Previously: The Problem With Developer Ownership Of The Bessemer Shopping Center
Many people suggest the Phillips Avenue location was the reason for the closing of the Winn-Dixie Grocery in the Bessemer Shopping Center but some evidence suggests that the entire Winn-Dixie chain was having financial problems for many years before the Phillips Ave store closed.
From Wikipedia:
"Financial difficulties
In 2003, when the chain had over 1,000 stores, the company's stock was the worst-performing of the S&P 500. In April 2004, Winn-Dixie announced the closure of 156 stores, including all 111 stores located in the Midwest. Included were over 20 stores that had operated under the Thriftway name in and around Cincinnati, Ohio; they had been purchased by Winn-Dixie in 1995. The company had been hit hard by competition, especially from Publix and Wal-Mart. Another 40 stores in the Atlanta area were converted to their Save Rite Grocery Warehouse brand, as an alternative to store closure. Also, the company announced it was pulling out of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Bankruptcy
On February 22, 2005, Winn-Dixie filed for bankruptcy. On June 21, it announced the sale or closure of 326 stores, resulting in the loss of over 22,000 jobs.[13] Winn-Dixie closed all its stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Once the restructuring had completed, Winn-Dixie was to operate in the Bahamas and in five of the Deep South states, operating throughout Florida, the southeastern half of Louisiana, the southeast corner of Mississippi, most of Alabama, and the southwest and coastal corners of Georgia.
On February 28, 2006, it was announced that 35 more stores were to be sold or closed within the coming months, with the Central and South Florida areas being the most affected. On March 31, 2006, it was announced that the chain would sell its 12 Bahamian locations, which had been operated by a wholly owned subsidiary, W-D, Limited, under the names City Market and Winn-Dixie.[14]"
From CNN Money:
" Regional and some national grocery chains have felt growing pressure as Wal-Mart has ramped up its food business in recent years.
But one industry analyst said that Wal-Mart was not the only problem facing the 80-year-old Winn-Dixie chain.
"The modern grocer needs to stop blaming Wal-Mart and focus on improving the shopping experience," said Candace Corlett, a retail analyst at WSL Strategic Retail, a consulting firm.
"Being just another supermarket isn't going to cut it," Corlett said. "Food Lion's new Bloom stores are competitive because they are focused on customers. Winn-Dixie proves that you can't keep your eye fixated on the bottom line and keep your customers."
As one who shopped at that Winn-Dixie store I can tell you it was a poor excuse for a grocery store even then. The store was poorly maintained, insufficiently stocked and never fully manned. I never knew how he did it but my 120 pound German Shephard dog regularly went to the Winn-Dixie store on his own and returned with whole hams, whole chickens, whole hoop cheeses and more all still in the Winn Dixie packaging. The hams and hoop cheeses were sometimes so big he had to drag them home backwards. Were they just allowing my dog to walk in the front door and take whatever he wanted? I know he never had any money 'cause he never had a job.
As is too often the case, overreaching expansion may have been the straw that broke Winn-Dixie's back. From the Wayback Machine:
"1995:
Winn-Dixie acquires 25 Thriftway stores in Ohio."This was after many years of rapid growth.
"2000
Winn-Dixie announces a major restructuring, including centralizing its procurement, marketing and merchandising.
Winn-Dixie purchases 68 grocery stores, 32 fuel centers and two liquor stores in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
2000-2002
Winn-Dixie converts more than 50 of its stores in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi to the SaveRite Grocery Warehouse format
2002
Winn-Dixie launches the Customer Reward Card program which provides customers ongoing benefits that include merchandise discounts and special incentives.
Winn-Dixie exits Texas and Oklahoma to concentrate efforts in its core markets.
2005
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. files for Chapter 11 Reorganization to address financial and operational challenges"
So you see, while the Phillips Ave Winn-Dixie store may have been one of the first Winn-Dixie stores to close, it was far from the last and the problems it suffered were most likely indicative of what was going on throughout the entire Winn-Dixie chain at that time.
The most complete history of Greensboro grocery stores can be found at Groceteria.com whose publisher, David Gwynn, is a digital projects librarian/archivist and freelance web designer now living in Winston-Salem and originally from here in Greensboro.
Continue reading More Evidence The Mayor Has A Conflict
Many people suggest the Phillips Avenue location was the reason for the closing of the Winn-Dixie Grocery in the Bessemer Shopping Center but some evidence suggests that the entire Winn-Dixie chain was having financial problems for many years before the Phillips Ave store closed.
From Wikipedia:
"Financial difficulties
In 2003, when the chain had over 1,000 stores, the company's stock was the worst-performing of the S&P 500. In April 2004, Winn-Dixie announced the closure of 156 stores, including all 111 stores located in the Midwest. Included were over 20 stores that had operated under the Thriftway name in and around Cincinnati, Ohio; they had been purchased by Winn-Dixie in 1995. The company had been hit hard by competition, especially from Publix and Wal-Mart. Another 40 stores in the Atlanta area were converted to their Save Rite Grocery Warehouse brand, as an alternative to store closure. Also, the company announced it was pulling out of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Bankruptcy
On February 22, 2005, Winn-Dixie filed for bankruptcy. On June 21, it announced the sale or closure of 326 stores, resulting in the loss of over 22,000 jobs.[13] Winn-Dixie closed all its stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Once the restructuring had completed, Winn-Dixie was to operate in the Bahamas and in five of the Deep South states, operating throughout Florida, the southeastern half of Louisiana, the southeast corner of Mississippi, most of Alabama, and the southwest and coastal corners of Georgia.
On February 28, 2006, it was announced that 35 more stores were to be sold or closed within the coming months, with the Central and South Florida areas being the most affected. On March 31, 2006, it was announced that the chain would sell its 12 Bahamian locations, which had been operated by a wholly owned subsidiary, W-D, Limited, under the names City Market and Winn-Dixie.[14]"
From CNN Money:
" Regional and some national grocery chains have felt growing pressure as Wal-Mart has ramped up its food business in recent years.
But one industry analyst said that Wal-Mart was not the only problem facing the 80-year-old Winn-Dixie chain.
"The modern grocer needs to stop blaming Wal-Mart and focus on improving the shopping experience," said Candace Corlett, a retail analyst at WSL Strategic Retail, a consulting firm.
"Being just another supermarket isn't going to cut it," Corlett said. "Food Lion's new Bloom stores are competitive because they are focused on customers. Winn-Dixie proves that you can't keep your eye fixated on the bottom line and keep your customers."
As one who shopped at that Winn-Dixie store I can tell you it was a poor excuse for a grocery store even then. The store was poorly maintained, insufficiently stocked and never fully manned. I never knew how he did it but my 120 pound German Shephard dog regularly went to the Winn-Dixie store on his own and returned with whole hams, whole chickens, whole hoop cheeses and more all still in the Winn Dixie packaging. The hams and hoop cheeses were sometimes so big he had to drag them home backwards. Were they just allowing my dog to walk in the front door and take whatever he wanted? I know he never had any money 'cause he never had a job.
As is too often the case, overreaching expansion may have been the straw that broke Winn-Dixie's back. From the Wayback Machine:
"1995:
Winn-Dixie acquires 25 Thriftway stores in Ohio."This was after many years of rapid growth.
"2000
Winn-Dixie announces a major restructuring, including centralizing its procurement, marketing and merchandising.
Winn-Dixie purchases 68 grocery stores, 32 fuel centers and two liquor stores in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
2000-2002
Winn-Dixie converts more than 50 of its stores in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi to the SaveRite Grocery Warehouse format
2002
Winn-Dixie launches the Customer Reward Card program which provides customers ongoing benefits that include merchandise discounts and special incentives.
Winn-Dixie exits Texas and Oklahoma to concentrate efforts in its core markets.
2005
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. files for Chapter 11 Reorganization to address financial and operational challenges"
So you see, while the Phillips Ave Winn-Dixie store may have been one of the first Winn-Dixie stores to close, it was far from the last and the problems it suffered were most likely indicative of what was going on throughout the entire Winn-Dixie chain at that time.
The most complete history of Greensboro grocery stores can be found at Groceteria.com whose publisher, David Gwynn, is a digital projects librarian/archivist and freelance web designer now living in Winston-Salem and originally from here in Greensboro.
Continue reading More Evidence The Mayor Has A Conflict
