Real Name: Vanessa Gregory Member Since: May 23, 2007 Last Signed In: January 25, 2008 Profile Views: 227 Blog Views: 7812 Shopping this weekend? Fried food!! Another Target for Bako? Miramar Real Estate Group joins franchise. Who wants Pottery Barn? One less grocery store? Real estate agency comes to town. Regulating foreclosures? Layoffs at Bolthouse. Discuss: The economy. June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 
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One less grocery store?
A Vons grocery store in south Bakersfield will close by the end of January, according to a legal notice sent to the Kern County Board of Supervisors last week.
But Vons spokesman Daymond Rice said Thursday that the store may yet remain open, although it is underperforming. "As of right now, the decision has not been made to close the store," Rice said. Filing the notice letter with the county is standard when a closure is possible, he said. Clerks, managers and pharmacists are among the 74 employees who will be laid off when the store at 2100 White Lane shuts its doors, according to the notice. Some may find positions in other Vons stores under "bumping rights" outlined in the contract between Vons and the United Food and Commercial Workers union, the notice states. Read the story. Anyone shop at this Vons or know the area well? Any thoughts on why this Vons store may be "underperforming"? Will it pose an inconvenience to residents in the area if it closes? --Vanessa Gregory, staff writer 7 comments from 6 users
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posted by
ceeceehowell
on Dec 7, 2007 at 09:51 AM
I grew up over there near South High and all I can figure is the close proximity to less expensive food stores. On the corner of H and White there's one of those Food Maxx type places, I can't remember if that's the exact name. And across the street from that there was a Sav a Lot food store (I say was because it's been a year since I was home, but it was there then). Being next to the Wal-Mart I'm sure hasn't helped them. The neighborhoods surrounding that store are more likely to shop at less expensive stores. More people in the house to feed, less money to do so with. That's my opinion. I don't think that it will pose a problem at all for the direct neighborhood, unless of course you like shopping at Vons. Then of course you're just going to have to travel down the road a bit. I think the closest one is on Planz and Stine.
posted by
RoyTullis
on Dec 7, 2007 at 10:02 AM
About the only thing I shop at Von's for is meat. When I decide I want a good steak I go to Von's at Brundage and California. Most of my other shopping is done at cheaper stores.
posted by
OldBlue56
on Dec 7, 2007 at 10:09 AM
Ceecee is basically correct. Like I posted last week on a blog about the new Wal-Mart south of town, the area of Bakersfield south of Wilson Rd. and east of Stine Rd. has become a lower income area. The houses are older and the neighborhoods are becoming run down. More and more families with less income have moved in. There are numerous apartment complexes in these areas, and none of them I would call "nice". There is also a lot of crime. So I can see why Von's would want to pull out. It is very similar to what happened to the Von's on Mall View a few years ago.
posted by
witterpitters
on Dec 7, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Vons is where I do the majority of my shopping - expecially the meat. We go to costco every couple of months to stock up on the big stuff. I see all these new cornor 'mini malls' popping up all over - two just down the street from costco on panama lane. who do they think is going to rent all this space??? and will these places soon become like the white lane/H area? a bunch of empty buildings? posted by
adampayne
on Dec 7, 2007 at 04:46 PM
That will make for two big empty buildings in that neighborhood. Maybe the City leaders can entice Goodwill and the Salvation Army to open two superstores of hand-me-down donated goods for benefit of our growing indigent local population. Von's couldn't make it with WalMart traffic in the Northeast and cannot make it without WalMart traffic in South Bakersfield. The reality for a full service upscale grocer like Von's is that there are so few upscale customers in Bakersfield these days.
posted by
OldBlue56
on Dec 7, 2007 at 05:18 PM
All the times we set up undercover drug deals, the parking lot of the Wal-Mart on White Ln. was one of our favorite locations. Why, you ask? Because all the scumbag crooks felt comfortable there. Go figure. posted by
nfergie
on Dec 25, 2007 at 09:36 AM
It's obviously because of the race that lives in that area. I live here now and I wish I didn't, it caters primarily to the Hispanic population. The grocery store that is around here "Foods Co" half of their products are for Hispanic food, and are written in Spanish. I'm moving ASAP
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