Why did these companies close their KC locations?

[aknowledgeableperson]

When did Kroger leave the area?

Kroger, A&P, and Safeway left the area in the 70's and maybe into the early 80's.  Before the high inflation of the 70's (I can remember changing prices on items every week) just about every grocery store in the area was a union shop. Since wages were going up (COLA's) and all union workers, except sackers, had to be full-time these national chains established non-union stores in order to compete with some independent stores that were opening up as non-union stores and being quite successful.  Now there might be a few union stores around (I don't know of any) so it would be interesting to know where they are and how they compete.

[AllThingsKC]

White Castle 

Thank you, that's another one.  Also, Winchell's is another one.

These are companies that are no longer in the KC area for some reason.  Are they all a cases like Linens n Things?

[dangerboy]

These are companies that are no longer in the KC area for some reason.  Are they all a cases like Linens n Things?

These big chains go in and out of different markets all the time.  Sometimes the company shrinks.  Sometimes a franchisee with rights to a whole area goes out of business.

[GRID]

Here are some that have come and gone that I can think of…

Schnucks
Linens N Things
Brandsmart
Ultimate Electronics
White Castle
Checkers
Garden Ridge
Montgomery Ward
Best Products
Service Merchandise
Home Quarters Warehouse (HQ)
Payless Cashways
Sharper Image
CompUSA
Levitz Furniture
Venture
Rhodes Furniture

[KCMax]

Shoney's

[PumpkinStalker]

Pace, it was by Bannister Mall

[AllThingsKC]

Here are some that have come and gone that I can think of…

Schnucks
Linens N Things
Brandsmart
Ultimate Electronics
White Castle
Checkers
Garden Ridge
Montgomery Ward
Best Products
Service Merchandise
Home Quarters Warehouse (HQ)
Payless Cashways
Sharper Image
CompUSA
Levitz Furniture
Venture
Rhodes Furniture

Well, some of those places closed their KC locations because they closed ALL of their stores nationwide. 

What I want to know is why some of those companies still operate in other parts of the country.  When I go to other cities (like Denver and even St. Louis), I am amazed how many companies are there that KC no longer has for some reason.

Also, you can add Piggly Wiggly to list.

[dangerboy]

Well, some of those places closed their KC locations because they closed ALL of their stores nationwide. 

What I want to know is why some of those companies still operate in other parts of the country.  When I go to other cities (like Denver and even St. Louis), I am amazed how many companies are there that KC no longer has for some reason.

Also, you can add Piggly Wiggly to list.

Do I detect chain store envy?

Outside of the deep south, Piggly Wiggly has retreated almost exclusively to small town locations.  For example, Higginsville and Chillicothe.

[AllThingsKC]

It's not chain store envy.  It's more like a curiosity as to why these stores work in other cities but failed in KC and why these companies thought leaving KC would help them.

[dangerboy]

Well you would have to ask those companies, or look in the Biz Journal archives.  There could be any number of reasons.  And they often pull out of several cities, not just KC.  So you shouldn't take it personal as an insult to the city.  Many times it is franchise owner that leaves, not the corporation.

[chrizow]

Now there might be a few union stores around (I don't know of any) so it would be interesting to know where they are and how they compete.

maybe not around here, but in the st. louis area.  both schnucks and dierberg's (the two big chains over there, basically the only chains outside STL City) are union stores.  there was a huge grocery store strike a year or two ago.  my brother, who lives way out in west st. louis county, had to drive like 30 minutes to the nearest non-union store - a Sav-A-Lot - or pay out the nose to shop at the local gourmet grocery mini-chain, Straub's.  before long, i think he and his wife figured out it was cheaper and more convenient to just eat Chipotle.

[Tosspot]

On the subject of Grocery stores --

I've noticed a lot of stores run commercials and ads proclaiming how "friendly" they are. Seriously, who gives two shits how friendly the employees of a store are, as long as they are competent.

If I owned a grocery store I would post it in plain sight that I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who habitually mistreats employees.

Yes, quite often the customer is indeed wrong.

[chrizow]

I've noticed a lot of stores run commercials and ads proclaiming how "friendly" they are. Seriously, who gives two shits how friendly the employees of a store are, as long as they are competent.

the employees of the westport sunfresh are both unfriendly and comically incompetent.  truly a win-win.  luckily sunfresh's prices are pretty high so it makes it all worth it.  wait, um...

[GRID]

"Chicken Place Ghetto"

[bbqboy]

I don't remember any Jack in the Boxes in KC. When was that?
Too bad, because they have great TV ads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWVnPlUCrf8
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdKwWUIo ... re=related

[ddw334umkc]

Here's a few more:

Stix, Flags and Fuller
Woolworth's
Woolco
Kreskies(downtown)
Children's Palace
Old Country Buffet
Grandy's

[AllThingsKC]

I don't remember any Jack in the Boxes in KC. When was that?
Too bad, because they have great TV ads.

I think they left KC in the late 1980's.

[Jess]

On the subject of Grocery stores --

I've noticed a lot of stores run commercials and ads proclaiming how "friendly" they are. Seriously, who gives two shits how friendly the employees of a store are, as long as they are competent.

I do.  Maybe not grinnin' fool-insincere-fake friendly, but at least not sullen and rude.  I've never held a job in my life where it was deemed acceptable to be rude to customers, and it ticks me off when checkers feel they are an exception. I don't need to be snapped at in return for patronizing their workplace. A professional attitude ought to be mandatory. The customer is assuredly not always right, but being unpleasant to random people who go through your line simply because you wish you were somewhere other than work is unacceptable to me. 

Store employees don't have to go out of their way to be overly friendly to me (although I notice and appreciate it when they do). But they sure as heck don't have to be overly rude, either.

[KCMax]

I don't remember any Jack in the Boxes in KC. When was that?
Too bad, because they have great TV ads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWVnPlUCrf8
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdKwWUIo ... re=related

And great sourdough burgers at 3 am when you're coming home from the bars.

[cknab1]

I loved those deep fried burritos they had.  They were bad for you I'm sure, but what an addiction.  I was taking some engineering classes at the UMKC campus by the Truman Library and looked forward to stopping at 24 hwy afterwork to get a bite to eat before classes.