So I found out the Buy For Less at 23rd and Penn will be closing. I thought it just was going to be a switch to their Smart Saver brand, but after talking to the manager at the grocery store I once worked at, it appears the store was underperforming. He also told me that OCU wants the property for a parking garage. I called the store and they told me the last day of operation would be October 7th. Anyone have any info on the validity of the OCU rumors?

Also, is Buy For Less doing a major restructuring? They are converting stores they have been operating for decades into Smart Saver (NE 23rd & MLK, SE 44th & High) or shutting them down completely (NW 23rd & Penn, Penn & Hefner). The Kings Crossing Uptown Market project seems dead. They acquired Hometown Market at NE 23rd & MLK, Grider's at SW 29th and May, the hispanic Buy For Less at 37th and S. Western, and built the two Uptown Markets. Wonder if their expansion has been too much too fast?

I think their regular Buy for Less stores, especially the more run down ones are feeling a lot of pressure from Walmart. We will probably see more Uptowns be built, but in areas that that the owners see as " less risky" like more locations in Edmond, NW OKC, or far south OKC closer to Moore.

I think their regular Buy for Less stores, especially the more run down ones are feeling a lot of pressure from Walmart. We will probably see more Uptowns be built, but in areas that that the owners see as " less risky" like more locations in Edmond, NW OKC, or far south OKC closer to Moore.

Well...my thoughts are that it will be a very long time.....if ever....we see any more Uptown's built. Sounds like the whole chain is in survival mood now.

The perfect answer to Buy for Less and Homeland and United is Kroger coming in and buying them all....keeping the ones that have potential...and giving us another grocery option with a company that is generally well run, clean stores, and decent pricing.

Appears that the Buy For Less in Midwest City and the Buy For Less Hispanic store at 36th and MacArthur could be the next Smart Saver Stores.

Just saw the new ad for Smart Saver, its like black and white TV but in paper format.

Lost Ogle article today on this company:

http://www.thelostogle.com/2017/02/02/the-continuing-saga-of-the-downfall-of-buy-for-less/

Lost Ogle article today on this company:

http://www.thelostogle.com/2017/02/02/the-continuing-saga-of-the-downfall-of-buy-for-less/

Dang if that is true they are thinking of going bankrupt for not building that Midwest City store that would be crazy.

They have clearly been struggling as a company for a while which is why I said a while ago that I doubted that King's Crossing would ever happen, nor the proposed Uptown Grocery for Midtown.

The Yukon location seems to be more and more of a ghost town whenever I drive past. I predicted the other day that when/if the rumor Crest opens at 10th and Czech Hall, that Smart Saver would be gone within six months.

Now it seems a good bet it'll be gone in six months, regardless. Yet that article suggest the locations that stayed Buy For Less are doing a smashing business. It's almost like people aren't dumb enough to fall for the "Plus 10%" fad.

I shop at the B4L at NW Expressway and Portland and it always seems busy

I was sorry to read the Lost Ogle story, and I hope it's not really that bad. I stop in the Uptown Grocery on May for an item or two about once a week, and I do have to admit it's rarely if ever "busy", which is a shame, because I really like that grocery store.

I was sorry to read the Lost Ogle story, and I hope it's not really that bad. I stop in the Uptown Grocery on May for an item or two about once a week, and I do have to admit it's rarely if ever "busy", which is a shame, because I really like that grocery store.

I've been to the one in Edmond and it's really nice. I've heard the one on May is even nicer. What's the issue. Was it just built in the wrong location. I'm obviously no grocer, but I was surprised that they would build on May before Midtown. It just seems to me like an Uptown in Midtown would get more business than where it is on May. But that's just me.

Margins in the grocery business are very thin these days.

Hard to make money in that business unless you are operating on a huge scale and/or are a specialty store.

There are some exceptions, but not many.

Margins in the grocery business are very thin these days.

Hard to make money in that business unless you are operating on a huge scale and/or are a specialty store.

There are some exceptions, but not many.

If they can hang on until SQ 792 goes into effect, that will be a major help. That has long been one of the issues with getting better grocery stores in Oklahoma. What is already a business model with a very thin profit margin is much thinner here without all the profit from beer/wine sales. If they can't last that long, hopefully somebody like Crest, Reasor's, or somebody national buys them out because that would be a huge blow to OKC's grocery market to lose them.

In other grocery store news, I heard from an employee at the 18th and Classen Homeland that a remodel might finally be on the horizon.

I was sorry to read the Lost Ogle story, and I hope it's not really that bad. I stop in the Uptown Grocery on May for an item or two about once a week, and I do have to admit it's rarely if ever "busy", which is a shame, because I really like that grocery store.

We go to Uptown on May almost weekly for our full shopping trip (during the weekday and in the evenings, but not on weekends, generally) and it's not really packed wall-to-wall with people, but there are plenty there - easily 4-5 folks on each aisle, 4 or so cashiers open with people in line, parking lot about 1/3 full or fuller. So it's not super-busy, but I'd think it would be busy enough to pay the bills, but maybe not.

In other grocery store news, I heard from an employee at the 18th and Classen Homeland that a remodel might finally be on the horizon.

Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice...

They should shut everything down , regroup, and build a downtown grocery, rebuild outward from there as they can based on the downtown success. Time the downtown opening with legal alcohol sales and to beat Walmart and they could do very well. No competition.

I have to admit I miss the 23rd and Penn Buy For Less because they had great deals on their reduced grocery. If they did go under, I could see someone like Crest taking over the NW expressway and Uptown locations.

I have to admit I miss the 23rd and Penn Buy For Less because they had great deals on their reduced grocery. If they did go under, I could see someone like Crest taking over the NW expressway and Uptown locations.

I (and lots of other folks, I assume) really would like that *not* to happen, so tired of shopping at Crest (for many reasons), so glad we don't have to any longer and have Uptown as our main store.

I cannot wait for the new Winco at 39th & Portland and the Aldi at 50th & May.

Add in Sam's, TJ's, Whole Foods and Sprouts at 63rd & May, and I will have a lot of great grocery choices within a couple of miles. And pretty much all of those just in the last few years.

The NWE and HP B4L (can I use a few more acronyms lol) is my favorite grocery in the city.

I went to the NW Expressway store a couple weekends ago.

While it certainly could use some updating, they have a great fromagerie.

I know this is a ridiculous complaint, but for some strange reason, nothing about the layout of the NW Expwy B4L makes sense to me. Every time I'm in there nothing is where I intuitively think it will be and I find myself wandering back and forth around the entire store multiple times. My problem though, not theirs.

I've been in that store once and never felt compelled to return.

It does have a stupid layout, at least they hand out maps if you want

It does have a stupid layout, at least they hand out maps if you want

Maps? Are you for real? If a store has to hand out maps, that's a pretty good indicator they have a bad design. Kind of like when you visit a website and the first thing you see is instructions on how to use the site. That's and indicator of bad design.

Design things well and then there's no need for instruction.

Design things well and then there's no need for instruction.

I'm going disagree with this principle behind this statement. If you have a standard set for something, but there is a better way to do it, you'll often need to acclimatize people to the change with, for example, provided instructions. The design itself may actually be an improvement in the long-term, but because it is new and differs from the standard, you have to educate in how it works. Intuitiveness of a design is good, but not the only indicator of quality.

Not that I think this is the case with this store at all.

Don't know about B4L; I haven't been in one in 15 years.

But I LOVE the Uptown Grocery in Edmond. We are frequent shoppers. And it's consistently busy, well-stocked, well-staffed, and friendly. We occasionally find ourselves at Target (so we can also get non-food items in the same trip) or Trader Joe's (for unique items or to get their frozen goods), but Uptown is our staple.

I'm going disagree with this principle behind this statement. If you have a standard set for something, but there is a better way to do it, you'll often need to acclimatize people to the change with, for example, provided instructions. The design itself may actually be an improvement in the long-term, but because it is new and differs from the standard, you have to educate in how it works. Intuitiveness of a design is good, but not the only indicator of quality.

Not that I think this is the case with this store at all.
I don't think I ever said that a design being intuitive was the only indicator of quality. If I did, please show me where. Acclimating users to change is a whole lot different than giving out instructions of how to use a confusing website or store or what have you.

A person walks into a store, they just wanna start shopping. They don't want to have to study a map to find out that the bell peppers are kept right next to the clorox bleach. A person visits a website, they just wanna start using it. They don't want to read a pdf about where and how to find useful things on the website. If they experience any of these situations, most people are not likely to come back.

I don't think I ever said that a design being intuitive was the only indicator of quality. If I did, please show me where. Acclimating users to change is a whole lot different than giving out instructions of how to use a confusing website or store or what have you.

A person walks into a store, they just wanna start shopping. They don't want to have to study a map to find out that the bell peppers are kept right next to the clorox bleach. A person visits a website, they just wanna start using it. They don't want to read a pdf about where and how to find useful things on the website. If they experience any of these situations, most people are not likely to come back.

I was really just splitting hairs on the specific blanket statement that a good design will not need instruction. Perhaps you didn't intend that to be a blanket statement in the first place. Of course there are differences between an inherently confusing design and instructing people on a change; that was pretty much my point. I didn't really intend to turn this into a kerfuffle.

Buy for less answers TLO questions.

http://www.thelostogle.com/2017/02/06/update-buy-for-less-answered-our-questions/#more-69765

Thanks for posting that, Stew.

That really does make me feel better about where they're at.

. . .really appreciate the "good news" follow-up!! To often, bad news stories just linger on, and on, and . . .on. Sure hope all is well. . .and remains well. . . in Uptown/B4L town!!

Any update on plans for the 23rd and Penn Buy For Less location?

Any update on plans for the 23rd and Penn Buy For Less location?

The building is owned by Dan Dill out of El Reno. He owns other properties in town and they are all rented to Goodwill or Dollar Stores.

I am not optimistic anything good is going to happen here in the near future.

Oh boy, thanks for the heads up haha. I'll cross my fingers that he changes things up since there is already both a Dollar Tree and a Goodwill donation center at intersection...

There seems to be work being done on the interior of the old Buy For Less on 23rd and Penn. Any idea what is going on there?

Maybe a joint Dollar General / Goodwill store-donation center inside! the old BFL building?

It will be a VASA Fitness:

https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=621-VASA-Fitness-coming-to-23rd-Penn

Oh boy, thanks for the heads up haha. I'll cross my fingers that he changes things up since there is already both a Dollar Tree and a Goodwill donation center at intersection...

VASA is a lot better than a Dollar Tree or Goodwill.

I'm hearing rumors today that Buy For Less may have been offered a letter of intent to be purchased by another company. I think I also may know who but haven't been able to verify it yet.

I'm hearing rumors today that Buy For Less may have been offered a letter of intent to be purchased by another company. I think I also may know who but haven't been able to verify it yet.

If the rumor is true, I wonder if it is just the Buy For Less locations or all of the Binkowski grocery stores including the Uptown Markets and Super Mercados.

Ended up being 2 different buyers. Which is why there was some confusion. 7 of the 11 Buy for Less’s are being sold.

Some to El Ahorro and some to Pruetts. Looks like Pruetts is getting the uptown stores.

Very interesting timing. Most grocery retailers are in an incredible position for positive cash flow as nearly every store I’ve see finances for at different banners have been seeing 30-60% sales increases since COVID began. A lot of companies have a lot of cash on hand right now. But I know Hanks wife is more interested in real estate.

So Buy for Less will still be around after this sale? I have only seen Pruetts when going through Broken Bow, are they nice or better than Uptown?

So Buy for Less will still be around after this sale? I have only seen Pruetts when going through Broken Bow, are they nice or better than Uptown?

From what I’ve heard they are still looking for a third buyer for the other four stores. Buy for Less owners are wanting out of the grocery industry. The third most interested buyer that’s looking at the four remaining stores is doing some due diligence on the store conditions and finances as they’re not exactly from the area.

I know nothing about El Ahorro but Pruetts is a great retailer. Good old fashioned grocery family. They run a good clean store. Their pricing structure will fit in well with the Uptown locations.

The Lost Ogle has a few details.

https://www.thelostogle.com/2020/12/16/metro-uptown-market-and-buy-for-less-locations-are-being-sold/

And here's the press release:

https://www.thefoodpartners.com/homepage-feature/buy-for-less-grocery-has-entered-into-agreements-to-sell-seven-of-its-eleven-oklahoma-city-metro-locations/

^

Thanks for all the great information.

This should be a good thing as the Binkowski's seem to have been really struggling the last couple of years.


They were also operating Native Roots market in Deep Deuce; I worry this may be the end of them.

I think the grocery business is an unsexy business that requires tremendous capital, as well as constant and monotonous vigilance. Low margin drone work, and the only fun part is designing and building them. I think the Binkowski's are skilled at design and building. Hopefully they will do more of that.

I liked the Uptown Market @ May & Britton. The Buy For Less @ NW HWY & Portland always seemed dirty, unkempt and in need to remodeling and updating to me.

The grocery business is indeed a tough business.

Although I live in OKC I've always admired the Reasors Grocery Stores around Tulsa. Very nice stores.

I’d like a Trader Joe’s in north Edmond. HEB and Central Market need to get on the ball and build a location in the metro area. Just one of those each would do well.

I liked the Uptown Market @ May & Britton. The Buy For Less @ NW HWY & Portland always seemed dirty, unkempt and in need to remodeling and updating to me.

The grocery business is indeed a tough business.

Although I live in OKC I've always admired the Reasors Grocery Stores around Tulsa. Very nice stores.

Reasors, like Crest in OKC is a multi-generational family owned company. Jeff Reasor's dad, Larry founded the company in Tahlequah in the 60's. Reasor's shifted their demographic focus and style of store about ?five? years ago. For the longest time they were "The Right Stuff, The Right Price" resembling a typical value based grocery store. Reasor's renovated and updated stores within the Tulsa metro. They now resemble more of Uptown Grocery, just bigger, with a focus on lots of fresh on-demand food from a bakery and Deli. The overall feel of the store is quite nice and I assume they have a good market share in the Tulsa area given the number of locations and size of stores.

Reasor's wanted to enter the OKC Market about 15 years ago, with a location at 15th and Bryant near Spring Creek in Edmond. However, their was opposition for a 24 hour grocery store from the neighborhood near by the zoned commercial land and store saturation with a Walmart Market, Super Target, and Homeland all within a few miles of this proposed location, despite the population density in the area. Reasor's didn't have the same pull as Walmart did, which built a SuperCenter near by at 15th and I-35 in 2006, despite similar neighborhood opposition.

http://edmondlifeandleisure.com/new-grocery-store-for-spring-creek-area-p7723-84.htm

I’d like a Trader Joe’s in north Edmond. HEB and Central Market need to get on the ball and build a location in the metro area. Just one of those each would do well.
I'd have a hard time saying Central Market needs to get on the ball, I believe they are just fine without OKC!

^^^^ I love going to Central Market in Dallas. I go when I'm ready to head back to OKC.

Central Market is owned by HEB, which is a mighty fine grocery chain in Texas. You can't go wrong at HEB.

Since we're on the subject of H-E-B, this article about how they prepared for the run on grocery stores at the beginning of the pandemic is incredible. One of the best things I've read this year. https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/heb-prepared-coronavirus-pandemic/

I'd have a hard time saying Central Market needs to get on the ball, I believe they are just fine without OKC!
Absolutely but selfishly I’d want to see one in OKC lol

I had forgotten Susan Binkowski has been very sick to the point they moved out of the state (not sure if they still are) for treatments.

So three people advised me from Pruett Foods that they are a Christian company and don’t see drinking alcohol of any kind. I am trying to get a hold of their HQ and see if they really are getting rid of the alcohol sections in the existing uptown grocery stores. If they do what a freaking bummer. I mean I believe in god although I don’t go to church, I will be the first to say the last thing we need in Oklahoma is more religious crap and now inconveniencing people who became accustomed to shopping for good wine at uptown. I hope this isn’t true but it seems like it is.

So three people advised me from Pruett Foods that they are a Christian company and don’t see drinking alcohol of any kind. I am trying to get a hold of their HQ and see if they really are getting rid of the alcohol sections in the existing uptown grocery stores. If they do what a freaking bummer. I mean I believe in god although I don’t go to church, I will be the first to say the last thing we need in Oklahoma is more religious crap and now inconveniencing people who became accustomed to shopping for good wine at uptown. I hope this isn’t true but it seems like it is.

Oh man, that is not the news I wanted to read. I hope they don't change too much of the meat counter and how they will grill/cook up the meat you purchase for free.