The problem with the Lindell Schnucks isn't that it's "ghetto." It's that it's in a sprawl development strip mall in the middle of an urban neighborhood.
Culinaria may be a little extra branding on top of the sundae, but it's basically just like all the other Schnuckses once you get inside, just more compact and with a bit better booze selection.
throatybeard wrote:The problem with the Lindell Schnucks isn't that it's "ghetto." It's that it's in a sprawl development strip mall in the middle of an urban neighborhood.
Culinaria may be a little extra branding on top of the sundae, but it's basically just like all the other Schnuckses once you get inside, just more compact and with a bit better booze selection.
Yeah, we'd all like a nice urban grocery store right in the middle of one of the most densely populated areas of the city...but the problem that causes people to skip by the Lindell Schnucks on the way to RH or the Hill is that it is in fact ghetto.
I'm assuming the word would be more like "shady" as in the fact that there is always an on duty "security officer" standing at the front door, beggars are often outside the entrance, the liquor has to be held in a separate boxed off area so that the patrons cannot get it without paying first, and the fact that the interior of the store is fairly outdated.
That being said, I still stop in if it is the most convenient location.
I know a guy who lives like 5 miles from a Wal Mart but drives 20 instead from Florissant to Wood River IL. "Too ghetto" being the reason.
I am ashamed to say that we do go to Wal Mart for our household stuff, but will say that I go to the "ghetto Wal Mart" in Maplewood that I was warned to never go to often enough to know that the chance of being robbed, shot, or stabbed is pretty low. Defending my going to Wal Mart, single income with a kid (and maybe another on the way), it is cheaper in most instances than Target - though we go there too.
Grover wrote:Please define "ghetto" in this context.
"Ghetto" is a very derogatory term in this context, but my point in using it was to emphasize that a "ghetto" perception (i.e., a stereotype view of the customers and a perceived lack of safety--even if such perception is false) is the main reason why people will avoid an otherwise conveniently located amenity.
There are other problems with the Lindell store. It seems more dirty and not as well managed as other Schnuckses. The parking lot is poorly designed (as is the rest of the strip center) and not even that well lit (probably adds to the perception of crime). However, I would venture that if you took a poll on why people bypass that store, the number one answer would be ghetto.
BTW, I've noticed some improvement lately in the S. Grand Schnucks (which I often also hear labeled as ghetto). Two years ago, every time I would go there, there would be random kids riding the motorized shopping carts around, miscellaneous crap would be in the aisles and there'd be a bunch of weird people loitering by the entrances. I don't see that at all anymore.
The Lindell Schnuck's has improved greatly in the past three or so years. There's been a modest remodel and the clientele have noticeably changed. Regarding the perception of the store for those who would use the word "ghetto," when I went to the store a couple years ago I would often be the only white person there, when it was busy. When I go now there's much more of a mix of SLU students, white, black and other. We often shop at the Richmond Heights store because they carry things that the store on Lindell doesn't. To those who bypass a store because of the color of people shopping there, or other perceptions of safety I say good riddence. THOSE are the people I don't want to shop with.
The point is that Culinaria is a success in large part due to location. And the question is whether or not it's so great that people are passing another Schnuck's to shop there.
I was at a wedding reception at the Renaissance Saturday night and needed to grab some cash from the ATM for the cab ride home. The concierge directed me to Culinaria, which was great since all Schnucks have US Bank (my bank) ATMs.
Even at 9:30 or so still plenty of folks hanging around the area (post Cards game, Blues game still going on).
I am, in fact, passing the Lindell Schnucks to get to Culinaria, but that's becuase Culinaria is 2 blocks from the 8th & Pine Metro, not because I'm afraid there might be some poor people at Lindell.
In my mind Culinaria is not competing with Schnucks' other stores, but with the Dierberg's on Eager road, the only other grocery store on the Metro.
From DeB, I've got three basic choices.
1) 1 Bus to KHWay Straub's. Very convenient but expensive. I do this when we need something right now.
2) Metro to Culinaria, which obsolesces Dierberg's and their asinine retaining wall. Culinaria is also preferable because trains are twice as frequent doing downtown as they are going to Shrewsbury.
3) Get in the Fing car, and go to UCity, North City, or Lindell Schnucks (all roughly equidistant timewise), or North City Aldi, or make the pilgrimage to Trader Joe's. Least appealing option because it involves the car. There are a few things we can only get at TJ so we do this once in a while.
Culinaria is cheaper than Straub's and more convenient/greener than making extra car trips all over the place.
Grover wrote:The point is that Culinaria is a success in large part due to location. And the question is whether or not it's so great that people are passing another Schnuck's to shop there.
I wouldn't pass up another store just to get to Culinaria. I do try to go there but time is too valuable, so if I happen to be next to another store on route, I would stop at that store ( no matter the neighborhood).
matguy70 wrote:I only shop at Schnucks Cunlinaria. We live near AB and they are the closest and BEST store to shop!
I realize you can't do your main shopping at Vincent's Market but You never stop there just to support the little guy and for convenience to pick up a needed roll of toilet paper or something? Just curious...
I live in DT and love Culinaria. I used to live in the CWE and my fiance still works there and I can say that we do not miss the Lindell Schnuck's in the least. The place is very dingy, leading to a poor perception of fresh products like meat and produce, it is understaffed (the lines are always long), and the staff is usually less than helpful (like you are bothering them if you ask a question). Not that I mind bagging my own groceries or anything, but they do not have dedicated baggers which leads to the long checkout lines. Also, as another poster pointed out, the hard liquor behind the counter makes it almost impossible to browse. When I lived in the CWE I went to the Richmond Heights Schnuck's unless I just needed one or two items.
I realize you can't do your main shopping at Vincent's Market but You never stop there just to support the little guy and for convenience to pick up a needed roll of toilet paper or something? Just curious...
Oh, I am all about supporting the "little" guy... not to worry.
I should have said that we do NOT live in Soulard though, we live near AB - but in the Marine Villa district - overlooking the river near Lemp - "AB" however, is easier to say and more people know where that is. We are a little hidden neighborhood.
Anyway, I stop into Schnucks Culinaria on the way home and bypass Soulard - 55 to Arsenal... so Vincent's isn't exactly "on the way". I have made an effort to stop in there though for necessities, but it is easier for me to run into Culinaria - time and convenience of a full service grocer.
I realize you can't do your main shopping at Vincent's Market but You never stop there just to support the little guy and for convenience to pick up a needed roll of toilet paper or something? Just curious...
Oh, I am all about supporting the "little" guy... not to worry.
I should have said that we do NOT live in Soulard though, we live near AB - but in the Marine Villa district - overlooking the river near Lemp - "AB" however, is easier to say and more people know where that is. We are a little hidden neighborhood.
Anyway, I stop into Schnucks Culinaria on the way home and bypass Soulard - 55 to Arsenal... so Vincent's isn't exactly "on the way". I have made an effort to stop in there though for necessities, but it is easier for me to run into Culinaria - time and convenience of a full service grocer.
Gotcha! Thanks for the nice and reasonable explanation. I used to live right by AB so I just assumed you were in that direct area. I have friends who live in Marine Villa and I understand that Vincent's isn't really anymore convenient than the next store. I own a small business and it is important and appreciated that people like you make an effort to support.
I have been to the Lindell schnucks multiple times this year and have always scratched my head at how it could be considered ghetto. There really isnt a anything ghetto about it. I guess unless you are a suburbanite going to school at SLU on mommy and daddys money.
Ugh. I hated when SLU students referred to the Lindell Schnucks as "ghetto Schnucks".
It clearly has only to do with the fact that middle class white people so seldom interact with working class black people in the St. Louis region. They're not used to people who look different from them (i.e. are not blond and wearing NorthFace).
