Buy For Less

[scottk]

I've heard a mix of the new owner's are not selling alcohol based upon morals, but have also been told it has nothing to do with them being opposed to alcohol, it is more of wanting to support local liquor store owners.

Given their current locations in small towns across southwest Oklahoma and southeast Arkansas, I can see the desire to support other local businesses. They go head to head with Walmart in these smaller towns (Broken Bow, Holdenville, Ada, Atoka, Durant, Hugo, etc) and have survived, so they must be doing something right.

Looking at the Google Map Street View history, they have done a good job in renovating the older grocery stores, at least the store fronts, that were under other names, before they were a Pruett's location. I am hoping they can keep the level of quality and store experience that Uptown Grocery offers, and potentially update the NW Expressway Buy For Less.

Are they keeping the Uptown Grocery and Buy For Less names or will these three stores be rebranded as Pruett's?

[soonerguru]

Well that settles it for me. I will no longer patronize any of their locations. I will also cease all online grocery delivery from Uptown Market on principle alone. Bye bye.

[Jeepnokc]

I respect any business that is willing to back up their principles with the loss of their bottom dollar or livelihood even if I don't agree with the principle. Caveat....as long as supporting their principles isn't illegal discrimination

[LakeEffect]

Peapod and a couple of others tried to kick-start the grocery home delivery business 25 years ago.

The grocery industry is very difficult with low margins, huge competition and consumers with very individual tastes and high standards.

I'm still betting on Amazon to be the first to figure this out on a large scale.

This, especially the individual tastes part. We regularly shop at 3 stores in Edmond, and I still stop at WF when I can, because none of them carry everything we like to use.

[Pete]

I have reached out to Pruett's Food for confirmation and explanation.

[corwin1968]

We enjoy the Covell UG location and hope it doesn't change too much.

Anyone know of any plans for a grocery store in far NW OKC, somewhere in the area of 178th/194th and Portland/May? We are really, really hoping for a Sprouts in that area. The Edmond location and the MacArthur & 122nd location seem far enough away to justify one in that area. I think I've read here that at least one grocery store had been tentatively planned for this area.

[Pete]

^

I haven't seen any building permits or purchases by a grocer in that area.

[barrettd]

I respect any business that is willing to back up their principles with the loss of their bottom dollar or livelihood even if I don't agree with the principle. Caveat....as long as supporting their principles isn't illegal discrimination

Sure, it just makes it less convenient for me to shop there if I have wine or beer on my shopping list. Considering we have a pretty good Homeland at Britton and May, it's not a big deal for me to just shop over there. Plus, Homeland's rewards program is easier and offers better incentives.

I've got nothing against the new owners, I just don't think it's a great decision for a store in a bigger market than maybe they're used to. Then again, I have no idea about the business of grocery stores, so maybe it won't affect anything.

[Pete]

Removing beer and wine from Uptown Grocer flies against its up-market focus.

They have a huge section of prepared foods, cheeses, etc.

This seems like the last grocery store that should be removing what had been a good assortment of craft beer and good wine.


Still waiting for them to confirm and explain their reasoning.

[jn1780]

Removing beer and wine from Uptown Grocer flies against its up-market focus.

They have a huge section of prepared foods, cheeses, etc.

This seems like the last grocery store that should be removing what had been a good assortment of craft beer and good wine.


Still waiting for them to confirm and explain their reasoning.

Yeah, it seems like economic suicide. I don't really buy that line of reasoning. They already struggle for market share. Just makes it even easier for the customer to choose Walmart or Crest over them.

[Mott]

Yeah, it seems like economic suicide.

Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong, but what ever quality, upscale food will soon disappear, and Uptown Market will be priced downward.

[scottk]

Anyone know of any plans for a grocery store in far NW OKC, somewhere in the area of 178th/194th and Portland/May? We are really, really hoping for a Sprouts in that area. The Edmond location and the MacArthur & 122nd location seem far enough away to justify one in that area. I think I've read here that at least one grocery store had been tentatively planned for this area.

This was from 2015, but I don't know the current status. At one time, there were plans for a grocery store of sorts at 192nd and May: https://agenda.okc.gov/sirepub/cache...1032553928.PDF

https://agenda.okc.gov/sirepub/cache...2103271171.PDF

[foodiefan]

Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong, but what ever quality, upscale food will soon disappear, and Uptown Market will be priced downward.

this. .

[unfundedrick]

I live about a mile from Uptown but go to Homeland for most things. Homeland is a larger store with a much bigger variety of basic groceries.
Uptown currently offers Charmin tissue and Bounty paper towels where Homeland doesn't and I occasionally get something from their prepared food departments (much better variety than Homeland but also much more expensive). I never looked for wine there. Grand Cru is in the same center with Homeland and they carry just about anything I might want at very reasonable prices.

[corwin1968]

This was from 2015, but I don't know the current status. At one time, there were plans for a grocery store of sorts at 192nd and May: https://agenda.okc.gov/sirepub/cache...1032553928.PDF

https://agenda.okc.gov/sirepub/cache...2103271171.PDF

Neither link works. Was a grocer ever named or was it just a preliminary step toward a TBA grocer?

[onthestrip]

I live about a mile from Uptown but go to Homeland for most things. Homeland is a larger store with a much bigger variety of basic groceries.
Uptown currently offers Charmin tissue and Bounty paper towels where Homeland doesn't and I occasionally get something from their prepared food departments (much better variety than Homeland but also much more expensive). I never looked for wine there. Grand Cru is in the same center with Homeland and they carry just about anything I might want at very reasonable prices.

Weird because the couple times I've been to Grand Cru it seems like its the highest priced liquor store in the city.

[barrettd]

Weird because the couple times I've been to Grand Cru it seems like its the highest priced liquor store in the city.

It is absolutely 10-20% higher than any other liquor store, but their stock beats almost every store I've visited. I've found plenty of beers there I can't find anywhere else. I still drop in on the odd occasion I need something special, because I know they'll have it. On those occasions, the higher price is worth it to save me driving all over the city.

[scottk]

Neither link works. Was a grocer ever named or was it just a preliminary step toward a TBA grocer?

Not sure why the links did not work, it was straight copy and paste.

I do not believe a specific grocer was named at the time.

If you are interested it was listed as PUD-1604

Here is the agenda from that particular meeting: https://agenda.okc.gov/sirepub/meeti...gs&docid=86899

[oklip955]

Today I went to pick up my insta cart order from another store. All my desert items were cancelled. ugh. i was driving by the Uptown in Edmond and decided to try to run in the entrance by the bakery to pick up some cake quickly. An employee was stocking that area and a manager was speaking to him. I did ask the manager if they are planning on keeping the cake/bakery area as well as the large cheese area the same with the upcoming sale. He said yes that is the plan. Just wanted to pass this on. They seem to have the best cheese selection in OKC metro area.

[HangryHippo]

All my desert items were cancelled. ugh.

Oh no! No cacti? 😉

[TheTravellers]

...They seem to have the best cheese selection in OKC metro area.

That is the one thing I miss since we don't go to the Uptown on May/Britton anymore, but Whole Foods has a very respectable selection, so that's a bit of consolation.

[moxyweez]

Not a grocery store, but Mediterranean Imports on North May has a terrific cheese selection.

[unfundedrick]

It is absolutely 10-20% higher than any other liquor store, but their stock beats almost every store I've visited. I've found plenty of beers there I can't find anywhere else. I still drop in on the odd occasion I need something special, because I know they'll have it. On those occasions, the higher price is worth it to save me driving all over the city.

I'm a scotch drinker and I absolutely assure that what I buy is comparable or less than any other places I have looked for what I want.

[oklip955]

You forgot to mention Mediterranean's olives and lot more good stuff in a small store.

[Jeepnokc]

Weird because the couple times I've been to Grand Cru it seems like its the highest priced liquor store in the city.

Their pricing is absurd. The Well on Memorial has much better pricing and has a great selection.