Unconfirmed: Williams is bought out by Homeland

[Joe Kimball]

I can't find it in the news, but I understand Homeland bought out Williams' seven stores, which were in turn bought from Albertson's a little over a year ago as Albertson's fled the state. They apparently will be no more next month.

What was it? The quick expansion? The high prices? The decision to not sell beer?

[bombermwc]

Does that mean they are going to close them all or just convert? I would LOVE to see something other than William's in those locations. I went in Williams in MWC after the changeover and never went back. It felt like they took the place down a notch in cleanliness and quality of employee. That Albertson's had been one of the best in the metro, if not smaller than most. But it turned into a pile.

I would love to see them open the one back up on Reno and Midwest as well, but I bet it doesnt happen. In MWC, price is king. With Crest a mile in either direction from either store, you have to be able to compete because people won't pay the higher price for the same product.

[Steve]

All the stores except the one at 15th and Post are going to become Homelands.

[Joe Kimball]

All the stores except the one at 15th and Post are going to become Homelands.

I appreciate the confirmation. Do you know if the remaining store will remain in Williams' possession, close, or become something else?

[Steve]

Jeff Williams says they're keeping it and will continue operating it as a Williams Discount Foods. It apparently didn't fit into Homeland's expansion plans.

[CuatrodeMayo]

They should convert to Food Pyramid. The one in Stillwater is top notch.

[Jon27]

What about the one on Cornwell and 10th St in Yukon? Anyone know?

[dalelakin]

OKC has to have one of the worst selections of grocery stores of any metro area in the US. No point to my post other than a pure complaint...

[Jon27]

What about the one on Cornwell and 10th St in Yukon? Anyone know?

Nevermind. This post is now semi-confirmed. William's wasn't bought out by Homeland, but sold 5 of the stores as they would rather concentrate on rural areas. The Yukon store will become a Homeland. This sucks! I really liked Williams owning the old Albertson's. Williams had really good weekly sales. Homeland is WAY too expensive. Guess it's stick to Wal-Mart again..... Yukon needs a Crest!

Here's the Newsok.com story.

http://newsok.com/homeland-to-acquir...rticle/3322295

[masonsmomma]

I wish they would change the Williams in MWC as well. I try to avoid it at all costs. They are so expensive and their employees are rude. The only part about the MWC one that is nice is the gas station. My husband used to work for Homeland and they are a really good company with great sales.

[oneforone]

Homeland knows better than to enter the MWC market. Crest owns the MWC grocery market.

I do not see Homeland doing well at 122nd and Rockwell because Crest will make it a point to beat the crap out of their prices. The only way the 122nd Street store will make it, is if Homeland sells specialty products and the high end stuff the people in Gallardia love.

I do have one question to shoot at the board. Does OKC have a gourmet specialty market anymore. I am suprised OKC does not have one specialty grocery store that sells the amature/hobby chef items that you see on the shows on Food Network.

[ejillparker]

I got really excited when I saw that Homeland had bought out Williams because the Williams here in Choctaw sucks. My excitement quickly changed to disappointment as it seems the Williams here will be staying put. I would love for Choctaw to have a decent grocery store. As it is, I drive 20 minutes or more just to avoid Williams. They pride themselves on their Christian heritage by not selling beer, yet they dont hesitate to rip you off. In the two and a half years I have lived in Choctaw, I have been double charged by them twice and even triple charged once. They also sell expired food. One time I found about ten packages of expired (three months expired) refrigerated sauce on the shelf and I took them all to the managers booth to show them. They apologized, but the next week I went back and all the items were re-shelved. I have found numerous other expired items shelved as well. The meat and produce are of very poor quality and the store always looks filthy. You couldn't pay me to buy meat from there. Not to mention they are overpriced. I have complained many times but have recieved no response from management.

[soonergooner]

"I do not see Homeland doing well at 122nd and Rockwell because Crest will make it a point to beat the crap out of their prices. The only way the 122nd Street store will make it, is if Homeland sells specialty products and the high end stuff the people in Gallardia love."

The employees at that location have already been informed that that will be the strategy. It is very difficult to compete w/crest on price, just ask wallyworld execs. The homeland folks are VERY aware of this and are doing their best to carve their niche w/ shoppers who dislike either molwart or crust.
Having worked for all the above plus many yrs w/alb, I will attest that if you enjoy shopping at crest, you don't mind buying chinese tennis shoes. I found stories of emp abuse re malwart quite overblown, but truly, @ crest, words cannot fairly relay their employees abuse. Check w/ nat labor relations board who I checked w/ after my tenure. Me= I am a former crest employee, NLRB rep= "I'm sorry!" Exact. Quotes.

[Thunder]

All I know is that the owner of Brannons in Del City bought the building across the street from Albertsons and changed from Brannons to Williams. I remember the exact timing of the move. I was surprised to see several more Williams popping up during that time and thought it will be well managed since Brannons stayed in business for years, I guess more than 20 or 30 years, maybe more. I think this Williams store in Del City will still be there as Williams. I don't think it'll convert to Homeland, since there is one 2 or 3 miles down on Sunnylane and 44th.

[rondvu]

Oneforone I believe there is a gourmet store in Norman and on located on N. Western in OKC.

[bombermwc]

BOOOO on the MWC one. We're stuck with crap!!!!

[metro]

Oneforone I believe there is a gourmet store in Norman and on located on N. Western in OKC.

There are quite a few actually. Forward Foods http://www.forwardfoods.com/ is a great one in Norman, there is also Gourmet Gallery in Edmond http://www.thegourmetgallery.com/, and a few other places I can't think of the name, theres one or two places on N. May and another in Northpark Mall. There is a thread on local gourmet markets somewhere on this site.

[jbrown84]

There are quite a few actually. Forward Foods Forward Foods is a great one in Norman, there is also Gourmet Gallery in Edmond The Gourmet Gallery, and a few other places I can't think of the name, theres one or two places on N. May and another in Northpark Mall. There is a thread on local gourmet markets somewhere on this site.

Crescent Market in Nichols Hills Plaza...


I wish one of the local companies, Homeland or Crest, would attempt a more upscale concept like a Central Market or even a regular H-E-B. Put one in Edmond and one over by Gaillardia and watch it boom.

[southernskye]

Crescent Market in Nichols Hills Plaza...


I wish one of the local companies, Homeland or Crest, would attempt a more upscale concept like a Central Market or even a regular H-E-B. Put one in Edmond and one over by Gaillardia and watch it boom.

I would love to have an HEB here.
I have emailed HEB on more than one occasion asking if they might expand into Oklahoma. As of 2 months ago they have no plans to do so.

[OKCMallen]

I just emailed HEB last week asking as well.

[southernskye]

I just emailed HEB last week asking as well.

I think it would help if more people do that. I just don't see them expanding into OKC until the outdated OK liquor laws are changed.

[metro]

Company plans to buy five Oklahoma City grocery stores
OKCBusiness Staff
11/17/2008

The company that owns Homeland Stores in the Oklahoma City area announced late Nov. 14 it plans to purchase five Williams Discount Foods locations, according to Associated Press reports.
In June 2007, Albertson’s LLC announced the company planned to exit the entire Oklahoma market. Two local Associated Wholesale Grocers members – Homeland Inc. and Williams Discount Foods -- announced they agreed to purchase the 13 Oklahoma City area Albertson’s grocery stores.

Williams Discount Foods, which started in Tuttle and now is headquartered in Oklahoma City, purchased six supermarkets in June 2007 at:

• 7000 S. May, Oklahoma City

• 7001 N.W. 122nd St., Oklahoma City

• 2400 Cornwell, Yukon

• 1151 N. Bryant, Edmond

• 4129 S.E. 29th St., Del City

• 7520 E. Reno, Midwest City

The Midwest City location was not included as one of the stores HAC Inc. plans to buy.

[amaesquire]

Wonder why they didn't just do this when they bought the other Albertson's properties...

[Jesseda]

wish we could get a fiesta in here, or randells, safeway, i miss albertsons. Why dont we have a costco?

[southernskye]

wish we could get a fiesta in here, or randells, safeway, i miss albertsons. Why dont we have a costco?

Email or write to the companies that you would like to see in OKC. They need to know that people here are interested in buying from them.