I hate to see it but I'm not surprised. They are never busy. I've been using their pharmacy for nearly 40 years and do some grocery shopping there. They have lots of competition.

I hate to see it but I'm not surprised. They are never busy. I've been using their pharmacy for nearly 40 years and do some grocery shopping there. They have lots of competition.

That Homeland is far enough away from the nearby Crest that it should be able to survive. The Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market that was nearby is now shuttered. I think the issue is not competition but the fact that part of town is in serious decline. That area really reminds me a lot of Del City.

That Homeland is far enough away from the nearby Crest that it should be able to survive. The Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market that was nearby is now shuttered. I think the issue is not competition but the fact that part of town is in serious decline. That area really reminds me a lot of Del City.

Since I moved to this neighborhood and shopped there regularly, here's a few stores that have been built and compete with their business: Walmart was built a mile down the road, first at 23rd at Mac and now at Reno and Mac. So the supercenter is less than 2 miles away. That took the main toll. Buy for Less at 36th and Mac. Family Dollar next door just opened. Dollar General on every corner, two I can think of within a mile, Walgreens across the street, Aldi at 23rd near Mac less than a mile. Slightly farther and new since it was built, Sams at I-40 east of Mac, and Target at NW highway and Rockwell, more recently entering the food market. Most of that isn't real new, but the store has been in trouble for a long time the best I can tell.

There appears to be plenty of groceries being sold in the area, and lots of places to buy them, much more than before. However, I don't shop at most of the places I just listed. Buy for Less at 23rd and Council is the closest store to me and I do go there some but Homeland is better. Crest at 23rd and Meridian is better still by far and I sometimes shop there, so yes, it does affect their business.

Homeland could survive in that location if they would up their game, but they don't appear interested at all in actually competing with more than just a few stores. In cities other than OKC, its rare to have to drive more than a mile or two to a grocery store and usually there are several stores. This Homeland, while there are other options within a 4 mile radius, is far enough from other grocers that it should be able to survive. It's failing for the same reason the NW Expressway and MacArthur location failed; they ran it into the ground after taking over from Albertson's.

I forgot about the two Braums in the area that were built since this store's heyday, one a half mile east and one a couple of miles away at Council at Reno.

Here's what the area looks like. If you lived next door to the Homeland, you would have 4 full stores within two miles, a Walmart supercenter another mile away, and a bunch of places to pick up some household goods. As I said, most of that didn't exist when that store was built and thriving. (Not to mention at least 6 convenience stores in the area, which have always been around in some form.)


http://s15.postimg.org/hbvokt9jf/grocery.jpg

I stopped in to pick up a couple of things this afternoon around 4PM and they were packed. I don't know what promotional stuff they have been doing but it seems to have worked this week.

I stopped in to pick up a couple of things this afternoon around 4PM and they were packed. I don't know what promotional stuff they have been doing but it seems to have worked this week.

Notice much change?

How were the prices?

They started moving stuff around a couple of weeks before so there wasn't a lot of new change this trip but there are some small changes. Nothing earth shattering, overall, seemed like less stock and more of the warehouse grocery look, cans in boxes on shelves, rather than cans on shelves. Some produce has been moved to stands made to look like crates. (I am of course annoyed about 8 of the 12 or so items I buy regularly there are in different spots, but I'll learn.) There are a handful of tables and chairs by the deli where they formerly had flowers. Not sure if the flowers are still there or elsewhere. Good idea, I think, and similar to other stores with delis where you can eat in and shop. Prices I'm not sure I can comment on. I bought maybe five things and the prices were about the same as before I think but I'm not real price conscious, other than I know I pay more for soda there than if I get at Buy for Less,did before and still do, like 20% more, but Buy for Less doesn't carry some of the regular items I buy at this store, coffee brand for one. And I was picking up a prescription. Did not care for the mind game of having to mark up the shelf price 10% to know what I was paying. Lot of energy it seemed though. Lots of shoppers, staff moving around, registers open. Prices may indeed be cheaper and/or they may make a shift in perception of their shoppers of who they are and get some market share back.

Yeah, I don't think it's so much as the area is in a "decline", it's just that Homeland sucks and refuses to have modern standards.

Yeah, I don't think it's so much as the area is in a "decline", it's just that Homeland sucks and refuses to have modern standards.

I wish another grocer would seriously take on Homeland with a modern store like OnCue is targeting 7/11. That is really what is needed if OKC's grocery store scene is to ever improve.

Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Aldi have all recently entered the market and are expanding.

WinCo, Trader Joes, Fresh Market will soon come into the area as well.

The grocery market in OKC is changing rapidly, but you'll be waiting a long time to see a new middle-market grocer come to town, as they are generally getting killed at both the high end and the low end.

A little teaser on NewsOK.com says this Cash Saver is actually owned by Missouri-based Pyramid Foods.

Their only other three Cash Saver locations are in small towns in Missouri and Kansas:

Cash Saver | Cost Plus Food Outlet in Ozark, Lamar, and Baxter Springs (http://www.cashsavergrocery.net/)

http://www.cashsavergrocery.net/images/lifestyle.jpg

More about Pyramid Foods; says they acquired 9 stores in Tulsa and operate under the name Food Pyramid:

Pyramid Foods (http://www.retail-merchandiser.com/index.php/reports/retail-reports/68-pyramid-foods)

It seems their stores go by a bunch of different names but are all a similar concept.

Nope but Cost Plus has to be the worst wording for a grocery store name I've ever heard...... I guess maybe they might have been going for truth in advertising.

Cost Plus would be better than Homeland's current pricing scheme: MSRP Plus. I live down the street from that Homeland, and I wouldn't be sad to see it go. I've gone in there a few times and generally would prefer to drive two or three times farther just to avoid it. Luckily, I can hit Aldi with a rock if I throw real hard, and they have most of what I need generally.

A little teaser on NewsOK.com says this Cash Saver is actually owned by Missouri-based Pyramid Foods.

Cash Saver is owned by Homeland. Or actually HAC (Homeland Aquisition Coprporation). Here is a quote from the NewsOK piece. "Homeland Stores’ parent company, HAC Inc., has converted one of its metro-area stores to a new name and format, with items on the shelves priced at cost, and an additional 10 percent added at the check-out counter". Also, my wife works for Homeland's warehouse office and has been talking for weeks about how the change affects the way that orders are sent to that store. Basically pallets of single product instead of pallets of mixed product.

Yeah, the video blurb on NewsOK was very different than the article.

Not sure why or how that happens, but this is not the first time.

My mom went there and said she liked the selection and the prices. She thought it was sad that the mentally challenged sackers that have worked there for years appeared to be gone. She hopes they got transferred to another Homeland Store. She has shopped at some version of the store since 1976.

Bigray in Ok

Stopped by Cash Saver to see what it is all about. I was surprised that it had a decent amount of shopping customers and staff. I imagine most of the customers were like me just checking out the new store. You can find some good deals but there are some items that will be cheaper at other stores. I was constantly looking at prices and calculating the 10% increase in my head. Not a bad store and I'm sure the locals are glad to have a grocery operating there instead of a vacant building.

Will be interesting to see if the store can sustain decent business over the longer term.

I hope so, for the sake of the people in the area.

I noticed today that the Homeland on SW 44th has been turned into a Cash Saver as well, it makes me wonder if they're starting to turn a lot the under performing homelands into Cash Savers.

I noticed today that the Homeland on SW 44th has been turned into a Cash Saver as well, it makes me wonder if they're starting to turn a lot the under performing homelands into Cash Savers.

I think it would be wise for them to do so. There is such a wide disparity between the nicer Homelands and the crappier ones that its difficult to believe they are even a part of the same chain. I wonder if 18th and Classen is on the list for conversion to Cash Savers?

It seems the only good Homelands were all of the old Albertsons

I noticed today that the Homeland on SW 44th has been turned into a Cash Saver as well, it makes me wonder if they're starting to turn a lot the under performing homelands into Cash Savers.

You beat me to posting this.
I noticed yesterday the Homeland at this location had changed. The paint and signage for Cash Saver is HORRIBLE even for low income demographics that they are intended for. I would like to know how profitable that Homeland is right now, it can't be good.

I think it would be wise for them to do so. There is such a wide disparity between the nicer Homelands and the crappier ones that its difficult to believe they are even a part of the same chain. I wonder if 18th and Classen is on the list for conversion to Cash Savers?My wife has heard that the 18Th & Classen store is scheduled to be "re-done" but they aren't saying if that means an updated Homeland or converting to Cash Saver.

My wife has heard that the 18Th & Classen store is scheduled to be "re-done" but they aren't saying if that means an updated Homeland or converting to Cash Saver.

Hopefully they remodel it rather than convert it to Cash Saver. A nice Homeland at 18th and Classen would have virtually no competition in the urban core and could fill a huge void. I am sure there are plenty of downtown residents who would rather shop there rather than drive to Buy for Less on NW Expressway or 63rd and Western.

Hopefully they remodel it rather than convert it to Cash Saver. A nice Homeland at 18th and Classen would have virtually no competition in the urban core and could fill a huge void. I am sure there are plenty of downtown residents who would rather shop there rather than drive to Buy for Less on NW Expressway or 63rd and Western.

There is a Buy for Less on Penn. and NW. 24th St. but I wouldn't go there. If they don't remodel the 18th and Classen store it is a sure bet Homelands not making it financially.

I understand that they are planning on converting several more Homeland stores to the Cash Saver banner. Haven't heard about any specific locations, but just a guess would be 18th and Classen and maybe NW 122 and May. Possibly an Edmond, Yukon or Norman location also. The one in Bethany is a lot better than when it was Homeland...I have shopped there several times since it opened.
Just cleaning it up and replacing all the light bulbs made a big difference. Their prices on lots of things are really good...we'll see if it lasts. Also heard the store at SW 44 and May is doing like 4 times the business since it switched over to Cash Saver.

I understand that they are planning on converting several more Homeland stores to the Cash Saver banner. Haven't heard about any specific locations, but just a guess would be 18th and Classen and maybe NW 122 and May. Possibly an Edmond, Yukon or Norman location also. The one in Bethany is a lot better than when it was Homeland...I have shopped there several times since it opened.
Just cleaning it up and replacing all the light bulbs made a big difference. Their prices on lots of things are really good...we'll see if it lasts. Also heard the store at SW 44 and May is doing like 4 times the business since it switched over to Cash Saver.

The "Homeland" brand has a stigma attached to it. They would do best to rebrand all of the stores to something other than Homeland, of course branding the stores they are updating and sinking money into differently than those that are becoming Cash Savers.

Its unfortunate they are converting the 18th and Classen to Cash Saver rather than doing a remodel. Why can't the urban core of OKC have a decent grocery store?

Hopefully the 122nd and May Homeland closes soon or is re-branded. A lot of expired stuff on the shelves in there.

OKCTalk - Homeland to close another store in OKC (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=150-Homeland-to-close-another-store-in-OKC)

Good. That particular store is awful!

Good. That particular store is awful!

Agreed.

One of the worst grocery stores I've ever been in. Arguably worse than the one at 18th and Classen. Lots of expired food there. Last time I was in there, there was actually birds flying around in the store.

I don't think middle market grocers are being squeezed everywhere as bad as they are in OKC. The problem here is that Homeland won't compete. They refuse to put money into most of their stores and try to get by with the bare minimum. That isn't a successful business strategy in a market like OKC where Wal-Mart is so dominant. If you are going to charge higher prices, you have to offer a superior product and experience. That's what stores like Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Tom Thumb do. That's how Whole Foods survives. This Homeland was a nasty, nasty store that I would be surprised if they could pass a health inspection. Good riddance.

Man.. Homeland is struggling.. I bet however another grocery store will go in that space! The area is undeserved.

Man.. Homeland is struggling.. I bet however another grocery store will go in that space! The area is undeserved.

Uptown Market is going in about a mile south of it and Winco a mile east. Both should fill their niches and will be much better options than that Homeland.

That space at 122nd & May is a particularly good spot for a grocer, even though there will be good competition at May & Britton.

I know the broker who is listing the space and she's already working with some potential tenants.

I know the broker who is listing the space and she's already working with some potential tenants.

Can you post what the possibilities might be? Are we looking at another grocer or something else?

Grocers that area already in the market.

Another Sprouts would be a home run!

Another Sprouts would be a home run!

My guess would be Sprouts or Natural Grocers.

Uptown Market is already going in down the street and the location is a little small for Crest's newer format. I doubt it's Wal-Mart with there already being a Supercenter at 122nd and Penn.

Whole Foods is another option, of course.

That space at 122nd & May is a particularly good spot for a grocer, even though there will be good competition at May & Britton.

I know the broker who is listing the space and she's already working with some potential tenants.

This latest news reminded me. I was curious if you made it in to the May & Britton Homeland during your last trip. It's a really nice store.

No, I never did make it by.

No, I never did make it by.

Reading your posts, I was amazed at what all you were able to do while you were here.

My guess would be Sprouts or Natural Grocers.

Uptown Market is already going in down the street and the location is a little small for Crest's newer format. I doubt it's Wal-Mart with there already being a Supercenter at 122nd and Penn.

I doubt it would be a Sprouts or Natural Grocers as there is a location for each of those a few miles south on May. Like you said, a bit small for Crest as well. The waiting game begins. That shopping center is looking a bit tired and could use some cleaning up a bit. The dingy Homeland certainly didn't make it any better.

I doubt it would be a Sprouts or Natural Grocers as there is a location for each of those a few miles south on May. Like you said, a bit small for Crest as well. The waiting game begins. That shopping center is looking a bit tired and could use some cleaning up a bit. The dingy Homeland certainly didn't make it any better.

Good points.

That leaves Whole Foods, but for it to be them, the shopping center would likely need some major reconfiguring. Plus aren't they close to a deal for Chisholm Creek?

"Fresh Market" would be a good fit for Spring Creek. Very nice store! I have to agree however, that that shopping center is due for a major remodel/renovation. If I remember correctly, they are scouting for OKC area locations?

Yes, Fresh Market is actively looking in OKC.

That 122nd & May location is excellent. They'll find someone to go in there.

Yes, Fresh Market is actively looking in OKC.

That 122nd & May location is excellent. They'll find someone to go in there.

I agree it's a great location. North May from 39th street to NW 164th is Oklahoma City's Preston Road (North Dallas/Addison/Plano).

I was in the Homeland in Edmond on west Second Street Saturday afternoon....there were literally 5 cars in the parking lot. Don't see how this location will be open much longer.
The store itself was clean and appeared to be well stocked....there was one cashier that wasn't acutally working only as a cashier...she was stocking some end displays also.
You can tell when a store is on the decline when their vegatable or meat coolers have been turned off and used to display other stuff.
This was the case there....there were canned goods and cake mixes dumped in produce coolers that were turned off.

I live in Norman. Homeland is OK. Always clean and shelves are constantly being pulled forward. But WAY TOO EXPENSIVE The newer Crests have them beat by hundreds of miles, clean, meat great and you cannot beat the prices. I am from Northern California 6 years ago I see WinCo is building 4 stores. They also are very nice. I do not know how Homeland will be able to compete. I won't shop in the Wal-Mart grocery though, too crowded !!!

The one at 18th and classen is small, dirty, and expensive. The only thing going for it is its prime location.

The one at 18th and classen is small, dirty, and expensive. The only thing going for it is its prime location.

Which makes me wonder why they don't remodel it and become the go-to grocery store for downtown OKC. It makes absolutely no sense. It's almost like Homeland is fine with just going out of business slowly.

I keep wondering why someone would not come in and buy them out. Not that they have much to offer except locations but its a hoped for idea. The Classen location with the right mix of products and price would do wonders. I'm not sure how they can afford to keep the doors open. I drive by the Edmond locations and they never seem to be busy like any of the other stores.

Wishful thinking would be Whole foods buying and turning the 18th Classen Homeland into one of it's new low price store concepts, but unfortunately that Homeland will probably end up a Cash Saver or closed by the end of the year.

I keep wondering why someone would not come in and buy them out. Not that they have much to offer except locations but its a hoped for idea.

Some of the locations that were former Albertson's aren't too bad. If a better operator came in it wouldn't take much to turn them into pretty decent grocery stores. Others will require more investment but when you are in business, you have to spend money to compete.

The 122nd and May location is now closed. While that particular location won't be missed, it does leave the area without a grocery store. Hopefully something better takes the location.

The 122nd and May location is now closed. While that particular location won't be missed, it does leave the area without a grocery store. Hopefully something better takes the location.

Doesn't quite leave the area without a store. There's a Homeland 2 miles south at Britton. If I lived in Quail Creek instead of the Village, I'd have driven 2 miles to Britton just to avoid that store, anyway.

Doesn't quite leave the area without a store. There's a Homeland 2 miles south at Britton. If I lived in Quail Creek instead of the Village, I'd have driven 2 miles to Britton just to avoid that store, anyway.

I think the problem lies more north and west from that location. You have to go all the way west to Rockwell for (yes) another Homeland. North? I don't remember anything north on May. So if you live in Quail Creek either side of Portland, you now have at least 2 more miles to drive for groceries. Yes, that really isn't far, but close proximity to "amenities" is why some people choose to live where they live.

Isn't there a Buy For Less on 122nd & Penn?

Isn't there a Buy For Less on 122nd & Penn?

There was when that center opened in the 80's, but not sure when the store closed.

There is one now at Penn & Hefner.