Why is Ukrop’s in trouble?
In case you haven’t seen today’s front page of The Roanoke Times, Ukrop’s in Roanoke is urging customers to shop more at their store, citing low sales. Nobody at the company has used the “c” word, but president Bobby Ukrop told our retail reporter, Jenny Boone: “For us to continue, we need to substantially increase our business.”
You guys, the food shoppers of the world, know better than any analyst why folks aren’t flooding to Roanoke’s Ukrop’s store. Is it their prices? Their location? The fact that your old grocery store routine is just too ingrained in you?
For me, it’s probably a combination of everything I just mentioned. I live in Northwest, so I’d have to be on that side of town to shop at Ukrop’s. I also have been going to my neighborhood Kroger store for years, so I know where everything is located and how much it’s supposed to cost. To top it off, I usually do all of my grocery shopping on Sunday morning, and since Ukrop’s is closed on Sundays, that rules them out.
What are your thoughts? Why, after all the hoopla over the store’s opening, do you think sales have dwindled?
December 4, 2008 - 11:12 AM
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It’s the Sunday thing for me too, I’d love to go there to get specialty items but I’m only on that side of town on Sunday and they’re closed.
Its just not that great of a place, and the novelty wore off…rather quickly.
I was born and raised in grocery retail, and my first impression was that it wasn’t anything special…the sushi is HORRID. This Ukrop’s doesn’t have the same ‘vibe’ as others I’ve been to in Midlothian and Fredericksburg. I questioned the reasoning for putting one in Roanoke from day 1.
With the new Bonsack Kroger, and Fresh Market and Tower’s store being “right there”…why bother going to a new place that offers the same stuff and less?
Good point about the Sunday. Most grocery shopping is done on Sundays…and to not be open on Sunday…THEY need to change to fit their customers…customers should NEVER be ‘urged’ to change…EVER.
I continue to shop at Kroger’s because I already have a Kroger Plus card and they have fuel centers. I’ve actually been driving across town to shop at the new Bonsack Kroger because it’s so nice.
Lindsey I agree. I live right there at it, but have never been. It is too big to be comfortable. I don’t need 12 choices for tomato soup only a few. I also tend to shop on Sunday and they are closed. Or I just need a few things and can’t be bothered with getting in and out of such a big store.
I am a creature of habit, and like you, know where everything is in the Krogers I go too and like the stores I go to the most, Tanglewood, Towers and West Salem when I’m visiting my mom. Ukrop’s is actually close to where I live and I went there a few times when they first opened. I don’t really know why I never went back. I guess I’m just so used to going to Kroger and to Fresh Market if I want something special. I will check them out again on Saturday. I’d hate for them to close for the sake of the people who work there, and the shoppers who genuinely love it.
I agree that it is a combination mainly of location and shopping habits in general. However…Ukrops prices are not friendly to the majority of the general public, they are a bit higher than average and I am sure that this is due to the atmosphere being a bit more upscale as are the products in the store. I think Ukrops has to realize that it takes a while to build market share, especially in their particular niche. Given that comment, I believe it is a bit premature to assume that the Roanoke location will not be one to consider keeping. A word to all grocers however… recently grocery prices overall have increased. Food Lion has always been a little lower, but with the incrase in gas prices, grocery prices on many items I purchase regularly have skyrocketed .50 to $1.00 more. This causes me great distress and I simply take my business elsewhere. If costs continue to rise, I will simply grow my own garden in the Spring. Several friends and family members have come to the same conclusion. This is a competitive and difficult era in economic history and it has to be realized by grocery chains that profit levels they previously earned are in the past and cannot be continued by elevated prices. The public in general will find ways to provide for their families within their budgets and if grocery or other prices are too high, they will find another way and sales will continue to diminish, contributing to the continuing viscious economic cycle. Keep items affordable and it will pay off in volume.
im a kroger and walmart shopper, love my kroger plus card and the savings it gives and both wlamart and kroger offer gas which i normaly get when im getting grocerys, and alot of times i go to walmart if im getting other things… toys, auto stuff, christmas gifts ect.
and i love when i walk into my local kroger at lake side and the people know me by name, they are not too big or over done and it gives you that small town feel. i feel comfortable shopping in my businees suit or my sweats, i feel like with all the ukrops hype i’d only feel comfortable shopping in my business attire.
I do enjoy the Ukrop’s when I am in that area. It is a very modern, clean and spacious store, but we have to realize that Kroger and Food Lion have firm footholds on grocery shopping in the valley. Ukrop’s prices, from what I’ve seen, are higher than surrounding stores also. I agree with Debbie’s post, I’d hate to see them close, but if they’re going to remain viable, they’re going to have to get into competition mode with their prices.
I’m originally from Richmond and have shopped at Ukrop’s for years. Although I live and work in Ferrum I make an effort to stop by Ukrop’s a couple times a month. They do carry some items that I can’t find elsewhere. It’s tough to say why they aren’t doing well. I’ve noticed that the Roanoke store seems different from those I frequented in Richmond – it seems more warehouse-like and less homey (does that make sense?). Of course, Kroger has such a large presence in Roanoke whereas the Ukrop’s name/family has been ingrained in Richmond for years. The Ukrop’s in Fredericksburg appears to be doing very well but I’m guessing there’s a more concentrated population where they are located. The location of the Roanoke Ukrop’s seems a little strange to me…
My step-mother had a particularly good experience at her local Ukrop’s years ago. She did her shopping for the week but as soon as the groceries were totaled she realized she had written her last check and didn’t have another form of payment. The store manager insisted that she take the groceries home and bring back a check when she had time. I’ve always been amazed at their generosity in that regard.
I think Angela brings up a good point – Ukrop’s does pride itself on the customer service. What other store has clerks who carry the groceries out for you? However, since I’ve never done a big day of shopping there (the Sunday thing again) I’ve always just carried my few little bags out myself.
I’ve had both good and bad service at Kroger, but now we’ve gotten to the point where all the Sunday clerks at our store recognize us and some know us by name, particularly the fellows in the pharmacy. But I’m sure if I shopped Ukrop’s every week at the same time, I’d get the same personalized greetings.
I agree with all the posts above. The times I’ve been in Ukrops there are always things on my grocery list that I just can’t find. Their deli food does look good and I have picked up their chicken pot pies for a ski trip weekend. Very good!! But outside of the chicken pot pies I always seem to get frustrated when I’m there. I always hear of people who drive from Salem or Lynchburg with a cooler once a month to stock up at Ukrops and I don’t know why they do that?!?! The Taj Mahal of Krogers is out on 221 South by Penn Forest. I go there every other week to stock the beer fridge. I buy fresh meats/veggies/breads at Fresh Market and everything else at Krogers Towers.
I don’t understand why people are saying this store is so huge! Ukrop’s is nicely laid out. I hate Big grocery stores, Shopping at Kroger is like shopping in a football stadium and their prices are through the roof. Ukrop’s has a relaxed atmosphere, the aisles are not as long which means you spend less time looking for the things you need. Other local grocery chains are not as clean. Fresh Market discriminates against people who have to pay with foodstamps. The crowds at Kroger is like shopping during a hurricane warning.
One word. Kroger.
I’m a VA newbie and hadn’t even heard of Ukrop’s until their store opened in Roanoke. Because I live in Franklin County I haven’t had the opportunity to shop in this store. I enjoy certain aspects of Kroger’s, but realize they aren’t the best in the land, primarily in the customer service department.
In Florida (where I used to live) we had Publix grocery stores and they always carry your groceries to your car for you and have the best bakery section (as compared to other large grocery stores in the state). I even remember several days a week there would be wine tastings. Those were good days…
It seems that the combination of price and convenience have led to this store’s poor sales. I’ve also been told that they don’t sell alcohol. I don’t need to buy wine or beer every week, but would like them in the store to purchase when I do have these items on my list.
I am a firm believer in Ukrop’s and am very disheartened by some of the comments here. The first issue was the “higher prices” that Ukrop’s had. I read your story a while back about the differing prices between Kroger and Ukrop’s. The prices were comparable in both locations. Where one store was higher on one product, they made up for it with another. The second concern is shopping on Sundays. I completely understand this. However I respect their values much more. I think it is great that they honor themselves and their employees by giving them a day to spend with their friends and families. I make sure I do my shopping during the week or on Saturdays to support this cause. I honestly think more businesses should follow this trend. I feel that the major benefit of Ukrop’s is the customer service experience. I love having my groceries carried out for me and I remember one experience in particular that is very similar to Angela’s post. During Thanksgiving last year, an elderly lady who was in front of me in line, was short about 15.00 on her purchase. She got a little flustered and said that she thought she had brought enough cash with her. The manager overheard the situation and came over and adjusted the price for her and told her not to worry about it, just to come in to Ukrop’s to do her shopping. She was saved embarrassment and the hassle of putting certain things back. I was very impressed and it once again showed me the values that Ukrop’s holds. I would be extremely sad and disappointed if Ukrop’s left the area, as there is no store that I know of that would hold themselves to such a high standard.
The morals and values of the Ukrops family is one of the main reasons I support them in their business here in the Roanoke Valley. I have been a faithful shopper since the doors opened in June of last year. Now, if I have to go into another store for some reason, I am appalled at the lack of customer service and the condition of the store and their products. I will continue to shop with Ukrop’s and wish them the best in their endeavors.
I like Tinnell’s and Fresh Market for the easy in-and-out and meat counter. You can even leave kids in the car at Tinnell’s.
For bigger grocery runs, Kroger is open on Sunday (when I normally make a big run) and has beer/wine and I know where to find stuff.
I greatly respect how Ukrops conducts business, but it doesn’t fit into my shopping needs.
I believe, like others, that is a combination of things. I have a daughter who lives in Richmond and those people LOVE their Ukrops. I went to college in Richmond 30 years ago and it was the favorite place to shop back then. I think the Ukrop shoppers in Richmond have adjusted to the Sunday issue and plan their shopping trips accordingly. Those of us in Roanoke have always had Sunday choices and just aren’t willing to change routines for a new chain.
I live near the Bonsack Kroger and shop there because its convenient to home and work. The prices are overall better as well.
You don’t even have to shop at Ukrops every week to get personalized greetings. In the summer of 2007 we were shopping there in preparation for a camping trip and struck up a conversation with the very nice cashier. Summer of 2008, same camping trip, same cashier, who we hadn’t seen too often in the year in between. She remembered us and asked about going camping.
I also think their produce is the best around. I have not been able to learn the store layout as easily as I would have hoped, but then I don’t go every week either (my husband does a lot of the grocery shopping). I would hate to see them leave so I think we will make a more concentrated effort to do our grocery shopping on Fridays or Saturdays.
People stop whining ! What did we do before all stores closed on sunday ? Starve !
I find the prices at Ukrops to be higher than at Kroger and I appreciate the wine shop at our Kroger (Colonial/Brambleton). I tried for a while to incorporate Ukrops, but it is just easier to do it all at Kroger.
Their customer service is wonderful, I like the variety of foods that they have and their deli area is great, not to mention their salad bar. I think that the closed status on Sunday and the prices of their standard grocery items is what hurts them; they may be priced the same as their Richmond stores and we are not Richmond, we are Roanoke! I agree with Rich, they need to change for their customers if they want to succeed in our area.
My Mother isn’t as spry as she used to be and said she would never go to UKrops because she wouldn’t be able to navigate the underground parking garage. I explained that there was regular parking in front of the store too. Then she said it was just too big for her to manage, even using a store scooter/cart. Maybe that is an issue for other people too. I have to wonder how many other people read about the underground parking and thought that was all that was available?
Myself, I went there once and bought just a few items. I found the store expensive, too big and it had way too many choices. It’s a pretty store but intimidating. I’ll stick with my neighborhood Food Lion.
Ukrops is close to me, but I rarely think about it. My car automatically drives to Kroger at Towers. My two major shopping times are after 5 on Sunday and Tuesday–senior citizen day at Kroger.
I don’t know if Ukrops offers a seniors discount. Even though it is only 5% off, it packs Kroger on Tuesdays. The area around Ukrops has lots of seniors. Kroger says you are a senior after your turn 55. Perhaps Ukrops could choose another day for seniors.
I think Ukrops is wonderful. It’s customer service and bakery are top notch. I drive past several Krogers to go there. I wish they were open on Sundays, but I also respect that decision for their employees. As a person with a disability, it really helps that they put the groceries in my car. Once I bought ribs to barbeque and for some reason, my recipe did not work. When I asked for advice from the meat counter, they replaced the ribs for free, despite my protests otherwise. Another time my husband asked, late on a Saturday evening, about cuts of steak. The butcher said to let him choose and when we unwrapped the package, we had two of the largest, best steaks we’ve ever had, a premium cut. And all at a very good price. I shop the sale items, using the website’s grocery list creator from the online sales flyer. I admit, I do shop the ends of the store a liitle more than the middle, just like the article says. After moving away to Tampa and Northern Virginia, I learned about the smaller grocery chains with great customer service. If you shop smart at Ukrops you can have good prices, healthier food, and great service. I believe in supporting companies who support the community and the customers. Krogers is too hit or miss. The Bonsack store is great, while Vinton is abysmal. I asked Kroger’s to donate some of their pharmacy medical information packets for a group of persons with disabilities a few years back, and the marketing department said that didn’t fit their marketing plan. I prefer to support companies where the customer service is a top down philosophy. Kroger’s has poor quality meat and most Food Lions are really bad. I have noticed that Kroger’s is consistently out of the name brand items that currently have coupons, but they always have their store brand item on the shelf. I used to be a Grocery Manufacturer’s Rep and I know how that game is played. I appreciate a clean store, with a fresh salad bar, bakery and meat counter combined with excellent customer service. You can have Kroger’s stale baked goods and poor quality steaks. Cheap comes at a price. If you wnat cheap, shop Walmart. No customer service and the lowest prices. Why would you ever go to Kroger’s? And no, I am in no way affiliated with Ukrops, just sick to death of Kroger’s poor quality foods and poor service.
Its special, but not ‘special’ enough-does that make sense? For normal groceries I don’t have a reason to differ from my weekly routine of Krogering. For the more high end items I’m still a Fresh Market girl. Ukrops has a few more options but nothing as high end as FM and their prepared food doesn’t hold a candle to that of FM. I second the comment above about their horrible sushi, FM beats Ukrops hands down in that regard. Its also tons easier to get in and out of FM when I do need to stop in, I don’t have to wade through an enormous parking lot, coffee shop and checkout lanes to pop in and out in a few minutes. I think Ukrops missed the mark opening in Roanoke, they need to improve their specialty items a great deal to make it worth while.
Let’s see. Closed on Sundays, higher prices than the competition, one store in the entire Region, 18 Krogers, 22 Food Lions, a fabulous Fresh Market a half mile away, and parking in a garage. I can’t imagine why this model isn’t working? They’re probably right, it MUST be the CUSTOMER. Shame on you all!! With that attitude maybe they should be making automobiles.
I love Ukrops! The personal service I’ve gotten there far outweighs anything I’ve gotten anywhere else. However, I too live in NW and it is quite an effort to go all of the way across town just to pick up a few items. The bulk of my shopping is also done on Sunday (like many others I see), and so that eliminates them. It probably would have been better if they had moved farther away from Fresh Market so that both ends of town would have a speciality market. If they offered fuel discounts like the Richmond stores offer it might help them. I hope they can hang in there. I will be very sad if they left.
Ukrops maintains a retail niche that is between Kroger (regular grocery store) and Fresh Market (specialty grocer). They chose a tough location here in the Valley. They took on both ends of their competitive continuum. Had they located in Salem, for example, they would have competed only on the “regular grocer” (Kroger) end. I don’t see how they get beyond their decision to choose such a tough location. It’s a good store and I wish them well, but they have to draw from both ends without distingusing themselves at either. One big disadvantage is that they don’t have the gas deal here that they do in Richmond. That drives me to Krogers.
Prices too high on staples. I don’t mind paying more for better quality fresh foods, meats, specialty items, but that means I shop there only when I’m just food shopping, and usually for guests. If I need detergent, cat food, paper towels and something for dinner and lunches tomorrow, I’ll go someplace cheaper. And since it competes with Fresh Market for quality foods, I’d rather go to fresh Market; it is more intimate, easier to find things, not so overwhelming.
And the location is bad for most of us. It isn’t on anybody’s way home.
Being from Richmond and also worked at Ukrop’s for a short time, I have great admiration for this grocery chain. I think they have one of the great bakery concepts and Ukrop’s does offer some great services and products.
You do have to respect their policy of being closed on Sunday. That is a rare quality, but it is a bit outdated and this seems to be a major reason for their lack of success here in Roanoke. I also question their location of choice for this business. In Richmond, there are Ukrop’s dotted all over the place just like here in Roanoke; there are Kroger’s dotted all over the region. It took a good while for Ukrop’s to become successful in the Fredericksburg market and it will take time here in Roanoke as well.
I think another area which hurts their business is their choice not to sell alcohol. This might be a small part of the equation but it does play a part. I know beer and wine retailers tend to open close to Ukrop’s but, that is still another stop for shoppers to make. Face it; we love our “one stop shopping”!
Ukrop’s is a great organization; it will take time for the star city to become familiar and accustomed to this establishment.
First of all, let me say, I cannot believe that anyone would ever think of not wanting Ukrops in the area. Yes, Kroger is wonderful for sales, (and that is all I can buy there is sale items). Too expensive to shop regularly. I dislike Food Lion all together, and what would we do without our faithful Walmart. I live in Roanoke city, and I drive either to Bonsack or Salem Walmart stores, because ValleyView store has become a nightmare!! I feel like I am in a foreign country for one, and then everyone is SO rude. When I have the opportunity to visit Ukrops, I cannot think of a better service oriented grocery store in my life. The managers are always available, and the sales clerks are relatively friendly. The management is the exeption. First class!! They have special products that you cannot buy anywhere else in Roanoke, and that is wonderful. I love the atmosphere, and the openness I feel when I am there. As far as the pastry shop, they have Kroger, Walmart, Sams, just anyone else in town beat hands down. The yellow cakes with choc icing are the rage. I used to live near a Ukrops in Richmond, and I would come home for the weekend, and have to pack my car full of “goodies” from Ukrops for the family. The customer service is exceptional. Yes, I cannot afford to grocery shop there on a regular basis. It is much too pricey. However, it is wonderful to know that we have a “fun” place to visit for special occasions (and they are many) that we can find “goodies” galore. And for those of you who do your grocery shopping on Sunday, I honestly cannot imagine doing such a thing. It is the Lord’s day, and whether you give Him your time on Sunday or not, grocery shopping, mowing your lawn, raking leaves, any kind of shopping should be done Monday thru Saturday. Frankly, it is a day of rest. There are exceptions to the rule, but not the norm. I think it is awesome that they are closed. If I were to want to work anywhere, it would be at a place that had no Sunday hours. That is family time, and we should consider them first before ourself.
We love Ukrops and it would be TERRIBLE if they were to close or leave the area. Everyone NEEDS change. So what that you have to drive across town. So what that they aren’t like Kroger. Everyone likes to live in a rut. “Do the same thing all the time. Don’t change anything, or I will be upset”. Well, Do something different for a change. It feels wonderful. Life is too short to not make the most of each day.
Ukrops…. you are the best.
There are several factors here. One is the location standing there all by them self. No other is like that. Another is there are so many other stores here. As for prices I don’t think they are any worse than Kroger. If it’s not on sale at Kroger I normally don’t buy it. I’ve found better prices at IGA. I would hate to see then close and don’t think they have given it enough time, unless it’s like someone else said they are loosing money big time. Will be yet another big new building sitting there empty for years (Winn Dixie and Right Aid) As for the Sunday thing I have to say to people get over it. Banks are closed to but you still manage to get you money! Funny how they have done well everywhere else but here. Shows just how closed minded people are here and they will be the same people that will say “Why don’t we have a ______ ” When we do get something new people in this town don’t support it.
I’ve never been in the Roanoke store, and never will. Although I do not drink alcohol, I’m told the store doesn’t carry it, and I’d bet that void discourages a large number of beer and wine drinkers from shopping there. I have had occasion to do business with the owners in the Richmond area and find them to be arrogant and extremely difficult to deal with, as evidenced by their refusal to change their Sunday and alcohol policies and, instead, expecting their customers to adhere to their wacky “holier-than-thou” policies. Good riddance to bad corporate neighbors.
Our experience at Ukrops has been positive, very positive. The prices of brand items are in most cases no more than Kroger and in many cases less. This includes staple items such as detergents, dog food, and produce. However, Ukrops has a better selection of upscale items not found at Kroger. The prepared foods are night and day compared to Kroger and comparable to Fresh Market. The advantage it has over Fresh Market is that one can do their weekly grocery shopping at Ukrops where Fresh Market is very limited in competitively priced staple items. It is our opinion that the location was the major error made by Ukrops. They believed they had to be in South Roanoke. On any given day it has been our observation, based on who we saw shopping the Ukrops store, the majority of quantity shoppers were from North County and Botetourt areas. Perhaps they purchased more because the store is a distance away and those living nearby stop in more often buying less per visit. However, a location in North County would have drawn from a larger potential customer base (better demographics) . There is a great deal of disposable income, not limited to South Roanoke, that a smart retailer will tap if they can overcome the bias to South Roanoke. A Ukrops type store in Daleville’s new development or at I-81 in Hollins would be a killer!
Our biggest fear of a Ukrop’s failure should be that it will serve to alienate other upscale retailers/restaurants from locating in Roanoke. Can you see Cheesecake Factory locating here when we can’t support a decent grocer. No way and not for years to come. We have done it again. We are destined to be a third rate market with fast food and Walmart’s galore.
I too was in a Ukrops in Richmond and discovered I had no checks left…this was before the days of debit cards, etc. The store manager told me to take the groceries home and bring a check back later. Roanoke is fortunate to have such an exemplary corporate citizen and a Virginia based one at that. What I find amusing is that in a city like Roanoke with a church on virtually every corner, the good folks are not supporting a business which is closed on Sunday.
Location, Location, Location…..Even though it’s a great store it is out of the way for most of we shoppers – and with time as a premimum it is difficult to drive by three other stores to shop at Ukrop’s. I think they would have been better located in Northwest or even Vinton.
Sunday Kroger and Walmart shopper. You just get great rewards and savings at these places. If I wanted to pay more money for the same food, I would go to Fresh Market.
No wine and beer hurts them. No Sunday hours hurts them. The atmosphere here is darker and more warehouse-like than many of their other stores I have visited around Richmond. They push their cafe which is good, but they don’t open until 7 AM. They miss some breakfast business from me and others. Competition from Kroger, Food Lion and Wallyworld was a known entity. I expected them to lure me out of Fresh Market more – but that hasn’t happened. My wife and I go to Fresh Market first if we want something special, preprepared or some quick sushi. The selection and quality beats Ukrops easily. The staff is very nice and polished compared to Kroger but Fresh Market is very good in that department also. Competition is very fierce now. I had predicted that F.M., Ukrops, or Tinnels wouldn’t all survive before they ever opened. The constant unfinished construction and awkwardness of the whole development has turned me off also. The developer had a very expensive and overly ambitious plan and they can’t pull it off. Ukrops biggest mistake was buying in to the plan. I’d be curious how the relocated wine shop is doing with the stalled development next to them.
Ukrops is the latest of three grocery stores in the Towers area. It’s a nice store but no more so than Kroger and it seems slightly more expensive. Plus no Sunday opening and no alcohol sales make it the least attractive of the three to shop at; the Ukrops family are entitled to their beliefs that these are wrong but they shouldn’t whine when those factors affect sales.
As a former Richmond resident, I was so thrilled when they decided to come to Roanoke. Unfortunately, the developer created delays in opening and continues to cause delays in the promises made in Ukrops decision to choose that location. Ukrops is not in trouble but it does need our local support for smart business. Ukrops does comparison shopping locally to keep competitive. They are smart business people and community minded.
Has anyone visited their website? There are meal ideas, recipes, a true accurate weekly ad and much more. I especially like the “myukrops” page. On this page you can view specials, get additional coupons, shop the aisle, make your grocery list (which prints out in logical groups), and much more. Wow, is this a time saver for me and keeps me focused on my shopping when I get there. Ukrops also has a “savings spot” kiosk when entering the store which is additional coupons printed based on your previous shopping and based on their inventory (again, smart business practice).
Explore what this amazing store has to offer. You will be amazed.
One issue with Ukrops, and its a reason I often bypass it, is because they don’t sell beer or wine. I don’t want to have to make a second stop somewhere else just for that, so I go to a grocery store that does. In today’s world, Sunday closings and not selling alcoholic products is a quaint but outmoded business model. It loses customers, plain and simple.
I love shopping at Ukrop’s, but only go there about once a month. When I need beer, wine or pharmacy items I go to Walmart. A lot of us don’t have time for multi-stop shopping, so Ukrop’s is only an option when I only need food items. Overall i would not say they are higher than Kroger and the shopping experience is excellent.
One of the reasons I shopped at Ukrop’s was because I was able to get products there I couldn’t get anywhere else, such as Breakstone butter. So although I primarily went in for the butter I always ended up spending much more on items I normally wouldn’t have gone to Ukrop’s for. Unfortunately, recently they stopped carrying Breakstone butter and I was very honest with them in letting them know that was the primary reason I went there, and if they didn’t carry it anymore I probably wouldn’t make the trek there. The customer service department did special order the butter again just for the holiday season. I was very impressed that they actually did it, and even called me to let me know it had come in. So I ended up doing a good portion of my Thanksgiving dinner shopping there solely because of their customer service and the availability of the butter.
I would recommend to them that they keep the products on the shelves that we can’t find anywhere else. That alone is a draw. They also should offer double coupons like Kroger does. I believe remaining open on Sunday is also a key to success, as like many others, that’s when I do my weekly shopping. If they cut themselves out of the larger bulk then they’re only going to get a smaller piece of the pie. In this economic climate they really need to adapt better to the customer’s preferences.
I wonder whether Ukrops miscalculated the need for superior customer service in comparison to other stores. I’ve spent a lot of time in Richmond lately, and Ukrops definitely exceeds the service customers get other places, and not just grocery stores. When I visit southwest Virginia, I’m treated well everywhere I go – those who work with the public are almost always cordial, helpful above and beyond the call of duty, speak understandbly even with their regional accent, and I leave feeling really good. I think good treatment is the norm in all of southwest Virginia, and Ukrops needs to have something else – I don’t know what – to be a standout there.
I love Trader Joe’s and wish we had one here – had high hopes for Ukrop’s but it doesn’t seem to have the necessary “vibe” to it. Was very disappointed.
Note to GP – Please NEVER leave your kids in the car!!
I want to see Roanoke continue to grow and be progressive. I can’t believe anyone would want any business to leave or not do well. Ukrop’s customer service and atmosphere is wonderful! I am concerned that people who think the prices are too high have not even been in the store and are only listening to rumors and/or judging by the looks of the outside of the beautiful building. Some of my family members used to say the same thing and had not even been in the store. They now shop there and say most things they buy are cheaper at Ukrop’s than at Walmart! If you are someone who has not even walked in the store I urge you to do so, I think you will be pleased. Would you want to leave Roanoke for several years and come back to the same city? It would be great to see this area grow and that takes new businesses.
I used to live in Richmond and I’ve always hated the way Ukrop’s tries to run that town. I was worried that they would do the same thing in Roanoke, so frankly I do hope they end up closing here. Aside from that I can think of 3 concrete reasons not to shop there: High prices, inconvenient hours, no beer/wine sales.
i may hit a nerve w/ some ppl but this is just an opinion. roanoke ppl just don’t like change. they want everything to stay the same as it was a 100 yrs ago. can’t do that… competition is the name of the game. if you don’t have competition Kroger’s and Food Lion can put whatever price they want on items. one thing i CANNOT stand about those “other” two grocery stores is that you don’t “train” their cashiers! PERIOD. who really cares about what the drama queens and kings did last night or are going to do when they get off work…okay, moving on. ukrops has a CLEAN store. the ppl their go out of their way to help you. the prepared food is great. this is a family owned business and prices aren’t that different. like any store…some items are cheaper and some are higher….happens everywhere. sometimes quality is better than quantity. REMEMBER—just an opinion!
I shop at Ukrop’s on a weekly basis. I moved here from Philadelphia Pa. and shoped at Wegmans. Ukrop’s was referred to me by my neighbors. I agree the location was a poor choice but, after going to Ivymarket.com and seeing what was suppose to be in the center I can understand it now. Too bad they went with the developer they went with. I think it would have been a smart idea when going into a new market to put a store in an old grocery store, see how the business does and build from that. The store they are in now is very impressive looking almost too nice for Roanoke to be honest with you. I love the customer service especially from one guy in particular who goes out of his way to help me everytime I go in there. This associate is very young and well mannered and has been with the company for several years. I wish other grocers (krogers?) would hire associates like him that care so much for the company they work for. I tell him to stick with Ukrop’s because he cares so much for the company. There store manager has worked for the company since he was a teenager as well. I am told by numorous associates that Ukrop’s is a great company to work for and I feel they are a great addition to this area. Our family will be sad to see Ukrop’s leave the Roanoke Valley. I think there are just too many unsophisticated people in this town. Lets pray for Ukrop’s to pull through this. I hope this will get more people in the store!! Good Luck Ukrop’s!
Store managment is very effecient. I have noticed that all of the managers are young and very hard working. Hope they make it in this dead town.
Let me know when morals and values fill register tills and keep these people in a job.
I’ll be in the bar….
Every week I travel to Ukrop’s, Kroger, Food Lion, and WalMart to check prices on the same 32 items. I have been doing this for 14 months. I do this for consumer price index research. The result: Ukrop’s is lowest priced, followed by WalMart, then Kroger and Food Lion. These prices are for staples such as bread, milk, eggs, butter, and cereal. While in these stores I also notice store cleanliness and customer service. Other than the new Bonsack store, Kroger and Foodlion are borderline health department emergency areas with Walmart a close second. Ukrops is unbelievably clean. As far as customer service, Ukrop’s stands head and shoulders above the others. Since it was announced that a Ukrop’s was opening in the area, Kroger did begin to at least make an effort at customer service. Message to Rich, please stay in the bar and get a designated driver.
More praise for Ukrop’s: Although I’ve never worked there, I’m told that Ukrop’s treats their employees very well. My cousin worked there while in high school and they were always very flexible with his schedule and paid a higher wage then he could get elsewhere. They’re great about hiring retired people as well. If I remember correctly, my cousin said the employees were given a paid day off for their birthday every year. How cool is that?
In response to Ukrop’s decision not to sell alcohol: It is my understanding that a young member of the Ukrop family was killed by a drunk driver. It was then that they vowed never to sell beer or wine. Sure, I like to have a drink on occasion but I can’t fault the Ukrop family for sticking to their beliefs. What’s the big deal?
I can’t complain about the location since I live in South Roanoke and it’s very convenient, however, I too have fallen into the rut of automatically driving to Kroger even though I HATE that store, especially the Towers location. Too many rude people, you are packed in the aisles, the lines to check out are always long no matter what time of day you go, there is never anyone around if you need help and then I almost get run over in the parking lot trying to get out. Overall, it is a very frustrating experience. I have always enjoyed going to Ukrops and I applaud them for sticking to their Christian values and not selling beer or being open on Sunday. I agree with others who have commented that Roanoke has a tendancy to run new businesses out of town because we are all so stuck in our old routines, then we complain because we don’t have any stores or restaurants like Richmond. I for one do not want to see them pull out of town and will make a special effort to patronize Ukrops from now on. I’d like to see Kroger have a little more competition.
I respect management’s decision not to open Sunday and, frankly, I don’t shop Sunday myself so we can drop that as a reason.
I don’t drink, so beer and wine sales mean nothing to me.
I actually know the store manager personally; great guy, good family man, decent chap.
Now, beyond these; for a “one location” store in a fairly crowded market for it’s size, Ukrops picked a terrible place for their one location. The site remains under construction, still, all these months later. The pricing isn’t competitive across the board, and, come on now, we’re talking about grocery store prices here: it’s a competitive business and the top price loses. Kroger has matched their market share with a proportionate amount of ad time on television, radio, billboard and bus sides, I can’t tell you the last time I saw a Ukrops ad.
Do you want to see an up-scale market done right? Go into a Wegman’s store in New York state.
Sorry; but I’m not impressed with the decision making in Richmond and Ukrops is doing pretty much what I would have expected.
Can someone from Ukrops give me a compelling reason to visit their store on a regular basis?
I have been to Ukrop’s once. New stores are my downfall because I always find many new things to try, so end up spending way to much money.Ukrops is so so far out of the way for me. I usually shop Krogers or Walmart.
But as one responder said earlier, Walmart stores are usually a mess. Shelves bare, nasty fruit and veggies and just general clutter. . I hate to be shopping when clerks are restocking shelves and at Walmart (Valley View), clerks act as though YOU are the one causing the problem.Plus the people who shop tend to bring their whole extended family and let the kids run wild. I do like the Fresh Market. The absolute freshiest veggie, fruits and seafood. But they do cost more.
I lived in Richmond after high school here in the Valley. I didn’t care for Ukrops when I first moved to Richmond; however, became a LOYAL shopper and even though I am not a religious individual – I respect their policy of not selling beer/wine and being closed on Sundays (Chick-fil-a is the same). I thought I moved from Richmond to the Bible belt? I am surprised at all the comments about alcohol and closed on Sundays… The Ukrops family are a devote Christian family and want their employees to have time to spend with family. A very community driven business with a bad location.
Wow. I’ve been reading this with fascination and now we Roanokers are unsophisticated and in a “dead town.” Thanks for insulting us.
I second a lot of the other comments and think it is a multitude of reasons why Ukrops isn’t doing well. I lived in Richmond for six years and have now been in Roanoke 12. The new store here is just OK. It’s not as big, bright, or nice as the Richmond locations. In comparison to Kroger they are overpriced for staple items – often by 50-75%. I have shopped there on a few occasions now but tend only buy prepared items and have found that the Fresh Market offers better quality on those. The location is poor, the other shops in the center have never opened, and I also like to do my shopping on Sunday mornings as well. The service has been great when I’ve been there, but there’s more to a grocery shopping trip than carrying my bags to the car.
While I occasionally have shopped at Ukrops, it’s the way they choose to do business that mainly keeps us away. My husband will not even set foot in the door and it stems back to the days we lived in Richmond years ago. He had a similar experience to the writer above with the owners and also found them overbearing and arrogant. The stores in Richmond also used to push the christianity issue a bit much which was off-putting to someone of another faith. I respect that you won’t sell beer and wine and close on Sundays because of your personal faith. But don’t jam it down my throat. Thankfully the store in Roanoke doesn’t have the large church painting over the front door imploring us to visit that the Richmond stores once had. I also don’t know that their employees have all been treated so well. Although many years ago, an acquaintance of mine was let go from her job with Ukrop’s when she announced her pregnancy – they felt she did not promote their values as an unwed mother which I found hypocritical. So much for Christian forgiveness and acceptance.
My Kroger in Vinton has wonderful customer service, and offers good value on essential groceries. I have always appreciated the quality and variety of produce offerings, too. I use the pharmacy there, and buy my gas there.
Last week I paid $0.74.9 per gallon for regular gas. I have to shop on Sundays very frequently, so please spare me the holier-than-thou garbage. Yes, garbage. I also enjoy beer from time to time, and my wife enjoys a glass of wine. Didn’t Jesus turn water into wine? Why in the world would I pass my Kroger and drive another 7 or 8 miles to go to Ukrops?
A little history about the Ukrop family…..they are a very strong christian family and so the stores are closed on Sundays. As for not selling alcohol….not long after Ukrops opened their first store in Richmond, VA. one of the Ukrop family members was killed in an auto accident by a drunk driver. They are also very supportived of many non-profit organizations.
Thanks for the kind comments Lakeshore Johnny. I think of numerous reasons to shop on a weekly basis, our great food, selection and service are just a few. We also have associates who are passionate about their jobs, and the customers they serve. Please give me a call at the store. I would love to speak with you. Jason-343-3024-general manager
I would hate to see Ukrops close, because they have the best salad bar in town, hands down. I mostly go there to have salad, and since I work at Roanoke Memorial and live in SW, it is very convenient to me. I too, live near alot of Kroger stores (Towers, Cave Spring, Tanglewood, and Ridgewood Farms), and I know the layout in those stores, but I don’t feel Ukrop’s prices are higher. I have bought alot of items and the prices were comparable or even competitive to Kroger. Being a Christian, I totally appreciate the fact that they are closed on Sundays, which provides their employees the opportunity to go worship, and the fact that they don’t sell lottery, cigarettes, or alcohol. Unfortunately, having worked in a grocery store, I know that there is much money to be made by selling the three above items. I will pray that more people would be willing to give Ukrops a try. Change is good and Roanoke needs as much change as it can get!
JYS – They do have the church painting in the Roanoke Ukrop’s upstairs in the cafe dining area. Expressing your religious beliefs in your place of business is fine, as long as you understand that it might cost you some money. Being closed on Sunday and not selling alcohol costs them as new entrants in a city where all of the established stores are open all week and sell beer and wine.
That being said, it is my favorite supermarket in Roanoke. I actually like going there. The prepared foods are very good and the cafe is comfortable and has free Internet access. I don’t notice the prices being out of line with Kroger and they have some very fresh fruits and vegetables. It is one of the easiest stores to get in and out of in the area (access for Kroger at both Towers and Tanglewood can be a pain). Plus, they provide excellent customer service (ask an employee where something is and they stop what they are doing and walk you over to the item). Personally, I hope they stick it out and are successful in Roanoke.
In response to MB and The Towers Kroger store, it’s not my favorite either. I do go there some because it’s close to where I live, but I hate the way it’s laid out! Some of the aisles are too narrow and it’s just confusing trying to find where everything is. I usually end up doubling back to find something I missed. I like that they have some items that some of the other Kroger stores don’t have, but it’s a pain to shop in.
I hardly believe that Ukrops’ choice to remain closed on Sunday constitutes “stuffing/jamming it down our throats” or a “holier than thou attitude” as referenced above. The owners have a choice of how to operate their business, the same as you have a choice whether to go there or not–neither is an infringement of each other’s rights. Their choice to remain closed on Sundays says more about who they are than what they expect any of us to do.
I became familiar with Ukrops when our daughter attended school in Richmond–they were like the students’ family-away-from-home. Ukrops was always great to the students. We grew to appreciate them, too, and would always stop by Ukrops on every trip to Richmond. The Roanoke location is convenient to my office. I frequent the soup and salad bars, and also like the fresh produce section. I shop with some degree of regularity and would shop more often if it were closer to my home. I also make trips just to take advantage of some of their specials, which are very competitive. I do, however, miss the short order cafe like the one at the Three Chopt Road location in Richmond–it’s great. Give me Ukrops over Walmart any day. I hope this store succeeds. I can’t say a word about Ukrops’ prices after shopping at the Bonsack Kroger, which I find to be extremely high.
A little more history about the family … Controlling, self-righteous, arrogant, and they wear their religion on their sleeves. The do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do type.
I was really excited to hear that Ukrop’s was coming, and despite countless delays I was one of the many that braved the long lines when they opened. (as did countless others) I have continued to shop at the store, and have found it to be a breath of fresh air from the other “grocery” options in our area. I find the service to be refreshing, the products excellent, and despite perceptions the pricing very competitive. In fact I had a neighbor who swore up and down that Ukrops was higher until she accepted their pricing challnge and was surprised they beat Kroger by 5%. (They still paid her $10 for her taking the time to do the comparison, even though they won.)
For all those folks who don’t shop because Ukrops is closed on Sunday and don’t sell beer and wine…what was your excuse for not shopping at Harris Teeter? Or have we conveniently forgotten that it was only a few short years ago another quality regional retailer rolled the dice on Roanoke, and they gladly jumped ship after a brief stay when Kroger made them an offer for their stores. It seems like we need to take a longer look in the mirror. Our city openly embraced the concept of “recruiting” better retailers to our community, and helped this developer with their plans. To their credit, Ukrops stepped up to the plate to be a part of this plan and we’ve left them holding the bag. They built a beautiful store that any community in their right mind would be proud of, and despite a lack of business, they have also opened their wallets to actively suppport charities in our community, even though they probably haven’t made a dime on this venture. What have we done. We haven’t even built the Walgreens not to mention the other shops that were promised.
If they leave, what other premium grocery store, retailer, restaurant will belive us when we say we will support their business if the come? I suspect that will be a very short line. Oh well, we will always have Kroger and Walmart….now that sounds like an exciting future for our region.
My impression is that this Ukrops has the look and feel of a Save-a-Lot with the way the interior is done, because it really pales in comparison to the ones in Richmond. I would stop in the one out in Short Pump regularly during my frequent drives to that part of the state, and other than the name and some of the items, you’d never know the 2 stores are within the same company. Plus their location is so far from most Roanoke residents that it’s just not that convenient. Why drive past 2-3 other grocery stores to go there, when they really don’t offer that much better of an option? Now if it were say a Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or something similarly unique…I think people would drive there for it.
When my father had many surgeries at the VAMC in Richmond, the one good thing to look foreward to was the UKROP’s before my mother and I returned to our hotel room. The staff was pleasant, friendly, willing to help and everything was facinating! The foods, the salad bar, the fast food areas!
I was so excited when I heard they were coming here to Roanoke.
The first few times when they opened, the prices were reasonable, staff was upbeat, friendly and willing to help. Now, when I have stopped by there, you are ignored, especially at bakery and deli. The prices are outrageous. $5 for a bag of chips when at Kroger’s they are 2 for $5.
The deli was reasonable and I would pick up breakfast or dinner, now even for a “taste cup” it is $3 or more and at times it looks dry and that it has been there for some time. The variety of items is good, but if they are so high, they will sit on the shelf.
I am so disappointed, and as I pass by there in the mornings or the evening, I see that I am not the only one.
I used to shop at the Carytown Ukrop’s in Richmond for years when I lived there. It was fine, but would always go to Interntational Safeway if I needed anything unique, adventurous or ‘gourmet’. And YES, being closed on Sundays is a major hassel (while it is their ‘religious right’ to do so, much of the world treasures the fact that Sunday is the only day to run errands. What would excite me and get me travel across the Roanoke Valley would be WHOLE FOODS. It’s an entirely different concept with amazing products.
Lindsey –
I think it would behoove Ukrops’ Management Team to have a copy of the comments on this subject! Whatcha think??
One thing that people are not mentioning, except for Matilda, is Ukrop’s community service. Ukrop’s has already done so much for the Roanoke community, more so than Kroger and especially more than WalMart. While they were waiting on construction to complete, instead of telling their employees to go home and not paying them, they paid their employees to work in nonprofits across the valley. I feel this is very noble and they really do believe in community. Also, I have never felt that their religious beliefs have ever been pushed on me as a customer and I have a very close friend who is an employee there and she is extremely happy working for them and says that religion is never mentioned.
When I drive to or through Roanoke from the NRV, I thinks it’s worth a detour to see what Fresh Market has to offer because the quality of the fresh foods. I always stock up at Trader Joe’s whenever I travel near one because of the variety and (relative) value for the money.
When I looked at Ukrop’s, expecting quality, variety, and value in one place that would warrant going out of my way — ie, expecting Wegman’s — I saw a Sad Sack imitation: limited hours, limited selection, indifferent quality, badly designed and executed facility.
Thanks for all of the comments posted thus far. We appreciate all those who shop with us regularly or occasionally. We are in this location and will do our best to be successful here. We encourage all those reading this to continue shopping with us. It is my hope that those who may not be shopping with us, will give us another opportunity. To Lakeshore Johnny, thanks for the kind words. There are a number of compelling reasons to give to you that would encourage you to shop weekly. We have great tasting, quality food, superior customer service and associates that are passionate about their jobs and the customers they serve to name a few. While Ukrop’s isn’t perfect and I know that we in Roanoke have made mistakes,we learn from them and hopefully have become even better. I believed in this company 21 years ago as a sophomore in high school, bagging groceries as a first job, as much as I do today as a married father of 4 wonderful children. Our mission in 1987 was to create great shopping experiences for each and every customer, and that mission remains the same today. Please ask for me on your next visit. I would love to chat with you.
I went to UKrops once and won’t ever go back. They are a VERY expensive store. They’re a few bucks higher than anywhere else on most things they sell. Way overrated and overpriced. I’ll stick with Wal-Mart.
We live in Rocky Mount, so a trip to Ukrop’s is usually combined with a doctor’s appointment in Roanoke. We were amazed to find a huge selection of Gluten-free products and mixes at Ukrop’s, so we fill our cart to the brim. We’ve also been pleased with the associates’ attitudes; they’ve been extremely helpful, even ordering a case of a GF product for us, at their bulk price, that was not carried by their store.
I want to thank everyone for their comments on this blog entry. The feedback has far surpassed anything on this blog during the nearly 2 years I’ve been maintaining it. Obviously this topic struck a nerve, and it amazes me to see how important a grocery experience is to a person’s way of life.
It makes sense, though. That shopping experience affects your family, your health and safety, your pocketbooks and your precious time.
I’d like to note that Jason Woodcock, the manager of our Roanoke Ukrop’s store, took the time to write a thoughtful response in general to everyone who has commented thus far. I’ve met Jason and I know he is passionate about his company.
I wanted to make one point that I don’t believe has been made — I said I do my weekly grocery shopping on Sundays, but for me it has nothing at all to do with religion. For me, it’s the fact that I make the biggest, nicest meal of the week that night and I know other stores’ weekly sales begin that day. So if there’s a great deal on a particular product, I go in on the first day to buy that product before it sells out. Which, many times, it will inevitably do by mid-week.
Having said that, I’m sure that getting in sync with Ukrop’s sales routine has been a money-saver for many shoppers, as well. It comes down to their location for me personally. I stop in when I’m in the area, but I live too far away to make it my regular store. Would I love it if Ukrop’s was located 5 minutes away? Absolutely.
Stay tuned for Wednesday’s Front Burner column in Extra, when I’ll be sharing some of these comments with the general readership of The Roanoke Times. A great many blog readers have granted permission to have their comments printed, which I appreciate very much.
It’s expensive and I shop at Food Lion–on Sunday mornings.
What we need is an Aldi!
1)Closed Sundays: don’t push your religion on me.
2) Higher prices: tough economy, duh!
#)Fresh Market a classy alternative
Mike is right….just like Chik Fil A, I won’t go there because they are closed on Sundays. And a church picture in a supermarket? Shove it!
I love Ukrops!! I don’t want it to move. It is way better the Krogers. Kroger doesn’t even compare. The prices at Ukrops are lower than Kroger. My shopping experience has always been pleasent. For those of you who say it’s different then Richmond Ukrops, Well, of course it is. Most of the employess are from Roanoke, where they have been taught from other food chains, like Kroger on customer services!!! But, I can see a difference, they are getting it!!! The main problem I’m finding with Ukrops, is the Developer! Isn’t he from Roanoke? Why would he sell Ukrops on a Bad area? I think he didn’t keep his end of the deal.Still no Walgreens,and no other shops? What’s up with that? Why would he plan for a Ukrops in that area. Surely, he knew from the start, it was the wrong place!! I think that most Roanokers don’t want change or like it. This place will never grow. No wonder we only have one Target store and no Kohls. And making a big deal over Sundays. I think it’s great they care about their employees families being in church together.arn’t we the Bible belt? Or is that just in Lynchburg? And just think of all the job losses, because you don’t want to shop Monday though Saturday. If you didn’t want Ukrops, then you shouldn’t had ask for it. I guess you like no one coming to Roanoke! That’s right didn’t we have a Hockey team?, Oh, yeah that’s right after we got them, no one wanted them!!
Kroger is terrible–overpriced and under quality–but people in this area are used to it, so they don’t know they are being sold lower grade vegetables, meats and breads. Unless they actually buy good quality bread and meat from Ukrops, they don’t really know there is a difference. Ukrops should have started with some really good sales on the products that demonstrate the quality difference.
Ukrops is nice, but it is a standard grocery store. There is nothing special about it at all. If they really wanted to make a special store maybe they should have studied some progressive stores around the US. Kroger is nice as well but again it is standard but what makes it the choice is that it is the incumbent.
Another issue may be location. I dont shop there because it is on the orther side of town from me.
I do not think that them being closed on Sunday’s is them shoving religion on anyone. Those who claim that really need to be less sensitive.
I was really excited about Ukrops coming to Roanoke. That excitement soon turned to disappointment. I have e-mailed their headquarters complaining more than all other stores combined. I bought a coconut cream pie in the baking department expecting it to have been freshly baked only to find when I got it home that it was frozen. I tried the banana bread once. In my opinion, it was tasteless compared to banana bread from Fresh Market.
In my opinion, the fried chicken at Ukrops is the best in the area .
The people who work there have been very courteous . This is a contrast to the Tanglewood Kroger where I asked a cashier who happened to be in the aisles if I could ask her a question. She replied, “I am off duty.” She also added that she was in a hurry. By the time she had said all that, she could have answered my question.
I will continue to shop at Ukrops but for only selected items.
As a 5 year associate with Ukrop’s I know first hand how wonderful they are, both for the community they serve and the associates they hire. When this store opened up here in Roanoke I had the opportunity to help open it and train some of the best people I have ever met. It didn’t take me long to realize that Roanoke was the place for me to start a new life. I made the move and some 18 months later I continue to go into work everyday (at the Roanoke store) with a positive attitude and adhere to the companies core values: Be Honest, Be Safe, Be Helpful and Be hard working. The same values are taught in each training class an associate goes through. Let me tell you.. if you cant adhere to the values you will not keep a job. My point here is that at Ukrop’s you will always have that great customer service each time you shop. The reason for this is because they treat their associates with respect and fairness. Why else would their associates (like myself) have so much passion and concern for their customers. I love living here and helping Ukrop’s serve this great community I like to call home. I hope that you will try your best as a community to keep such a great company in your backyard you will not regret it.
My wife already posted a comment on here but I’d to as well. We are advid shoppers at Ukrop’s. I enjoy the friendly customer service as well as all the great choices they offer. I particularly love the Bistro offerings. Ukrop’s: Hang in there!! And to the Store GM Jason Woodcock: Keep up the good work I see you in there all the time, even behind the kitchen counter working one on one with associates. Now that is teamwork! Heres to another 10+ years in our town!!
Well, I thought i’d go on down to Ukrops tonight to pick up a few of things, a gallon of milk, a can of peanuts, a 2 liter Dr. Pepper and a frozen pecan pie. Oh wait, Ukrops doesn’t have any pecan pie. Thppth! (as Bill the Cat used to say)
I tried to force myself to like Ukrop but it’s just not user friendly.The parking lot is too far from the store,the prices are ridiculous(they try to force a Ukrop card on you) and it’s not worth going to another locale to get your beer if you should choose to shop there.They are just not my cup of tea
I don’t shop at Ukrops because it is out of the way for me and to be quite honest, I don’t like people carrying my groceries to the car.
One more thing…I was born and raised in Roanoke and I must say Roanoke is behind the times, afaid of change, and for the most part unsophisticated.
Most of us never “asked” for Ukrops. They asked for huge tax incentives before agreeing to build that stupid looking edifice that looks more suitable to be a church. No doubt the manager of the store and its employees are fine folks, but they work for a couple of arrogant jerks. As for Target, their corporate people are the ONLY group that are tougher to do a business deal with than Ukrops’ management and legal people. Bible Belt? If church is open on Sunday, why can’t merchants open up? Or should we close them all? The Blue Laws have long been abolished in this community. As for hockey, watching the ice melt was more exciting than the “team” we had here. If the store can’t make money there, Kroger will.
I was a loyal Ukrop’s customer in Richmond for 13 years, and since they opened here in Roanoke, I don’t shop anywhere else (I live in Callaway and plan my Saturdays around a trip to Ukrop’s). Some of the comments posted here are incorrect. (1) Ukrop’s prices are NOT HIGHER than Kroger’s — perhaps if you compare one item to another, they may be higher in some instances. However, I have a weekly budget for groceries, and I spend less on groceries every time I shop at Ukrop’s than when I shop at Kroger. (Food Lion is only for emergencies.) (2) Ukrop’s doesn’t push religion on its customers. I am an atheist, and if I felt that I was being pushed toward religion while shopping in any store, I’d run like hell. The Ukrops have as much right to their beliefs as I have to a lack of them, and I applaud their determination. (3) Ukrop’s is a grocery store, and Fresh Market is a gourmet food store. You can’t get laundry detergent or cat food at Fresh Market, so comparing Ukrops to Fresh Market is comparing apples to oranges — it is irrelevant.
So why shop at Ukrop’s? The store is immaculate, the customer service is exceptional — if I can’t find an item, an associate will walk me to where it is, not just point to the aisle. Everything is fresh, and if local produce is available, they carry it. WHO ELSE DOES THAT except the Farmers’ Market and the Co-op? I can get organic produce, milk, meat, cereal – I’m therefore not stuck with eating pesticide if I don’t want to. If I have a problem with an item (and I haven’t yet had one), they go out of their way to solve the problem. The last time I had a problem with an item at Kroger, they told me there was nothing they could do about it — I would need to go to the manufacturer — that would NEVER happen at Ukrop’s. When I check out, the folks running the registers and bagging the groceries are polite, knowledgeable and helpful. At Kroger, the folks are talking to one another about what time they get off work. Last time I needed a particular item at Kroger and left a message for someone to call me back, they didn’t call me for a week. Ukrop’s goes out of its way for its customers, and that’s why I go out of my way for Ukrop’s, and always will.
1)Closed on Sunday
2) No beer or wine
3) Odd product placement. Example: chocolate chips are not with the flour and sugar but pudding is. Makes it tough to learn where items are located.
I love the Ukrops experience! For me and my family it has always been a special place to go to get specialty items – when we wanted a “different meal” and some special goodies – we’d stop by Ukrops and reward ourselves! The excellent customer service, all the samples, and a special car on the front of the cart for my four-year-old to drive made shopping for those rewards a lot of fun! Parking underground (in bad weather) is cool and on those hot summer days, we wouldn’t return to a squelchingly hot car after our fun shopping experience. However, with the economy hitting rock bottom, those trips have been cut out. We wistfully drive by and remember Ukrops shopping trips with a nostalgic fondness. To hear of their hard times made us sad and we hope that they will not have to close. We want to return and hope you’ll still be there when we can!
Ukrops dropped the ball when they chose the south Roanoke site. As a business owner I find that there is more disposable income with people who are willing to spend it in both the north Roanoke and southern Botetourt county areas.
We lived in Richmond for 12 years. We loved shopping at Ukrops in Richmond. The Roanoke store, as much as we wanted it to be, does not have that “Richmond” feel.
The bakery is nowhere near up to par; we tried getting birthday cakes there, and it was much more difficult than purchasing at Krogers or even Wal-Mart and the quality wasn’t the same.
The selection of prepared foods is miniscule compared to the Richmond stores. The prices on the prepared foods seem to scare customers as soon as they walk through the door. We tried the catered foods for a party, and it was very disorganized.
On a positive note the salad bar is superior to those that were available in Krogers, and those aren’t even available anymore.
The real kicker, though, is the location. Unless you work nearby, that location just isn’t user-friendly. The folks who DO live nearby have grown accustomed to the Towers Kroger for staples, and The Fresh Market for specialty foods. Ukrops shot itself in the foot when they couldn’t open on time as originally planned. Their customers had plenty of time to get used to The Fresh Market.
The folks at Ukrops just didn’t study the Roanoke population appropriately and learn what appeals to us Roanokers, and now want to shift the blame on us. I think that move is going to further erode their clientele rather than build it.
As the wife of a Ukrops department manager I hear all kinds of comments about why people don’t shop at Ukrops. Most people tell me its because they forget they are even here. There is hardly any advertising, most people shop by ads. Ads come out in Sundays or Wednesdays paper except Ukrops which is inside the front page of the paper on Monday. Most everyone has already made their grocery list out from the Sunday ad. Which happens to be Kroger which are on every street corner.As in Richmond Ukrops are on every street corner and this is not Richmond.So Ukrops is out of site out of mind. Spend some money and put the ads out the same time as the competition so shoppers can compare. Then they can see Ukrops is in line with Kroger and Food Lion on prices and variety. As for the TV ads they are few and far between most time during the evening news which is dinner time in most households so few people see it. There needs to be signs which can be seen from the interstate. Or maybe a balloon on top of the store to draw attention.Put a large sign out front of the store Walgreens blocks the store. Need to get the customers inside the store in order to get them to buy. On Sundays people are going to church, visiting family, heading to the lake, going on picnics heading to the malls there is a lot of business just passing by because they are closed.
[quote]A little more history about the family … Controlling, self-righteous, arrogant, and they wear their religion on their sleeves. The do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do type.[/quote]
Yet my comment gets removed when I say Roanoke is intolerant and afraid of change.
I drive from Bedford to UKrops. Their produce and dairy is far superior to any that I have found anywhere. Their prices are not higher than other stores. Their personnel are very helpful.
I remember well the ‘blue law’….and I remember when there was no shopping of any type on Sundays. Gas stations were closed, no mall shopping. The only business that I recall open were restaurants.
I am sorry that so many people choose not to participate in religion of their choosing on Sunday. God gives us everything that we have….couldn’t we give him one day a week?
But as far as UKrops…..I hope that our area will support them. I love the new Kroger in Bonsack….so I will continue to support Kroger, Fresh Market and UKrops. And to those that are saddened that UKrops doesn’t sell beer/wine…..there was a time that you couldn’t buy that on Sunday anywhere…..ABC stores aren’t open on Sunday…..you forgot to gripe about that.
Katherine R. Hix I have to say you have about the most intelligent comment on here.
For everyone that has the hang up on the closed on Sundays you have to be some of the most stubborn people on here. Six other days is not good enough and you just can’t make it to Ukrop’s in that time? It it not pushing their religion on anyone. If it was I would run too. Now if the employee’s started throwing bibles at you then I could agree. Then we have people wining about beer and wine not being sold there. Well I have to ask have you been to a AA meeting lately. If you don’t shop there solely on that you must have a drinking problem. Oh and let’s not forget the people that will not drive around the block to get there but will go to one of the worst Kroger’s around. I would think Ukrop’s would be easier to get to from the interstate than Kroger. I personally like their underground parking. Great for when it’s raining and when it’s hot out. And someone said their parking lot is to far away. It’s no farther away then any other store’s. You even have a escalator from/to the underground parking. Just how lazy has America gotten? I wouldn’t even dare compare them to Wal-mart. Yes their prices maybe cheaper but there is NO!!! customer service, the store is always filthy and it takes 30 minutes to get through the check out. They have no baggers and not that I would ever need it you will never see Wal-mart carry bags to someones car. Not even for a little old lady. I’m not a religious person. I drink beer from time to time and work Monday through Friday and I can find time to get there. Their prices are no worse than Kroger and I have found Foodlion to be worse. Foodloin is also dirty and if they ever have more than two checkouts open it’s amazing. Kroger and Foodlions meat is terrible. Come on people someone opens a nice clean friendly store and all we can do is nit pic them to death. I’m waiting for you to break out the pitch forks and torches and run them out of town. The location may not be the best but it’s not as bad as people make it sound. Please get over the Sunday thing!!! There are places all over the valley that are not open Sunday and not for religious reasons. People are harping on that because they are.
I have only been in Ukrop’s once or twice since it opened. I live in north county and have a Kroger just a block or so away from me. Driving to and from work I pass two more Kroger’s and a Food Lion. I admit I forget Urkop’s is in Roanoke.. I never see an ad on TV or radio for that matter to help “remind me”. I make special trips out to Fresh Market so the distance isn’t a factor.
I think maybe opening on Sunday after church like the store at the mall after 12 or 1 may help peak up sales to catch those leaving church.
The no wine/beer is fine.. if I want that i can stop at Fresh Market, Sheetz or Kroger..
I am not sure that many even know where the Urkops is much less knows there is one in Roanoke.. I only grew awareness of it when i dated a girl from Richmond that raved about the store.
I live in Blacksburg and while I am in Roanoke several times a week, Ukrops is always a stopping/shopping place. It is worth the travel. It is also one of the best places to meet people for lunch or dinner — everyone can get what they want of good, freshly prepared, and reasonably priced food — and they provide a quiet, clean place for conversation.
If Roanoke cannot see what a wonderful asset Ukrops is to the community, I hope Bobby will move it on to B’burg. There are plenty of people here who would support it who just don’t travel it to Roanoke on a regular basis.
I went back to Ukrops on Saturday – to give it a try and quickly remembered why I don’t shop there. First prices are too high – Fage yogurt is $1.89 at Krogers, Fresh Market and the Co-Op – yet it is $1.99 at Ukrops. Same for prepackaged salads – much more expensive than all other stores. In addition, I agree with others about the layout. I was looking for raisins and never found them – why are baking products separated? I’ve shopped all over this country and in many others and for some reason, I find this Ukrops extremely hard to navigate. I also agree with Sunday closing, for many of us that is the only day to shop.
As the owner of an online grocery delivery business (we ship out groceries nationwide)I can offer some insight on the issues surrounding Ukrop’s.
First, let me preface this by saying that they are wonderful to work with, we spend thousands of dollars a month at this store and they always go above and beyond for our company….however they would do the same if we spent less than a hundred dollars a month there as well.
I know the management team at Ukrop’s personally and to be honest the employees of ShopFoodEx (our company employs 6) are made to feel like a part of the Ukrop’s team. They allow us room in the back to store case-load quantities in addition to literally being at our beck and call for special orders.
Since we do not ship perishable items I can’t speak on that subject at length with regards to our company but when we do our family shopping there we have been pleased with those items. The variety of frozen foods is great and the produce is adequate…not the best….but on par with others. The Dairy selection is just fine with us as well. We do not buy fresh meats from Ukrop’s or anywhere else for that matter as we are not big meat eaters. The Deli is fine…on par with the others. The bakery we have not used; the cafe is used by our family occassionally and garners mixed reviews.
Back to my opinions as a business owner in the grocery business, I believe that the expectations of Ukrop’s are a bit high. When comparing sales figures to Kroger’s they must keep in mind that this is an apples to oranges comparison. Ukrop’s is open 9 fewer hours per day, 1 less day a week (a very, very busy shopping day at that), and they do not have the add-on sales that go along with alcohol purchases…not to mention alcohol itself.
In setting itself apart from Kroger’s and others they do a very good job…the service at Ukrop’s is unparalleled and the unique offerings are a plus…..and a minus (see below).
The problem that we have had with Ukrop’s tends to be towards their third-party vendors. We have a countless amount of items that are hard-to-find on our website that we get specifically from Ukrop’s. These items are not ordered on their regular grocery truck and are provided from a source other than Super Valu.
There have been times that we have had to wait literally weeks on end for these items to be restocked….this is inexcuseable for this one simple matter. If you are going to emphasise the unique items, which Ukrop’s is known for, then you best have those in stock.
If I were a regular customer and went in there to find my favorite Chiver’s Orange Marmalade and they were out of stock I would be frustrated…but I would come back again later in the week perhaps. If I came back a second time and this item was still out of stock then I would be miffed. A third time….then forget it. Along with that they woud lose all of the add-ons that I surely would have purchased in addition to that “golden” item.
Prices. This seems to be a major issue with others. I can tell you without question, and believe me…we at ShopFoodEx know what we are speaking about here, Ukrop’s prices are indeed in line or lower on the whole than Kroger’s or Food Lion. They can’t compete with Walmart…but who can….so they need to figure out how to get over this misconception.
Next, let me give my spill on the location. It is a fine location…it takes vision…but the bigger plan surely was a selling point when Ukrop’s chose this location. Unfortunately, the developers have dropped the ball in a bad way here. If I were the decision maker I would have walked away after the first half-dozen or so delays. I can recall many signs at that location saying “Coming Soon…Rally’s Hamburgers” or “Coming Soon…who knows what” and they never bore fruit…a clear red flag that Ukrop’s ignored or did not know about.
Lastly, Ukrop’s is an asset to the Roanoke area and I still believe that they have not exhausted all efforts to succeed here. I have encouraged them to explore the online grocery delivery or pick-up option to help combat the “bad location” perception and hopefully they will consider this option and other like options to further set them apart from the local competition.
We as a company are here and willing to help any way we can to keep this great company around.
I’m not approving comments from people who resort to calling other blog readers insulting names. We’re having a healthy discussion about a grocery store – let’s do it like adults, please.
Dear Marcelle,
Your original comment was posted along with all the others and is still there. It may have taken me a while to get around to posting that group of comments because I was busy over the weekend. Perhaps that’s why you thought I didn’t approve it.
I have only chosen to not approve two comments, and both of those were rejected because the writer personally attacked other readers.
Ukrops was smart to position itself near South Roanoke, close to Grandin and not so far from Tanglewood. Kroger needed the competition–for prices and store cleanliness not to mention food offerings. I love UKROPS but split my time between U. and Fresh Market. I like higher quality foods–fresh and packaged– and will always spend more money to get it. But I have noticed there are few people in the store. I honestly think it is just a Roanoke phenom…cheap people with little exposure to things other than Roanoke stuff (I am from here but have lived in many other places.) It always amazes me how even Roanokers with some money are fairly unworldly, Walmart-centric shoppers! This is the city that thinks getting another Applebees is an awesome feat.
I have been glad to have Ukrop’s in our area and hope they succeed.
However,reasons I don’t go there as much and why they are experiencing trouble include:
1) Alcohol. Simple fact, grocery stores sell lots of it. Many times I am picking up a bottle of wine or a 6-pack and simply don’t want to make 2 seperate trips.
2) Closed on Sundays. There are many Sundays I use for grcoery shopping.
3) Location. You have a Kroger and Fresh Market within the distance of a couple football fields. Simply too close of quarters for 3 major grocery stores.
I will try to make an effort to go there more in the future because I DO want them to succeed here, but the fact is their policies (no alcohol and closed on Sundays) just don’t jive with my shopping habits as much.
Also, just wanted to double up on the “Don’t leave your kids in the car while shopping!” comment.
I had no idea how worked up people could get over a grocery store. I confess I haven’t even been in Ukrops’s because it seems that either it’s Sunday or I have wine on the grocery list. Or both. Both usually, actually. Staying closed on Sundays and not selling alcohol is absolutely their right. But if a customer says they don’t shop there because they want to shop on Sunday I can’t see that that constitutes whining. Ukrops isn’t obliged to accommodate people who want to shop on Sundays but people who want to shop on Sundays aren’t obliged to accommodate them either.
Indeed, Trader Joe’s would be lovely.
Seriously people, you think if Ukrop’s closes that Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods will think it’s a good idea to open up here? I strongly doubt it.
I’m not quite sure why some people are so hung up on Sundays. I don’t understand why they believe that Ukrops or Chik-fil-a, is pushing their faith on them? I wonder if thet feel like their doctor, dentist, post office, and bank are pushing their beliefs on them also? They are all closed on Sunday!!
I hope Ukrops would never change their values, for Roanoke. It also didn’t make any one from Roanoke shop at Harris Teether’s It would disappoint a lot of Richmonders, who are much more faithful to them,
Sundays and wine don’t seem to bother Richmonders, or people from Williamsburg,or Fredricksburg. Ummm….
I shop at Ukrops once or twice a week for a few items. One of the items is a refrigerated dog food. At least 6 times the store has been out of the item which is shipped in once a week. I feel that my dialogue with store employees and store management seemed to fall on deaf ears. The item is 6.00+ dollars. I would buy 2 to 3 per week.
I am not a fan of Krogers but I do feel I am rewarded better for swiping my Krogers cards than my Ukrops card.
I think my two observations are part of the Ukrops problem but it’s not all Ukrops fault.
Roanoke is a hard market with limited number of potential customers.
Roanoke is a Walmart kind of town.
If Ukrops paid for marketing demographics analysis of Roanoke Retail they should ask for a refund.
Cheesecake Factory, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Costco etc – They looked at the numbers Roanoke is not making the cut.
I just dont understand why everyone thinks Ukrop’s prices are so much higher than anyone elses? I am guessing its the overwealmingly large store that makes one think that. I for one have to dissagree. While I can’t say I personally shop there (my wife does the shopping) I do see the grocery bill. We set a budget and usually get basically the same items every week. A few weeks ago we had to do our shopping on a Sunday (we usually do it on Friday nights). So we ended up going to.. you guessed it Krogers. For exactly the same items we got at Ukrop’s the week before (no lie exactly the same items) we paid roughly $6.75 more. Now thats a lot of change. If you don’t believe me maybe you should try doing the same thing. Go to Kroger do your shopping, and the next week go to Ukrop’s I bet you will be amazed at the bill. One other thing with Ukrop’s is their wonderful staff. I cannot express how nice they are. I often feel they are being too nice (you know the fake niceness). They stop what they are doing to take you to an item if you cannot find it, if they can’t find it right away they will go out of their way to find it, if they are restocking something and you need an item in the area they are stocking they get up back off and say “sorry I was in your way”. Our family will be sad to loose Ukrop’s and if they go it will surely be a reason for us to move to Richmond. You may think I am kidding but I am not. We have grown so acustomed to Ukrop’s that we would be willing to move with them. Hope things work out for them.
“I honestly think it is just a Roanoke phenom…cheap people with little exposure to things other than Roanoke stuff (I am from here but have lived in many other places.) It always amazes me how even Roanokers with some money are fairly unworldly, Walmart-centric shoppers! This is the city that thinks getting another Applebees is an awesome feat.”
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This is basically the “it’s not our fault, it’s those rubes in Roanoke” argument. Which is basically a twist on the old “my restaurant failed because the market wasn’t ‘sophisticated” enough, not because my restaurant was poorly conceived and run.” (Metro proves sophisticated food sells in Roanoke, by the way.)
There may be some truth to this as a general matter, but the success of Fresh Market logically disproves this view when it comes to supermarkets.
Also, people are spending money on non-staples, such as as prepared food, at Ukrop’s, just not on ordinary items. So they are buying “expensive” items and “wordly” items, just not the ordinary stuff they can get elsewhere, presumably more rationally.
Ukrop’s seems like a great business, with admirable management, but every business has to offer compelling and attractive attributes to consumers and I’m not sure Ukrop’s is outcompeting other markets.
FACT – Sunday is the busiest day for grocery stores nationwide… I’m not sure anyone is asking UKrop’s to change their values, but they cannot afford to stand on their values alone… Kroger offers everything that UKrop’s does, at a better price, and they are open when it is convenient for the consumer. I find it ironic that UKrop’s stands on it’s customer service soap box, but refuses to stay open when it is convenient for the customer.
Thanks again for all the comments. Greg-Thanks for your comments on our pricing. We really feel that we are competitive on our pricing. If you have a concern with this area of our business, please ask for me on your next visit so that we may discuss. There have been a great deal of comments regarding Sunday business, and I certainally can respect the fact that this is the day that many of you do your shopping. We are able to provide our associates this day each week as a day of rest. Whether they choose to spend the day at their place of worship or with their families, it provides them a day to refresh from the work week, and energizes them for the week to come. I encourage you to take advantage of our business hours M-S 7am -10pm. I would also encourage you to take advantage of our large cafe seating area. The cafe is a covenient way to have a great quality dinner with your family or friends during the week before you do your grocery shopping. We also provide free WI-FI.
Ukrops suffers from the uncompleted Ivy Plaza. That darn shell of Walgreens effectively blocks the view of the store from the busiest intersection (Wonju & Franklin), and the temporary wall on the right side of the lot makes the place look like a construction site. What’s going on with this mess? Weren’t these complementary businesses supposed to be finished by a certain date? Aren’t there financial penalties for not being ready by the specified time. If I was Ukrops management, I would be furious at these delays. They are no doubt costing their business money every day. Someone needs to turn up the heat, either Ukrops or the City of Roanoke. This is the nicest thing that has happened to that derelict strip of road between Franklin and Brandon for years. Make them complete it, and you will see business pick up at Ukrops. Why is it Roanoke seems to screw up anything it touches?
In response to Kathy, I will agree that a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s would likely not locate in the area if Ukrops wound up pulling out. I do think that had they built a store in that location to begin with, that perhaps it might have been different…although the close proximity to Fresh Market may have precluded that from happening anyway. What I am saying is this: a Whole Foods or a Trader Joes…like the Fresh Market, is a unique shopping experience compared with stores like Kroger, Food Lion, or Ukrops…which are standard grocery stores with some neat things here and there to differentiate themselves from one another. My wife and I have frequently driven an hour and a half to shop at Whole Foods in Winston-Salem since they are the closest one to where we live, and the selection of natural and organic products blows away everyone in the region by a mile. The amount of money that we typically save when we shop there, compared to buying comparable products at Kroger or any of the local co-op stores, more than pays for the gas we use. Living in the NRV, I am not inclined to shop at Ukrops since I get everything I need from the Kroger, Food Lion, and Wal-Mart near my house (all less than a mile away). Ukrops has some great products that I love buying, but it’s not worth the drive for just a handful of items. A Whole Foods or similar store would be worth a drive to Roanoke on a regular basis for us though, and I really wonder what kind of a market there is in the Roanoke-New River area for a store like that. Maybe it really isn’t that great, which could explain why they aren;t already here…or maybe the demographics aren’t what they are looking for…I don’t know. I just know that I’d love to see one here, and would be a very regular shopper if one ever opened.
I don’t understand why people keep saying the store is so large. Has anyone been to the new Kroger in Bonsack? I could get lost in there! Ukrops is nowhere near the size of a Super Wal-Mart either, and going shopping there wears me out!
I love Ukrops, but I don’t do my regular shopping there because 1) I live in NE Roanoke and 2) I’m a coupon shopper and like that Kroger offers double coupons. I do work in Old Southwest and will hit Ukrops during the work week for their sale items or things I can’t find at Kroger. I would like to see Ukrop’s do double coupons. As for Ukrop’s prices, some items are higher than Kroger, but then again some things are lower and it probably evens out. I also like the garage – if it’s raining I don’t have to worry about getting wet!
I hope that Ukrop’s can turn things around and that people will reconsider them. They are an asset to Roanoke!
I agree with Harvey. He hit the bulls eye. The developer must had made a LOT of empty promises. He should lose his licence!!!!!
Thanks for your comments Tim and Renee. It saddens me to here that you’ve not had good shopping experiences at our Roanoke store. We offer the same selection of prepared foods as the Richmond stores as this product is made daily at our central kitchen. Was there a particular product that you were looking for and were unable to purchase? As a company we make thousands of cakes each week for for all types of special occasions. I think that we have the freshest, best tasting quality cakes out there. I’m sorry that your experience has been less than par in this area. I would like to offer you a decorated cake on us for your next birthday or special occasion. I hope that you will give us another opportunity to earn back your business. Please feel free to contact me at 343-6024. I look forward to speaking with you.
As an associate of this company I have to tell you that honestly this is the best company I have worked for. Being in the retail business for almost 5 years now with, 2 other food stores under my belt, I can tell you hands down we ( Ukrops ) as a TEAM provide good quality products at a competitive price. I believe this is where it starts. Ukrops treats their employees with respect and trust. In return OUR TEAM is greatful for that. (not many retailers treat their associates as good as this company!)If you provide a GREAT work atmosphere for your employees (like Ukrops), they WILL inturn provide the absolute best customer service experience for our customers. I have read comments from a couple of people from this blog that our prices are higher than Kroger. In many instances certain items are cheaper in our store, then again in different departments of another store, I would find our prices are a little higher. It’s give and take. I understand that customer service is not the only thing customers are looking for when shopping, but adding our great tasting food and weekly specials you can’t go wrong!! I urge all customers that have not seen us in a while to come back by and give us a second look, we look forward to seeing you! As far as our regular customers (some I know by name) we appreciate your business and ALWAYS look forward to seeing you on your regular visits. As always, if there is anything you have a question about or a product that you need help finding, please let us know. If it is a product we do not carry, we will try our best to see if that particular item that is avaiable for ordering.
I commuted to/from Richmond for 4 years for grad school. Often, Roanokers sent me with orders for pastries and baked goods from Ukrops. I always enjoyed the aromas and the ambience. I have enjoyed the arrival of Ukrops here. I like the store. I think it is unfortunate that it is so close to Fresh Market, as they likely draw a overlapping customer base. But, I do make it a point to go for special items. Since it is so much farther to drive, I have to admit that, for day to day things, I shop closer to home.
But, knowing they are not doing as well as had been expected, I plan to consciously add some additional trips to shop there. I think they are a nice addition to our community, and I want them to stay.
I am also a wife of a manager at Ukrops. But, I love Ukrops and the Ukrops family! I worked for Ukrops for almost ten years, I was also a department manager. I have read some very negative comments about the company and the family. The Ukrop family is filled with wonderful, caring people. They give to so many charities, and they really care about their associates!! It strikes a nerve with me when I read some comments. They do live as they say!! I actually know this personally!! They treat their associates great, they give many benefits that most companies don’t give you.
I also shop there regularly, I have a family of 6. I always use The Spot coupons, shop the adds,and use my VC card. They also have in store sales, and some times they have reduce meats and other products. I can feed my family: 6 dinners, 7 lunches, 7 breakfasts, 2 snacks a day, drinks, paper products, and baby products for under $200.00 a week. That is awesome! Plus, they carry my groceries to the car, and they are always friendly. Most of the time I get dinner for my children before we shop, they love this!! I love this also, it is one stop shopping.
My family and I moved to Roanoke over three years ago. We love it here. It is a beautiful and wonderful place to raise a family. My sons love their schools and their friends. I love all my wonderful friends, I have made here. I believe the schools are superior! To say the least, I hope and pray sales increase, Ukrops is a wonderful place to shop and Roanoke is a wonderful place to raise a family!!
I also really appreciate all the wonderful comments about Ukrops and my husband Jason. He also, is a wonderful person who cares about the community and others. He really believes in Ukrops and Roanoke!! Thank you for your time. I hope you will go in and check out Ukrops. You will be surprised at the low prices and smiling faces that you will find!
I am a Certified Nutritional Consultant, and I moved here over a year ago from the Fredericksburg, VA area. We had a Ukrop’s grocery store there (actually in Spotsylvania). It was excellent, and the deli had one incredible chef. I was elated when I found out that Ukrop’s was opening here in Roanoke. I have been to this local Ukrop’s several times, and find it to be almost as good as the one in Spotsylvania. The deli chef does more creative things back in the F’burg store. The competition is fierce however, between Kroger and Fresh Market–it’s tough for Ukrop’s to compete. Kroger has Senior Discount Day (Tuesday 5% to all seniors), lower prices, a good wine selection (especially the one on Rt. 460), a gas discount program, a good selection of non-gluten foods (also better priced than Ukrop’s), and more conveniently located (for me, as I live up in northern Botetourt county). Also, Fresh Market has excellent meats for competitive prices. Between the economy and competition, Ukrop’s is up against it. I agree with other bloggers, that not being open on Sunday is hurting them, as well as not having wine and beer. I always thought that it was rather hypocritical of the Ukrop’s back in Spotsylvania, to carry tobacco, but not alcohol. Ok, Ukrop family: take a look at prices across the board, and lower your prices, start a senior discount day, get a wine shop to move next store (like the one in Spotsylvania — a wine store moved in a couple of doors down from that Ukrop’s) OR start carrying wine and beer, start Sunday hours, get more active in the community–link up with well known businesses, advertise more (rent a very visible billboard), hire me to help you increase sales ((I have a public relations background as well)!! I wish Ukrop’s the best, and hope an excellent grocery like that can make some changes and remain in Roanoke.
Here’s a new twist, Folks! Do you realize that your tax dollar spent at Ukrop’s stays in Virginia and benefits YOU??? Where do those Kroger dollars go?? Anyone know where Cincinnati is??? I can’t speak for other companies, but I do know that Ukrop’s is a very community-minded company. Hooray for the Sunday closing!!!! If we all followed Ukrop’s ethics, we’d be much better off. Next time you say something like, “Where have the good ole days gone?”, remember Ukrop’s!
I noticed today when I went to my regular Food Lion, EVERY employee said Good Morning, not just the friendly produce guy. I think this blog may be changing the Valley for the better! Way to go Lindsey!
And I think I will give UKrops another try next time I am in that area. Who knows, I may be pleasantly surprised. A friend of my mother goes there especially for a certain brand/flavor of potato chip. lol
Looks as we are now getting to the more reasonable comments. I agree they need more advertising as I’ve yet to see a billboard and have seen very few TV ads. There is a comment at 127 about getting a wine shop to move in near by. There’s one already a very short shot down the road that is locally owned and run. They are Wine Gourmet and being locally owned they need our support. From what I hear here Ukrops treats their employees well. When is the last time you heard that? Not from Walmart. They friendly and helpful staff, clean stores and prices that are in par with other stores. They even help the community. And people are hung up on no Sundays and no alcohol. People, people, people be more open minded. We shop at Walmart horrible as they are. I know I’m planing on doing my shopping there now.
I love Ukrop’s. I fell in love with their Chocolate Fudge Pie 20 years ago even carrying some back with me everytime I had to go to Richmond for bank meetings. I don’t think the Roanoke store was built in a very good location – it should have been built further out 419. Also, as others have said, the prices are too high, even Krogers is lower on almost everything. I do LOVE the hot foods, bakery, and deli foods and travel all the way from Salem to get them. Please don’t close the store and if you feel you must – MOVE IT TO SALEM!!!!
I was scared silly to hear that Ukrops is not doing well, being that I am one of their biggest fans. I LOVE that they are: close (for me), have WONDERFUL staff, great ice & sweet tea, sushi with no MSG (Fresh Market & Kroger can’t say that), I can meet friends for a quick, casual lunch there, they ALWAYS carry my bags to my car (& take the cart back), the underground parking for when it rains, Starbucks, the salad bar, delicious deli selections, great to-go convience foods & I admire that they are closed on Sunday. The only thing I believe they did wrong was not to settle in the 419/Brambleton area so that the folks in the SW county area would patronize them more.
If Ukrops were to leave the area it would be a tremendous loss, not to mention an embarrasment. Other retailers contemplating coming to Roanoke would mark us off their list.
We were so excited to hear about Ukrop’s arrival in town. We moved here from central NJ in 2006 and were disappointed in the traditional area grocery stores – limited choices, mediocre quality & lack of high-end products for those occasional splurges. We finally found Fresh Market after about 6 months here, and the new Kroger in Bonsack is a great step up. We could have lived with the poor location, lack of Sunday hours and no wine/beer sales (although my husband doesn’t agree with me on the last point), but we could not get past the poor quality of their prepared foods. If you want to check out what a Ukrop’s is trying to be, go to the Wegman’s stores in NJ (I have frequented the Princeton and Bridgewater locations). I can not praise that chain enough — Excellent prepared food for both eat-in and take-out, high-end selection of bakery items, meats and cheeses (I have not found a good cheese selection ANYWHERE in Roanoke.), and wide selection of other products. When I return to visit NJ, I always have to go back to Wegman’s!! Imagine – visiting a grocery store !?!
Thanks for the comments Barbara. Although I do love the chocolate fudge pie, coconut custard is my favorite. We will be sampling chocolate fudge pies this Saturday. I hope you have an opportunity to come in, and while your there check out our great ad items located in the front of produce department.
Ukrops presents a difference, compared to Food Lion and Kroger. They aren’t slowly cutting back on variety in order to promote store brands, they’re universally friendly, and their prices taken on the whole are competitive. I’ve been to several grocery stores in the Roanoke area, and attempting to find much of a difference between any of them is futile, with the exceptions of Ukrops, the Grandin Natural Foods Co-op, and Fresh Market, all of which strive to be both different AND better.
If you’re looking for cheap in general, there’s a Wal*Mart Supercenter somewhere near you. Wine shops are not difficult to locate. No Sunday hours? Have you gone to your bank or physician on Sunday recently, or in the evening for that matter?
We drive to Ukrops from Blacksburg, not to save three pennies on a pound of chicken, but because we enjoy shopping there, and because they carry things that Kroger and Food Lion (both owned by companies based elsewhere, unless Belgium is now part of Virginia) have stopped stocking. If they were to close shop here, the area would be the poorer for it.
I hated reading this! I’ve been to the Short Pump Richmond Ukrops many times and think it’s fabulous! Nicest people and supermarket I’ve ever visited. Maybe I don’t get out enough
i have relocated to roanoke as apart of the conjunctive effort to raise U’krops as a prominate,quality& custumer service oriented facility.as a relocator:to roanoke;i have high projections for the facility……but,reality has a way of putting things in perspective.u’krop’s is NOT the only main concern….employees that were recruited & relocated should have somewhat of an impact AS WELL.THERE ARE MANY “RELOCATED” members who (as all the newbies)who are concerned about their OWN employment and the reprocutions of the lower staff. all & all no-one will TRULY know what is the outcome unless it is fully exposed. till that moment:we all must get through the “all so festive holidays”so as for all the people who wish to speculate on the uprising or downsizing of a company sooo new to the area :maybe we all need to concentrate on the season that matters at hand and find something else to comment upon;untill things are concrete.happy holidays to all……….
Comment to George from dec 8th. Regarding our refrigerated dog food. We actually get 4 deliveries a week in which we can order this product not 1. I will personally take it upon myself to make sure we continue to keep that case stocked to the best of our ability! Sometimes the products in that case are out of stock in the warehouuse, sometimes they sell out as quick as we can stock them. And sometimes we simply just do not order enough. However on our next order I will bring in extra to fill the case. Sorry for the inconvience this may have caused you on your trip to Ukrop’s.
When the plans for a Ukrop’s coming to Roanoke were announced, and all the wrangling over tax incentives given to the Ivy Market developer, etc., etc., I first thought, “Oh, those South Roanokers want their fancy grocery store, blah, blah, blah.”
I will now admit that I was wrong, way wrong. I’m an ardent shopper of Ukrop’s every week. Yes, I’ve eaten my crow some time ago, but now I enjoy eating the foods I buy now at the big U. When Harris Teeter still had stores in this area, I shopped there. But after their stores were bought by Kroger, I had to shop at Kroger. But after my first or second visit to Ukrop’s, I’ve been shopping there ever since.
My reasons for shopping there?
In no ranking order:
1. Underground parking. I love it, especially when it’s hot and sunny, or it’s raining. I take the escalator or the elevator to the main floor.
2. Store layout and cleanliness. The U is way cleaner than the Towers Kroger or any Food Lion/Wal-mart. With the store’s layout, I can find items quickly. I like the secondary aisle that cuts across the middle and runs perpendicular to all the main aisles. I don’t have to go to the end of one aisle to go to another one…I can “take the shortcut.” Ukrop’s also doesn’t try to cram product kiosks in every nook and cranny of the store like Kroger does. I can navigate a shopping cart easily throughout the whole store.
3. Product selection. It just so happens they have the products I like to purchase, plain and simple.
4. In-store Café and Grill. They have very good food here. I like to eat there, sometimes before grocery shopping.
5. Virginia-based company.
Now as for Ukrop’s not doing as well as they hoped, well, (a) we’re in a recession (duh), and (b) the Ivy Market development isn’t on schedule, probably because of the recession…a vicious circle. For all the talk of higher prices (somewhat arguable, but I rather pay a little extra, because it’s worth it to me to avoid the aggravation of going to Kroger or Wal-Mart for groceries), closed on Sunday (there are six other days in the week if I recall correctly), no alcohol sales (a moot point, in my opinion), and location (well they only have *one* store, so they can’t be 5 minutes away from *everybody’s* home), I think it’s the simple fact that most everyone is a creature of habit, they have been going to [insert store name here] for years, and they are reluctant to change. Just like I’m a creature of habit now by going to Ukrop’s. I just hope their Ivy Market store will be successful, and I hope in the future they will open other locations here in the area.
Side note: I recently got a coupon from Ukrop’s for a free chocolate or lemon chess pie, since I’ve been loyal/frequent customer. I’ve been a reluctant-“loyal” shopper at Kroger for years before Ukrop’s came, and I never got a free anything from Kroger. A free Ukrop’s pie! Triple chocolate or lemon chess pie points, baby!
Still getting some great comments on this post, I see. Did you guys notice the Ukrop’s manager says they’ll be doing free chocolate pie tasting on Saturday? Heads up! I am also a huge fan of the chocolate bar cake. Ukrop’s chocolate icing is some of the best I’ve had, short of homemade.
Roy B. just made a comment with which I agree: large kiosks in the middle of grocery store aisles are highly annoying. Every time I go down the dairy/bread aisle at my Kroger, I have to maneuver around all kinds of cold cases and displays. It’s just silly.
In regards to lack of advertising/billboards from Ukrops I just wanted to point out that there is a billboard ad on I-581 right before the Elm Ave exit,going towards Towers Mall.
And I do see some Ukrops fliers in the paper sometimes.
But yes, they could still stand to get the word out a bit more.
After reading most of this I have determined that I will go there for groceries soon so I can at least compare a bit more.Who knows, maybe I will end up going there more….
As an associate of Ukrop’s I would like to thank those who have been supporting us since the letter went out. I have heard countless customers expressing their concern over whether or not we will remain in business. My own landlord began doing her day to day grocery shopping at Ukrop’s because she wants to do all she can do to support us. I think it really shows how great the people in the town are. We need your support and I hope that others will continue to give us another look. I cannot tell you how fortunate I am to live in this wonderful city and I can’t imagine having to leave it. Again from an associates presepective thank you for your support. And remember if your ever having trouble navigating the store (one thing I’ve read on here a couple times) don’t hesitate to ask one of us to help you we will be more than glad to show you around! Hope to see you soon!!
I’m with you Rigby. I plan on going this Saturday for my first real stop there. Only been with someone else before. Sure hope they don’t disappoint me and it would be nice if they had their wonderful fried chicken on sale. Will have to get their card. My only complaint yet another card crammed in my wallet but at least I can live without beer or wine. lol
I have had the pleasure of shopping in many different grocery chains throughout my lifetime, and I have to say that Ukrops does a fine job with their offerings. I loved Harris-Teeter, but Kroger ran them out of town. I love Fresh Market, but they don’t have everything I need. I shop at Ukrops because they offer items you can’t get at Kroger, and yes, some of the prices are a little higher, but all in all, you can fill a shopping cart there and pay within a dollar or two of what you would have spent at Kroger or Food Lion. The staff at Ukrops is a wonderful group of people who will bend over backwards to help you. The salad bar is second to none. I would hate to lose this store!
Come on, Roanoke, you people are so set in your ways, that you just don’t like change. Let’s NOT give Kroger some friendly competition. Let’s NOT move forward…we can stay stagnant and have our children move out of the Valley as soon as they can, to find a place that offers variety, culture, etc. Good for Ukrops for bringing a breath of fresh air!
Mike D, you can get a keychain card.
I love Ukrops. I would be very convenient for me to go there. I don’t have a need to go to a grocery store every week, but when I go, I stock up. Here’s the problem: NO WINE OR BEER!! NOT OPEN ON SUNDAYS!! I am not an alcholic by any means, but when I go shopping, I want to non-stop shop. I don’t want to have to go to a separate store to pick up a bottle of wine. I also work extremely long days and sometimes Saturdays, so the best day for me to shop is on Sunday when I have free time. They need to get over themselves about the archaic non-alcohol and ‘not open on Sundays’ policies.
I went to Ukrop’s today (Saturday) and there was a pretty good crowd there. I ended up buying something that I had not intended to buy, their chocolate fudge pie. I’m not a chocoholic, but after tasting a sample of that pie, there was no way I could leave without one!!
Thanks Debbie. I’m glad that you enjoyed the sample and thanks for coming in today.
Btw Jason, the pie wasn’t the only item I bought, just the most delicious one.
The unfortunate reality is that Roanoke is, was, and most likely will always be a “Walmart/KMart” orientated area. The sofistication of the population necessary to support upper level stores such as Ukrops, Costco, Trader Joes, and others like them, simply does not and never has existed in Roanoke. What few there are will not be able to support the numbers that these business need to be able to locate here, no matter where they physically are built. I have lived in deep southwest Virginia, Blacksburg, Roanoke, and Richmond and, quite frankly, Ukrops would be far better to open in Blacksburg or Abingdon than ever succeed in Roanoke. Yes, a lot of people disagree with not opening on Sunday and them not offereing beer/wine. However, you learn to adapt, just as the Fredericksburg area adapted. BTW, F’burg is more or less a bedroom community of the Washington Metro area. Ukrops had a rough time up there at first, mainly because of Sunday hours. However, they are thriving. Then again, people up there adapted and they are a bit more, shall we say, sofisticated in their tastes.
I will always shop at Ukrops. And when I can’t get there, I simply adapt. I applaud them for trying here, but I fear they’re too good for this area to support.
“Comment by JKD — December 14, 2008 @ 5:47 pm:
The sofistication of the population necessary to support upper level stores such as Ukrops simply does not and never has existed in Roanoke”
Note to JKD: when trying to make yourself appear better and more cultured than everyone else, proper spelling is always a plus.
It’s sophistication with a ‘ph’ not ‘f.’
Thanks for your enlightenment ( or,for your sake “inlitenmint”) though.
If it weren’t for the fact that there are 2 very well run grocery stores within a stone’s throw of Ukrop’s, I believe they would be experiencing a more than booming business.
3 well run grocery stores within a few blocks of each other is a hard sell no matter where you live!
For the record, I bought my weekly groceries there on Saturday.
Some items were comparably priced,some were a little higher.
My son enjoyed all the free samples being handed out(I think there were 5 total seperate free sample items).
Everyone there was more than nice.
Can’t say I will shop there exclusively, but I will shop there some to supplement my regular groceries.
Oh and the mud pie was indeed delicious!
While shopping at the Crossroads Kroger yesterday with my husband and son, I was reminded of some others’ complaints about Kroger putting displays in the middle of the aisle. A lady in a motorized cart was having difficulty maneuvering the aisle we were in because of the displays.
Did Ukrops realy do enough research in the Roanoke market or did they put blinders on when they moved in the area. It is easy to place blame on someone else. A wise man once told me you know you are a looser when YOU!!!! blame your mistakes on someone else
I love Ukrop’s. As a Richmonder, I was thrilled to hear they were coming to the area. But, I live in Christiansburg. I go to Ukrop’s when I’m in Roanoke, but it’s not convenient for everyday shopping. I get the feeling the store would actually do better in the New River Valley- Blacksburg, probably- than in Roanoke. At the very least, Ukrop’s could count on students who have grown up around them for support. When I was a student at Tech, we would always stock up Ukrop’s foods to back with us.
I do have to agree with JKD (“sofistication” aside) that there are specialty items available at Ukrop’s that aren’t common fare here. Not to say there aren’t people with gourmet tastes here or sound like a snob, but those people are probably set in their ways and find those items at more established stores. I miss certain things that were available to me when I lived in the Richmond and Charlotte areas that aren’t readily available here- mostly higher quality, gourmet, and specialty foods.
The beer and wine and Sunday hours were instituted by Joe Ukrop way back when integrity, more than sales and convenience mattered. Although sometimes it’s annoying, I respect that they’ve stuck to their principles. Maybe for some people the not open on Sundays is annoying, but it’s obviously not enough to shut the store down. And I would think it must be nice for employees to have at least one day they can count on having off.
I don’t think it’s just one problem plaguing the store, but many. Recession, people set in their ways, higher prices (for higher quality, in my opinion), weird location, empty shops nearby. I just hope Ukrop’s can wait it out! Or, come to the NRV! Please?
And one more thing- RAINBOW COOKIES. If you have not had one, they will single-handedly turn you on to Ukrop’s.
“Ukrops would be far better to open in Blacksburg or Abingdon than ever succeed in Roanoke.”
All of Washington County has a population of 51,000, and while parts of Abingdon are cute and quaint, sophisticated it is not. I’d love a Ukrop’s or similar store in far SWVA, but it’s not going to happen. Earth Fare in Boone, NC is the closest thing we have.
Before Ukrop’s moved to Roanoke, my trips to Richmond were to visit family and to shop at Ukrop’s Grocery Store. Roanoke family and friends helped me prepare a Ukrop’s shopping list. The first item that my husband packed into our car for the trip to Richmond was our large cooler, then our suitcases. He loved to fill family’s and friends’ shopping requests and return to Roanoke with them for their excited, expectant recipients. On these “wish” lists were Strawberry Creme Salad, Duchess Potato Casserole, Corn Pudding, Triple Cheese Macaroni and Cheese, Chicken Cobbler, Tilapia, White House Rolls, Rainbow Cookies, Old Virginia Spoon Bread, White Chicken Salad, Smithfield Ham, all flavors of chess pie and pecan pie, Butterbeans and Corn, Swiss Almond Cheese Spread, Collard Greens, and sliced London Broil with Marinade. I enjoy wonderful memories of those shopping trips. Soon after each trip, my husband and I often fielded the questions, “Isn’t it about time for another Ukrop’s trip?” Now the people who gave us their shopping lists for Richmond’s Ukrop’s have the pleasure of buying those delicious items close by.
How often do you hear a heart-warming story about a grocery store? I have heard many about Ukrop’s. 1) A young husband in graduate school made daily trips to Ukrop’s to pick up items listed on the store’s Words Worth Eating recipes so that he could prepare dinner and have it ready for his wife when she came home from her job. 2) A young mother who, shopping in Ukrop’s and with her young children, realized at check-out that she did not have her wallet in her purse. She apologized and asked the clerk to hold her groceries until she could return with her money. She was told by the Ukrop’s manager to take her groceries and pay for them on her next store visit. 3) A shopper had difficulty finding certain products during her Ukrop’s shopping, so she mentioned that difficulty at check-out. Ukrop’s manager called her, apologized and assured her that those items would be in the store on her next visit. 4) a JMU student visited Roanoke for a week-end. A stop in Roanoke’s Ukrop’s led her want-to list, because she had been “Ukrop’s deprived” in Harrisonburg. She was hungry for Ukrop’s fried chicken.
I am so extremely happy that Roanoke was chosen for a Ukrop’s store. Roanoke asked for its own store for a very long time. I never expected to see the beautiful store and management in my own hometown. Thank you, Ukrop’s. I hope that we can be as good a neighbor to you as you are to us. Of course there are other really good grocery stores in Roanoke, and you make Roanoke another-good-
store better.
Thanks for the kind words. I hope to see you at the store.
I work for Ukrop’s (not your location) and there are a few things I’d like to say after reading some comments.
Customer Service is better at Ukrop’s. Period. Hands down. If that’s important to you, then Ukrop’s it is.
Second, the prices. They aren’t higher. There have been many pricing contests including one in a well known magazine. Of the four major ones, the cheapest is Wal-mart, then Ukrop’s, Kroger, and then Food Lion. If you’re telling yourself Ukrop’s is more expensive, you’re lying to yourself to justify not shopping there or have this pre-conceived notion that they are more expensive.
They will never open on Sundays nor will they sell alcohol. The company makes between 500-700 million dollars a year, (shared with the employees) they aren’t going to change those two things just to increase sales. I know you guys are new to Ukrop’s, but in places where there has been one for a while, the community embraces it, I suggest you guys do the same. If it were to close, you guys would miss it, whether you realize it or not.
Wow, Scott, the condescending tone of your comment makes me even less likely to shop at Ukrop’s.
The Ukrops in Fredericksburg does not appear to be doing well at all. Traffic has visibly declined and they have even shut down some lunch services.
For me (when living In the Richmond area), Ukrops was always the best place to shop. The cleanliness of the stores, quality of service, food and respect for the customers and associates was obviously the focus of the store staff / management. I also realized that the their decision to close on Sunday and not sell alcohol is, at its core, a moral choice, that has a negative impact on its sales, and prices.
Sadly, in any economical condition, too many retail providers will fall victim to the temptation of sacrificing what is good for the survival of its business or compromising to boost profits. As a result, Service, Quality, Cleanliness and Respect for both The Costumers and Associates degrades to the level which we, as a customer, will tolerate…….When this happens, we may find yourself looking for the better in a sea of substandard choices.
I commend Ukrops for following its moral compass and not letting “the bottom line” compromise their standards.
I further encourage everyone to support what is good. In this case, cast your votes (grocery budget) by shopping at Ukrops. Show the Ukrops associates that you appreciate their service to the community and bring a friend to shop their too.
You people who say they have to shop on Sundays, need the Lord. Sundays is a day of worship to God not the devil.
Wow anonymous, that’s so insightful. May I ask, what about those of us who may not be Christian? Would you say that Jewish people worship the devil? And could you explain exactly how grocery shopping and worshipping God are mutually exclusive?
I for one faithfully attend my (Christian) church every Sunday, and when services are over, I have lunch with family or friends, and then do my marketing for the week. I do have the Lord in my life, and I do not appreciate being equated to a devil worshipper because I choose to do my shopping on Sundays.
I like Ukrops, but it’s not in a convenient travel path for me, so in an effort to minimize use of my gasoline and maximize use of my time, I choose to shop elsewhere. It has nothing to do with whether or not they’re open on Sundays or sell alcohol.
Word has it that Ukrops is being sold to Harris-Teeter and that the Roanoke store may not be part of the deal and that that unit will close before Fall.
The rumors are circulating all over Richmond and a deal is expected to be announced by weeks end.
J.D. – the business team has heard that rumor and is working to determine whether there’s any truth to it. Thanks for posting.
Lindsey- a meeting of the entire management team with ALL Store Managers from throughout the chain will be held Friday in Richmond. Rumor has it to expect an annoucement as soon as early as next week.
If they are selling it, I hope the Roanoke store is part of the deal. I hate to think of all those people losing their jobs.
The Ukrops deal is said to include all stores including Roanoke. That of course doesn’t mean the new company will keep the Roanoke store open.
Sorry that they are having trouble. All the employees are always so very very helpful and friendly like a family store should be. hope things work out.
So many are finding it very hard these days with their business.
Christians need tro shop during the week and attend Church and visit with loved ones on the Lords Day SUNDAY.
Responding to Debbie’s comment about the associates at the Roanoke Ukrops. Thank you very much for thinking about the people!
To the person who said a meeting will take place in Richmond on Friday that will decide the fate of many dedicated employees who have been told nothing and whose lives will be impacted, I don’t know where you aquired this info, but you know more than the employees do if it is true. We hear the same time the community does when it pops up on a News report, like the one this morning. What is wrong with that you might ask? We are talking about real people who have kids, mortages, car payments, credit card debt, and everyday living expenses just like the people who shop there or don’t shop there.(Not to leave out the employees who up-rooted their lives and moved from Richmond to Roanoke.) Our dedication could be rewarded with a last minute announcement that the store is closing and we may not be part of any buyout by anyone. So, where does that leave all of us who had we been told well in advance and could of been looking for other jobs? It leaves us collecting unemployment compensation that would not cover 1/3 of the bills that need to be paid. There is no guarentee that if the store is taken over by someone else that we will be given a job with them. It leaves people, which we are people with real lives, stressed out and some of us are very depressed not knowing what will happen. We are all on an emotional roller coaster and have been for months. Put yourself in our situation (which some of you may already be in this situation yourself), and if you happen to shop at Ukrops and an employee while trying to make an honest effort to be helpful to you may not seem as in-tune to your needs that day. Many thanks to our most loyal customers( you know who you are) who have continually come by every day not only to shop but to check in on us to see how we are doing in all this turmoil!
We Love You and God Bless you for making us still smile when you come in!
I had already planned to shop at Ukrop’s today when I heard the news that they are seeking a buyer. Now my visit is bittersweet. When Ukrop’s started the triple coupon program, I decided to shift my shopping habits from Kroger to Ukrop’s. I have really enjoyed shopping there, and would hate to see them go. I know I am not alone in saying that I am doing all I can to support our store and the employees who work there.
I tell you there are some mean ppl here. Ukrops is a great christian company. These ppl that want to shove the church pictures and the closed on Sundays thing better remember we all have to die one day and i for one dont want god to shove me to the side