winco-price-list.html)

I love the West OKC and Midwest City locations; I bet they absolutely kill it in both places.

And interesting how they went out of their way to choose a spot at Memorial & Penn that is literally across the street from a Walmart and Sam's. Shows the confidence they have in their concept.

And the MWC location is right across the street from a new Neighborhood Market.

That corner of Midwest City really needed something like this too. It had really gone downhill after the Albertson's, Target, and Walmart closed.

Will be interesting to see how they fare. Right across from a Wal-Mart Super Center, and Sam's, plus an Aldi right next door. Will see, too, if they have further impact on the Target north of Memorial. Thanks, Pete!

WinCo loves to go toe-to-toe with Walmart and has a ton of success doing so.

It's amazing how much the grocery landscape has changed in OKC in just the last year, and there is more to come.

We're getting Winco???

WE'RE GETTING WINCO???

OMFG YES!

I may go tour the one nearest me this afternoon and take some phtotos and vid.

I've never been in one at all and I'm interested to see their concept in person.

People absolutely rave about them.

Will be interesting to see how they fare. Right across from a Wal-Mart Super Center, and Sam's, plus an Aldi right next door. Will see, too, if they have further impact on the Target north of Memorial. Thanks, Pete!

That crappy Homeland on May and 122nd will be probably be affected the most.

That crappy Homeland on May and 122nd will be probably be affected the most.

Agree. That Homeland is almost as bad as 18th and Classen location.

Winco has been a part of the North West for years and I do all my grocery shopping there.

They have the best prices in the Portland area and the quality is good. You have to bag your own groceries( unlike my days working at Kennards Discount Foods, 50th and MacArthur in the 70's! ) and they have just now gotten self-serve check out stands. That has helped the wait to check out, especially if you have just a few items.

The only area they seem to be lacking in is their bakery is not as nice or extensive as, say, Safeway. No pharmacy either, which is not an issue for me.

Back in the mid-90s (lived near there) the 122nd/May Homeland wasn't too bad, considering...

I shopped at the WinCo in Ventura, CA on multiple occasions last summer and came away extremely impressed.

I really like the WinCo concept because the stores are extremely clean with wide aisles, quality produce and meats, many different brands to choose from, and they don't force you to buy items in bulk just to get a price break. Honestly, I was just amazed at how low some of the prices were. With that said, the store itself is probably not going to "wow" any of the folks who prefer the style and amenities of a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

I'm surprised they did 2 in the Northwest side. Once again, Southwest OKC get's overlooked.

^
I'm sure they will eventually open a location or two in the South/Moore/Norman area.

I wonder where, exactly, on 39th and I-44? That will be just a few blocks from the new Sam's Club at N. May and I-44. So, they're taking on Sam's and WalMart in two different locations. WinCo is good news!

I'm surprised they did 2 in the Northwest side. Once again, Southwest OKC get's overlooked.

Southwest OKC has the best Crest in the metro, one of the better Homelands, and will also be getting a Sprouts and a Natural Grocers. You also have that Chef Store if it counts. SW OKC doesn't always get ignored, at least as far as grocers.

Southwest OKC has the best Crest in the metro, one of the better Homelands, and will also be getting a Sprouts and a Natural Grocers. You also have that Chef Store if it counts. SW OKC doesn't always get ignored, at least as far as grocers.

Norman has a good Crest as well.

Hope this runs Homeland out for good (every store I've I've been in of theirs smells foul). I'm not familiar with WinCo, but based on my research, I'm definitely looking forward to this.

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They have crazy wide aisles -- even much bigger than Costco.

I lived in southern Idaho for many years, Winco is great.

Keep in mind they dont accept credit cards. They have ATMs in the front of the store. Rather unusual in the 21st Century.

I dont mind bagging my own grocery's. I like to sort them by where they go in my cabinets for easy unloading. Bring reusable bags and pack them full, then you only need to carry in a couple bags in to the house.

Edit: No credit cards, but debit cards are ok.

Did anyone else find that video funny?

Keep in mind they dont accept credit or debit cards. This probably shaves off ~2% off the top. They have ATMs in the front of the store. Rather unusual in the 21st Century

They do accept debit cards and checks, at least now.

No different than Costco.

You are correct. I seem to remember them not taking debit cards ~10 years ago, at least at the location I frequented.

They do accept debit cards and checks, at least now.

No different than Costco.

Yeah that would be a bad business decision in this day and age to not accept debit or credit cards. Most people would probably not bother anymore because we are all but a cashless society.

Yeah that would be a bad business decision in this day and age to not accept debit or credit cards. Most people would probably not bother anymore because we are all but a cashless society.
As a poor college student I did all my shopping at Winco, I'm surprised they dont accept Credit cards now and just charge a 2% fee or something, just enough to cover the processing fees, you know like those gas stations that offer diesel at a cash rate and a credit rate.

As a poor college student I did all my shopping at Winco, I'm surprised they dont accept Credit cards now and just charge a 2% fee or something, just enough to cover the processing fees, you know like those gas stations that offer diesel at a cash rate and a credit rate.

So they don't accept credit cards? I thought they did. I would think that they would lose a lot of business, probably more than it would cost to pay the fees, by not accepting them these days.

You live near a Winco Pete, do they accept credit cards on May 8, 2014?

No, they absolutely don't take credit cards but they do take debit cards and checks.

Exact same policy as Costco -- not a big deal.

Pete,
That would be great for me, I ride my own scooter and push a basket alongside of me. There are many places where I have troubles. I could learn to like a place like this.
C. T.
They have crazy wide aisles -- even much bigger than Costco.

Bchris,
I think I'm the only cash customer left in OKC. I won't even write a check at places that debit my account instantly and hand my check back. I also don't own a debit card but do use credit cards when I'm short of cash.
C. T.
Yeah that would be a bad business decision in this day and age to not accept debit or credit cards. Most people would probably not bother anymore because we are all but a cashless society.

No, they absolutely don't take credit cards but they do take debit cards and checks.

Exact same policy as Costco -- not a big deal.

Checks but no CC. Weird policy for both.

Checks but no CC. Weird policy for both.

Sam's had the same policy for years.

MustangGT,
I'm sure they do the same with checks that has been legal since 2004, a law was passed because of the airline freeze immediately after 9/11 that a check could be used as a debit device (like a debit card). When Sam's takes your check, you don't even have to sign it, or really even fill it out, they just stripe the account number and enter the purchase amount and it works like a debit card.
C. T.
Checks but no CC. Weird policy for both.

After watching the video, WinCo reminds me of Food4Less that used to serve the OKC market decades ago. I hope the square footage of the store featured in the video would be the same size store we would be getting in OKC.

^

Yes, all their stores are 80-90,000 square feet.

They're massive.

The 2nd location mentioned was 39th & May, but, according to another board, a building permit for Sam's Club was filed for that same NW corner....is WinCo down to 2 stores in the metro now?

Oops. forgive me. The map actually shows west of that area, which is GREAT for me, stuck in Bethany!

I now understand there will be a 4th WinCo location in the Metro, somewhere in the South/Moore area.

Any ideas where they may be going?

This is pure speculation. They're clearly not afraid of head-to-head competition with the Waltons. I'd say they're going to find their way to Fritt's Farm or somewhere near I-35 and 19th/149th.

I think they actually like to go across the street from Walmart/Sam's where possible. They are effectively doing this at two of their 3 OKC locations that we have nailed down.

Also, they don't seem overly concerned about freeway exposure.

Plenty of space near Walmart Neighborhood market on Western and 104th. (N of the shopping center on the NE corner).

Also some vacant land in the area around Walmart on I-240 and Santa Fe.

I may check it out when it arrives however, I will remain loyal to Crest and Buy For Less/Uptown Grocery because they are locally owned and operated.

I now understand there will be a 4th WinCo location in the Metro, somewhere in the South/Moore area.

Any ideas where they may be going?

I'd bet that it's going to end up in Moore, which is a bummer. Hoping it would be closer to WRWA.

I'd bet that it's going to end up in Moore, which is a bummer. Hoping it would be closer to WRWA.

Perhaps, but two of their locations (West OKC and MWC) are in denser areas.

On the other hand, they seem to like being close to Walmart / Sam's.

Perhaps, but two of their locations (West OKC and MWC) are in denser areas.

On the other hand, they seem to like being close to Walmart / Sam's.

If they wanted a 5th store I think maybe they could do the West side of OKC off of 40 between Rockwell and MacArthur. Plus there is a Walmart over there. That's also a pretty dense area.

Southwest OKC has the best Crest in the metro, one of the better Homelands, and will also be getting a Sprouts and a Natural Grocers. You also have that Chef Store if it counts. SW OKC doesn't always get ignored, at least as far as grocers.

Where are the Sprouts and Natural Grocer going in?

Perhaps, but two of their locations (West OKC and MWC) are in denser areas.

On the other hand, they seem to like being close to Walmart / Sam's.

What is there traditional method of operation. Do they take over existing spaces or do they build their own stores?

If they build their own stores, I would think 134th between I-44 and I35. That would put them smack dab in between three Walmarts. If existing space is there method of operation, I would think the old Pratts at 12th and Eastern would be a good spot or somewhere in the New City Center/ City of Moore Shopping Center.

This is bold of WinCo to open MULTIPLE stores in the OKC area. Usually stores test an area with one or two stores.

I can't wait for the one on Penn to open.

Sprouts is proposed for SW 104th and S. Pennsylvania and the Natural Grocers is at SW 89th and S. Pennsylvania

Well one idea behind having multiple stores is that your shipping costs to a metro have a better cost-per-product. If you only have 1 store, you can't leverage the same truck to deliver to three stores in town when it's coming all the way from (just throwing a city out there) say Sacramento. Just makes it easier to spread the shipping costs around that way. If your a discount retailer, it's more important...and even more so in the narrow margins of grocery. You can be whole foods and already charge a premium and you don't care because you just push the cost to the consumer. Discounters don't always get that luxury. If the new discounter in town is higher than the discounter next door (aldi/walmart/crest/whatever that isn't homeland LOL), then you aren't really offering anything different than another recipe for the same flavor of vanilla.

This is bold of WinCo to open MULTIPLE stores in the OKC area. Usually stores test an area with one or two stores.

I can't wait for the one on Penn to open.

I agree. OKC has long been very underserved in terms of good grocery options. Anything that enters the market that gives OKCitians an alternative to the Wal-Mart or Homeland dichotomy should do very well.