matguy70 wrote:Spoke to one of the store managers last night and he said the store has been so swamped that they did not expect this much success. He also said that they were figuring that customers would drop off after 7pm til close and he said they have had to practically push people out of the store at closing time. He said that the store;s success just in one week has exceeded all expectations.
Good news!
My first visit to Culinaria was last night at 9:30 PM. There had to be at least 50 people in the store - I was quite suprised. The staff really went out of their way to be friendly and courteous. Color me rather impressed.
Notes from Home wrote: If, as someone mentioned, an Old Navy opened on this strip that would really open some eyes.
What is the next thing downtown dwellers would covet to meet day-to-day living needs? (Don't say Walmart). A full drug store? Or does Culinaria cover that adequately? A large chain book store like Barnes and Noble? How about a small hardware store?
Notes from Home wrote: If, as someone mentioned, an Old Navy opened on this strip that would really open some eyes.
What is the next thing downtown dwellers would covet to meet day-to-day living needs? (Don't say Walmart). A full drug store? Or does Culinaria cover that adequately? A large chain book store like Barnes and Noble? How about a small hardware store?
Speaking as a downtown worker and non-resident, I would like a Walgreens - while there is some overlap with the services the Culinaria offers, Walgreens are really convenient stores.
An Office Depot-type place would really come in handy too.
With Left Bank Books now downtown, I couldn't care less if we get a chain book store. Men's clothing shops would be nice, and it would be great to see that Ace Hardware finally open up.
I couldn't care less about Blockbuster. I can rent HD movies from the intertubes via AppleTV or DishNetwork (although Dish has a piss-poor interface to find movies.) Why go to a physical store and rack up late fees? I don't get it.
innov8ion wrote:I couldn't care less about Blockbuster. I can rent HD movies from the intertubes via AppleTV or DishNetwork (although Dish has a piss-poor interface to find movies.) Why go to a physical store and rack up late fees? I don't get it.
I think it might have just been a suggestion...you could also shop at schnucks.com and not have to leave your apartment as well.
I was at my normal Schnucks (Richmond Heights) on Sunday when I was checking out at the lane by where the head cashier/manager stands. One cashier was coming in for their shift when I overheard this conversation.
Managers: Hey! You're back from you run downtown: how was it?
Cashier: absolutely friggin crazy. I though this store would prepare me for what we'd face down there. I was wrong.
Managers: We heard. Maryland Heights called and wanted us to round up more volunteers to pick up shifts.
Cashier: They've got the bodies. Its just the people keep coming and coming. There's tons of shoppers but there are also a bunch of gawkers. I swear half of the people going to the Cardinals game came in to look around. Lots of tourists.
I couldn't listen any more as I needed to collect my bags and head out.
I know it's not downtown, but there is a new Walgreen's opening soon in Lafayette Square across from City Hospital.
Next on my wishlist is a hardware store or a clothing store where I can pick up necessities like t shirts, socks or a pair of shorts...like a GAP...I know Macy's is there and I am anxious to see what their renovations look like, but right now the pickings are kind of slim there.
mophipsi wrote:I know it's not downtown, but there is a new Walgreen's opening soon in Lafayette Square across from City Hospital.
Next on my wishlist is a hardware store or a clothing store where I can pick up necessities like t shirts, socks or a pair of shorts...like a GAP...I know Macy's is there and I am anxious to see what their renovations look like, but right now the pickings are kind of slim there.
A Target would sure fit that bill nicely, but I realize that I'm dreaming, at least in the short-term future. The Gap would work for those needs as well, and if the rumors are true, there may be an Old Navy on or near Olive Street in the not-so-distant future. Macy's made a few positive changes when they replaced the Famous-Barr nameplate three years ago, but hopefully they'll go a few steps further with their upcoming renovations (I think the men's casual clothing selection could really use some help).
I agree with what irock said about Culinaria- it is a game changer. And I think it could be a real catalyst to attract other major retailers to the area.
We went to Culinaria on Sundayto do our weekly grocery shopping. It's not going to "do" for that. It's too small, DH hates it because it's small and then 1/2 of the store is filled with convenience foods. Andhe hated the grocery cart options (haul the cart up to the parking garage OR drive up outside and have me stand with the groceries.) The second option was better and recommended by the Culinaria employee. It's unfortunately that those stupid carts lock up whenever you get near the door, hate hate hate that.
Our grocery shopping routine is that both of us do it together on Sundays. He won't budget on this dislike, I know.
However, I liked the store a lot and will be running in probably once every two weeks for something. The best thing for me is the regular Schnuck's hours, open until 10 PM. How many times have I needed lettuce and a couple of fresh veg at night? Vincent's in SOulard is only open until 8 PM.
Just last Saturday I was, once again, searching for a deli typ place ot get food for a picnic. Nnow the Culinaria will be perfect for that.
We do love our Schnuck's Arsenal store, but I like the new Culinaria as well and will support it as best I can.
With all of the deli and pre-made food there, I don't see how city Grocery can now compete at all.
innov8ion wrote:I couldn't care less about Blockbuster. I can rent HD movies from the intertubes via AppleTV or DishNetwork (although Dish has a piss-poor interface to find movies.) Why go to a physical store and rack up late fees? I don't get it.
I do not have apple TV and cannot get dish or direct tv in my building. I do have charter but as it was stated it was only a suggestion. Sometimes I happen to like going to the store and browsing.
And if you turn in your movies you do not get late fees!
innov8ion wrote:I couldn't care less about Blockbuster. I can rent HD movies from the intertubes via AppleTV or DishNetwork (although Dish has a piss-poor interface to find movies.) Why go to a physical store and rack up late fees? I don't get it.
I do not have apple TV and cannot get dish or direct tv in my building. I do have charter but as it was stated it was only a suggestion. Sometimes I happen to like going to the store and browsing.
And if you turn in your movies you do not get late fees!
I hear you. It's the last part that gets me every time! Charter has on-demand, too. Just trying to suggest that stores like Blockbuster appear to be going the way of Sam Goody. The number of Blockbuster brick and mortar stores are likely to start declining in an appreciable manner.
We went to Culinaria on Sundayto do our weekly grocery shopping. It's not going to "do" for that. It's too small, DH hates it because it's small and then 1/2 of the store is filled with convenience foods. Andhe hated the grocery cart options (haul the cart up to the parking garage OR drive up outside and have me stand with the groceries.)
Really? We found that this Schnucks offers everything a regular Schnucks offers - just not 200 boxes of them and lawn chairs, beach stuff etc... in filler aisles.
In fact, we went shopping on Sunday too there and we like the fact that if it is raining as it was on Sunday - that we drive into the parking garage, take elevator to store, shop, get it bagged, and then pick it up or take it to garage in car and never got wet or hot. We absolutely LOVED the conveniences and we absoluetly did not find one thing missing that we normally buy at Loughborough Schnucks - and not hoosiers!
Music and video stores are a thing of the past - the internet has killed them.
Netflix, redbox and others are slowly killing Blockbuster and Hollywood videos everywhere across the country and both chains are not expanding with any new store - I predict both will be out of business in three years or less.
Music Stores - same way. FYI and Wearhouse are almost extinct.
Even bookstores - thank goodness for Left bank - are chopping stores left and right. Borders, i/e, has closed downtown stores in Indy, Detroit, Minneapolis and Chicago in the past 7 months.
It will be interesting this winter to see what happens at Culinaria when the first snow/ice storm is forecast. Will there be a beacon of the roof of the garage indicating the Schnucks bread/milk/egg panic purchase aisle is open?
I have had a chance to check out Culinaria a few times and like most of you I think its incredible. My only issue are the doors directly off the street. Right now there is no way to open the doors for a person in a wheelchair or at least its not very easy for a person in a wheelchair to open the door. I did mention this to the assistant store manager and he said that they did not own the building and that the doors currently meet ADA requirements. I found that a little odd, but trust what he told me. He also told me that if enough people say something, then they will look further into doing something to fix the problem.
When I heard that you could not take carts up into the parking garage I thought that would be an issue, but when I went there with a friend on Saturday night, an employee pushed the cart right to our car. I was given the impression that they will do this anytime.
Yea, the doors are totally weird. And if you use the one on the right (the other one says "Use Other Door") you have to cross to the left to go through the automatic doors. Sure, they don't own the building but they just installed a giant grocery store inside it. The doors should be an easy fix.
Got a chance to check out the new store this weekend while I was in town. Seems pretty good overall and it will no doubt be a great amenity for downtown so long as Schnucks maintains the quality of the store. My only real complaints are:
1. The cart issue will be a hassle for some shopper, with the only real solution being increased staffing to help customers take goods to their car; and
2. For an up-scale store, the bakery department was small.
^ Sorry, should have been more specific. I thought it was both small in terms of area (understandable given the smaller store size) and small in terms of selection, which is really were it failed to match the "up-scale" marketing of the store.
JMedwick wrote:Got a chance to check out the new store this weekend while I was in town. Seems pretty good overall and it will no doubt be a great amenity for downtown so long as Schnucks maintains the quality of the store. My only real complaints are:
1. The cart issue will be a hassle for some shopper, with the only real solution being increased staffing to help customers take goods to their car; and
2. For an up-scale store, the bakery department was small.
The upside on a staffer escorting you to the car is that you do not have to bring the cart back down. If they didn't want to use a staffer they could require you to leave a driver's license or credit card which you would get back when you return the cart.
Just for the record for the person who said she/ he couldn't find "regular" products -- I have done several grocery trips over to Culinaria looking for very specific items for different receipes. A few days ago, I needed fresh ginger (not the stuff in a spice jar), Panko (Japanese bread crumbs), and extra-firm Tofu. I found every single one of these items as well as everything else on my list. So far, I am impressed that, though a small space, the store carries most of the things on my grocery lists.
The one product so far I couldn't find -- low fat chunky peanut butter (they only had creamy in the low-fat). I mentioned it to the manager and he said they would get some. I love Lambic's (spelling), the raspeberry beer, and noticed on opening day they didn't have it. I mentioned this to the guy in the wine section and sure enough, they now carry it (and I have been buying it!).
One more thing -- I prefer free-range chicken (I would rather eat a happy chicken than the ones treated so badly by Tyson and Purdue). Though the prices are steep for such chicken, this is something we work into our budget (often resulting in us eating less chicken but that's OK). I realize this is a personal choice but I feel like some folks were commenting that stupid yupppies are the only ones eating such an "overpriced" product. Believe what you want, but one look at the documentary "Food Inc" and you might think differently. I want "real" food!
I stopped in the City Gourmet, and was hugely disappointed.
The City Gourmet is City Grocers minus the groceries. It's the same prepared foods it had previously offered, some snacks, and a modest wine, beer, and liquor selection.
Overall, the place had a very desolate feel to it.
It was my understanding that City Gourmet was going to complement the Culinaria by offering upscale products that the latter doesn't provide. Currently, City Gourmet isn't doing that. It won't be long for this world if it doesn't step up.
steve wrote:I stopped in the City Gourmet, and was hugely disappointed.
The City Gourmet is City Grocers minus the groceries. It's the same prepared foods it had previously offered, some snacks, and a modest wine, beer, and liquor selection.
Overall, the place had a very desolate feel to it.
It was my understanding that City Gourmet was going to complement the Culinaria by offering upscale products that the latter doesn't provide. Currently, City Gourmet isn't doing that. It won't be long for this world if it doesn't step up.
Hmmm, I had just the opposite feeling. The store was bustling with customers. They have a burrito station, kind of like Q'doba, an Asian Stir Fry station, where you actually pick out your own ingredients and then they stir-fry them up for you and a breakfast burrito station which looked very nice. They also have a sandwich counter and all prices seem extremely reasonable, especially for the breakfast burritos as those are cooked to order and run $2.99. You can also add sides for $1.00 each.
They no doubt will evolve and work out kinks but I say they are on to something and by the looks of the crowd, the customer base is there.
I think my only suggestion at this point would be to watch the check out lines as they can get backed up. I would search for a more streamlined approach if it becomes an issue. During the lunch hour people need to get in and out as quickly as possible.
