Walmart

[Hondo1]

Pete, glad to hear of your return to OKC. We avoid Wal-Mart as much as possible simply because it's a hassle; long check out lines, too few employees, difficult parking. But generally once a month, we go to purchase dry goods - paper towels and toiletries all of which we could buy elsewhere but, for this particular type of merchandise, I'm a value shopper and WM has good prices on these items, plus, my wife checks out their fabric department. I suppose Target would be the obvious alternative but I don't know that much would be gained. Many of the same dynamics are in place at Target, plus....if you've ever noticed, Target carries pretty much the same (made in China) merchandise that Wal-Mart sells, generally at higher prices.

[ctchandler]

I don't mind buying the off brand but I draw the line at toilet paper... none of that cheap paper thin stuff for me.

Kelroy,
So, let me see if I understand, you don't care what you put in your mouth, but you are very picky about what takes care of the other end? Is that a little backwards?
C. T.
p.s. And a smiley face!

[ctchandler]

I think a lot of times its conviencence. I work near the Walmart on 15th and I35. I can go there on the way home or during my lunch. Its a nightmare to go down 2nd ST to the Target there. It's like running the gauntlet during lunch and after work. I tend to only need basic stuff so walmart works for me.

Worthy Cook,
I live near there, and my reasoning is the same as yours. I do go to Uptown on Covell fairly often though.
C. T.

[Anonymous.]

I don't mind buying the off brand but I draw the line at toilet paper... none of that cheap paper thin stuff for me.

Get this, I promise you won't overpay for TP ever again. This stuff is legit. When I tell people I have GV toilet paper they freak out, then they try it and become believers.

[rezman]

Worthy Cook,
I live near there, and my reasoning is the same as yours. I do go to Uptown on Covell fairly often though.
C. T.

C.T. ... How is that Uptown Grocery?. I've been by there many times since I moved over that way, but haven't been in there yet. Looks like a nice place.

[David]

We used to be Walmart Supercenter shoppers, right up until a brand new Neighborhood Market was built significantly closer. After that, it's like a light was turned and we realized how horrible the previous experience was.

So maybe it's really just a question of people just being used to the service and not looking for better?

In a related question, what grocery stores are available in the Penn Square area? If all goes well I should be moving that direction soon, and am wondering what the shopping options will be. I am aware of the Belle Isle Walmart and Whole Foods, but neither of those are really my preferences at this point.

[ctchandler]

C.T. ... How is that Uptown Grocery?. I've been by there many times since I moved over that way, but haven't been in there yet. Looks like a nice place.

Rezman,
I really like them, they have one of the best cheese selections in town (it is about as good as Whole Foods cheese counter), good fresh bread, lots of prepared (fresh cooked) items in a very wide/long counter. Their meat and seafood selection is excellent as well. The produce is very good. I wish they were closer, it's about ten miles and Walmart is about four miles. They aren't cheap, but not expensive either. More than Walmart, Buy For Less, and Crest but less than Whole Foods. Probably in the Homeland price range. I wish it was a little larger, but it was a new concept and I suppose space was an issue due to being in Edmond.
C. T.

[bchris02]

Rezman,
I really like them, they have one of the best cheese selections in town (it is about as good as Whole Foods cheese counter), good fresh bread, lots of prepared (fresh cooked) items in a very wide/long counter. Their meat and seafood selection is excellent as well. The produce is very good. I wish they were closer, it's about ten miles and Walmart is about four miles. They aren't cheap, but not expensive either. More than Walmart, Buy For Less, and Crest but less than Whole Foods. Probably in the Homeland price range. I wish it was a little larger, but it was a new concept and I suppose space was an issue due to being in Edmond.
C. T.

The new Uptown Grocery on N May looks like it might be a little larger than the Edmond location. It's a new concept for them so I am sure like Crest, the locations will keep getting better as they expand. Compared the Edmond Crest, the first to use the "Fresh Market" format, followed by the one on S May and 104th and then the new Norman location. Those are great stores.

[Bunty]

For my grocery shopping needs Wal-Mart is actually noticeably more expensive than when I go to Buy For Less and Sprout.

That's good to know since Stillwater, a two super Wal-Mart town, is getting a Sprout.

[ljbab728]

We used to be Walmart Supercenter shoppers, right up until a brand new Neighborhood Market was built significantly closer. After that, it's like a light was turned and we realized how horrible the previous experience was.

So maybe it's really just a question of people just being used to the service and not looking for better?

In a related question, what grocery stores are available in the Penn Square area? If all goes well I should be moving that direction soon, and am wondering what the shopping options will be. I am aware of the Belle Isle Walmart and Whole Foods, but neither of those are really my preferences at this point.

Sprouts at 63rd and May could be the next closest option.

[catch22]

I've been splitting my shopping between Fred Meyer, Winco, Target, and Walmart up here. All are similar distances, and I think the Walmarts are so much easier.

Target seems very expensive on comparable items, Fred Meyer has some of the things I buy but not all, Winco is cheap but some of the quality is questionable. Walmart is the only option nearby for me that seems to have all of the things I need at decent prices. The store I go to is also being remodeled, so it is pretty clean.

I have been to Walmart here in the past 4 months, more than I have been to Walmart in OKC in the previous 4 years. The Walmarts in OKC are disgusting, understocked, grimy, crowded, and disappointing. I can't say the same for Portland area, as they seem to have all I need.

I am thinking about getting a Costco membership, as one is right by the airport on the road I take home. Very tempting, although it to me looks exactly like Sam's Club (which there are none in Portland)

[Thomas Vu]

I don't mind buying the off brand but I draw the line at toilet paper... none of that cheap paper thin stuff for me.

Funny you say that, GV TP is highly rated.

[bradh]

Pete, a huge portion of the OKC market is low-end and not very discriminating. Many Wal-Mart shoppers are the same people who make dollar stores so successful here. Wal-Mart has the aura of cut-rate, and that is all those shoppers care about, some out of economic necessity, of course. I know that sounds judgmental, but it's not meant to be. It's just a fact of life; demographics.

You just summed up how Southwest Airlines has made their cash(other than some great fuel hedges)

[bradh]

I have found that the service and selection at the Super Target at Quail Springs is considerably worse than the WM on NW Expressway and Council.

[SomeGuy]

Am I the only one who finds it odd and a bit pointless they're building another Walmart Neighborhood in Moore since Supercenter is literally a 5 minute drive from it?

[David]

Sprouts at 63rd and May could be the next closest option.

Yeah, I did a little looking around that and found that and the under construction Uptown Grocery a bit further north. One or the other should fit the bill, though from looking at their websites I'm kind of leaning towards the latter once it is open.

[jompster]

Am I the only one who finds it odd and a bit pointless they're building another Walmart Neighborhood in Moore since Supercenter is literally a 5 minute drive from it?

Pointless, yes. Odd, not so much. They just built a Neighborhood Market on Sooner Road just south of SE 44th and there is a Supercenter two miles up the road. Literally a five minute drive in that instance as well. *shrugs* Market saturation, as if they needed it.

[Teo9969]

We used to be Walmart Supercenter shoppers, right up until a brand new Neighborhood Market was built significantly closer. After that, it's like a light was turned and we realized how horrible the previous experience was.

So maybe it's really just a question of people just being used to the service and not looking for better?

In a related question, what grocery stores are available in the Penn Square area? If all goes well I should be moving that direction soon, and am wondering what the shopping options will be. I am aware of the Belle Isle Walmart and Whole Foods, but neither of those are really my preferences at this point.

I live in the area: Your options generally suck for now. It's Wal-Mart or Whole Foods (Uuuggghhhh). Luckily, Trader Joe's will change that considerably.

From Penn Square your options are as follows from closest to furthest (approx.):

1. Wal-Mart @ Belle Isle
2. Whole Foods @ Classen/Western
3. Target @ NW Expressway and May
4. Sprouts @ 63rd/May
5. Buy For Less @ 23rd/Penn -OR- Portland and NW Expressway
6. Walmart Neighborhood Market @ 23rd and Penn.
7. Natural Grocers @ May and 70th
8. Super Cao Nguyen @ Classen (Military) and 25th/26th (can't remember exactly)

There's also a Braum's @ 40th and Penn.

I would love to not shop at Walmart, but the convenience is just way too much to overcome. Now, I'm not constantly restocking my fridge, so it's not like I'm making trips to cook for 10 meals.

If you're on the south side of NW Expressway, I'd probably recommend a combination of Super Cao Nguyen, Buy for Less (Die for Less as the OCU students affectionally call it), and Braums. If you're on the North side, maybe that Sprout's drive isn't so bad.

[OKCbyTRANSFER]

The last few times I've been in the Wal-Mart Market at 23rd and Penn, and only out of desperation, I again realized why I hate that store: long lines, very few check out lanes open, and the self check out lanes had only 2 working. Took longer to check out 5 items then to find them.

[Bunty]

Am I the only one who finds it odd and a bit pointless they're building another Walmart Neighborhood in Moore since Supercenter is literally a 5 minute drive from it?

If the new one is located close to a major strip center, then they probably want to draw from its high traffic.

[Zuplar]

Drove this way the other day and noticed they got some walls up and it's moving right along.

[bchris02]

Wal-Mart to shutter 269 stores, 154 of them in the US | www.fox23.com

Given their dominance here, I doubt many OKC stores will be affected, but still, this is good to see. I normally don't rejoice at stores closing, but Wal-Mart has done so much damage to the U.S. retail economy and has treated its workers so poorly that I enjoy seeing them get whats coming.

[stick47]

Funny they talked about increasing their online presence. I think the WM online experience is the worst online shopping experience I've had. So they think they'll do well against Amazon? This is some kind of joke right?

[Filthy]

Funny they talked about increasing their online presence. I think the WM online experience is the worst online shopping experience I've had. So they think they'll do well against Amazon? This is some kind of joke right?

Although not grocery related, I just got back from spending a week in Vegas, for the CES show. Whether it be Sony, Panasonic, LG or Samsung....WalMart, and their online marketplace is "ALL THE BUZZ" right now. WalMart.com from a distribution standpoint, and ecommerce marketplace is the Hottest thing in CE. Current trends show that Walmart is actually dominating the Ecommerce field (in regards to fulfillment) and continues to cut away at amazon at an astonishing rate. They are already positioned from a logistics standpoint, and are rapidly growing their marketshare on the .com side. The reported numbers are somewhat underwelming, at something like 1.5% growth in the 4th quarter/2015..but, they are really well positioned now in marketplace. There are MANY in the industry that believe within the next 10 years, Walmart will surpass Amazon in regards to 3rd party Marketplace sales Volume, and 3rd Profit margins. So no..its not a joke.

[Eric]

Wal-Mart to shutter 269 stores, 154 of them in the US | www.fox23.com

Given their dominance here, I doubt many OKC stores will be affected, but still, this is good to see. I normally don't rejoice at stores closing, but Wal-Mart has done so much damage to the U.S. retail economy and has treated its workers so poorly that I enjoy seeing them get whats coming.

...and the rest of the story.

Even as Walmart plans to close hundreds of locations, it also intends to open more than 300 stores in the next year, including 50 to 60 supercenters in the United States and 85 to 95 Neighborhood Markets. The stores that are to be shuttered are ones that the retailer says account for less than 1 percent of global revenue.

Of the 115 stores it is shuttering abroad, 60 are money-losing stores in Brazil; Another 55 are located in other Latin American markets.

The headline in my opinion was written by someone who shares your sentiment. The headline could have been Walmart plans to relocate 269 stores and open 31 more.