Unconfirmed: Williams is bought out by Homeland

[Lauri101]

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.

According to the employees at the Williams in Del City, Homeland bought them also. Plus, to add insult to injury - the employees there have to re-apply and interview for their own jobs - for the 2nd time!

I like the Del City Williams - I can get around it quickly and the employees are helpful and friendly. They have good prices on a lot of stuff - you just have to compare prices.

[bombermwc]

Jesseda, I believe Costco isn't here beacuse of Sam's. Correct me if I'm wron folks.

[Soonerman]

I think Costco not being there may have something to do with the pathetic liqour laws in Oklahoma because DFW metroplex has both Sams and Costco. Look at Southlake They got a Costco and Theres a Sams right down the road in Grapevine.

[southernskye]

Austin has 3 Sam's and 2 Costco's. It's the liquor laws.

[CuatrodeMayo]

I doubt it.

[jbrown84]

Oklahoma is just overlooked in general, especially by companies based on the coasts.

[oneforone]

I blame it on the Red State mentality falsehoods.

[southernskye]

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

Thank you for your email to Costco Wholesale.

Currently we do not have any public information regarding plans to open a Costco in your area.
Our real estate department is continually looking for ideas for new locations around the country and around the world.
We will forward your suggestion to our Real Estate Department so they are aware of your interest.

Costco

[jsibelius]

Maybe people need to start writing to legislators about getting some of these weird alcohol laws repealed or replaced then, since they seem to be repellant to commerce. In a time of economic downturn, it seems our legislators should be interested in considering things that will attract new business to our state. No?

Where's Mayor Mick when you need him? He needs to be the ringleader of this movement. Does anyone have his ear? Go pull on it and get his attention.

(Somehow, I doubt Costco is afraid of Uncle Sam Walton! However, I do notice Arkansas has no Costco stores either. Our proximity to Bentonville is an interesting theory...)

[progressiveboy]

You would think that with the lack of quality grocery stores that someone like Tom Thumb, Central Market, WF would jump at the chance of entering into a new, untapped market. But, again maybe they feel there is not enough demand for a upscale market concept. For many years now, OKC has lacked a really good, clean, quality grocery store and I would think if the residents of OKC wanted and demanded it then it would have happened? Maybe these smaller markets that are opening up in Uptown and Downtown will help fill a small niche in the market. Most of all, if you want quality, then you have to pay for quality or go shop at Buy for Less.

[Firefly831]

So now I'm confused. Is it confirmed that the Williams on S. May was bought by Homeland?
If so that makes no sense as there is a Homeland not more then 5 minutes up the street on may and 44th which isn't exactly having customers busting down the door...

[jbrown84]

They will probably keep which ever one is nicer and close the other.

[Joe Kimball]

So now I'm confused. Is it confirmed that the Williams on S. May was bought by Homeland?
If so that makes no sense as there is a Homeland not more then 5 minutes up the street on may and 44th which isn't exactly having customers busting down the door...

There will be a similar situation with the Homeland nee Williams nee Albertson's on Britton and May and the current Homeland on 122nd and May two miles north.

[jbrown84]

I think we know which one would be kept in that situation!

[Bobby821]

The one at I-240 and May will probabbly be kept.

[bluedogok]

You would think that with the lack of quality grocery stores that someone like Tom Thumb, Central Market, WF would jump at the chance of entering into a new, untapped market. But, again maybe they feel there is not enough demand for a upscale market concept. For many years now, OKC has lacked a really good, clean, quality grocery store and I would think if the residents of OKC wanted and demanded it then it would have happened? Maybe these smaller markets that are opening up in Uptown and Downtown will help fill a small niche in the market. Most of all, if you want quality, then you have to pay for quality or go shop at Buy for Less.

Tom Thumb (DFW area) and Randall's (originally Houston based but that is what most of the stores in Texas are named including Austin) are owned by Safeway. I do not know if there is any kind of non-compete clause or mentality in regards to Oklahoma with Safeway. Since Homeland was formed from the Safeway stores in Oklahoma by the management of the OK Safeway stores at the time of the junk bond problems that Safeway had in the early 80's, they shed a bunch of markets during that period. I shopped at Tom Thumb when I lived in Dallas, before Randall's bought them and before Safeway bought Randall's. I especially liked their Simon David specialty store at Abrams & Skillman since it was fairly close to my apartment. I stopped in there years later and it was just a normal Tom Thumb/Randall's/Safeway store by then.

Central Market is an HEB store, they also have an HEB Plus concept that is similar to a Wal-Mart/Target Supercenter with grocery and general merchandise, there is one in Round Rock and Kyle, there are several in their home market of San Antonio and maybe some in Houston or DFW. I still haven't figured out why they haven't ventured into the Oklahoma market, I guess they are concentrating on the DFW expansion and they are known as a fairly conservative and still family owned company. They did buy a few of the Albertson's locations down here that closed but not that many and mostly in areas where they were lacking coverage. Most of the Albertson's are still "dark", Fiesta opened up a new location in the on at I-35 & Stassney that closed. We are down to pretty much down to only HEB and Randall's here in Austin, Fiesta has two locations and we do have some Wal-Mart and Target Supercenters.

We do have a new, health market opening up down here in South Austin, I can't remember the name of it right now but I think they are out of California and it will be their first location here. We also do not have anything like Aldi down here. the one that surprises me that hasn't expanded more is Kroger, I know that is where my sister shopped in Little Rock and I occasionally went there in Dallas but they didn't have many locations back then. I know my friends in Denver tend to shop at King Soupers up there which is a Kroger owned chain.

My sister wishes that Kroger would move into the OKC market, my dad wishes that HEB would after the time that he has spent down here. Right now the Crest at 23rd & Meridian is where they shop the most. I would go to Buy for Less at NW Expressway & Portland when I lived in the Mayfair area.

[windowphobe]

Williams never did put their name on the old Albertson's at Britton and May; it's been a Homeland all along.

[Superhyper]

We need a Reasors. I don't know if any of you have spent much time in the Tulsa metro, but if you have you may have been to one. There stores are always clean and their employees nice. I even worked there as a teenager and still like the place, and that's about as much of a ringing endorsement as I can think of to give.

[Joe Kimball]

Williams never did put their name on the old Albertson's at Britton and May; it's been a Homeland all along.

Oh you're right; my mistake.

How have they been coexisting, does anyone know?

[Jon27]

Williams in Yukon (10th and Cornwell) is now a Homeland.

[Lauri101]

The Del City Williams will close on December 8th and re-open December 9 as Homeland. Some of the employees have been retained, but soem are still waiting to find out.

That store is convenient to me as it's on my way home from work. I hope the prices aren't too out of line - I really hate going to Walmart during this time of year!

[oneforone]

I wonder if Homeland has any intention of keeping the gas stations at the stores that were once under Albertson's name.

They have only put the Homeland logos on the gas pumps. They have not put their name on the awnings or the buildings of the express stores. It makes me wonder if Homeland will eventually sell the gas stations to some third world gas station owner. If they do sell them, I hope they will at least sell them to 7-11, or Circle K.

[jbrown84]

Oh you're right; my mistake.

How have they been coexisting, does anyone know?

2 miles apart in a heavily populated upper middle class part of the city.

[SouthsideSooner]

A higher up with Homeland told me that they plan on keeping both the S.W.44 & May and the I-240 & May stores open. He said the rent on the store on 44th was so low that that store would never close.

[Thunder]

The Del City Williams will close on December 8th and re-open December 9 as Homeland. Some of the employees have been retained, but soem are still waiting to find out.

That store is convenient to me as it's on my way home from work. I hope the prices aren't too out of line - I really hate going to Walmart during this time of year!

I've been driving by several times a day since the 1st and I had never noticed the change and closure. I've recently moved to Sunnyview apt and there is a Homeland right up the street on corner of 44th and Sunnylane. I will never shop there, since all Homeland stores love to overcharge everything. Will this one store close? Ex-Albertson's and Ex-Williams is right up the street one mile away on the corner of 29th and Sunnylane. I noticed all the Williams signs was gone when I went to turn off the Christmas lights at the apt. It looks like Homeland wants to move into this location. I can bet they won't last long. lmao