A Poor Deluded Soul Wants a Shoals Kroger

 

Earlier today, we read some poor deluded Florentine's post, most certainly under the age of 50, who wanted no part of Publix. After all, why can't Florence have a Kroger?

For those about to enter the "elder" territory officially, there were three grocery chains in Florence as we grew up, and none is now extant in any of the Shoals towns. Ironically all three were located in the same block in downtown Florence and all are now homes to restaurants.

Kroger left the area in May 1986, and we sincerely doubt will ever return. From a retail blog: Kroger Co. told 300 employees at its stores in Florence and Muscle Shoals that it had sold the stores to an undisclosed buyer, said Ed Collins, president of Retail Clerks Local 1577, the union which represents the workers at the stores. "They (Kroger) informed us they could not afford to operate those stores without wage and benefit cuts and would have to close them or sell them," he said. "We heard the new employer is Jitney-Jungle and they are going to hire 400 employees." So much for the benefits of a strong labor union, at least in that case. The Shoals lost all four Kroger stores in one swoop of corporate greed and revenge. The original Florence Kroger is now Rosie's Mexican Cantina.

The A&P? After adding a second location on the new Florence Boulevard, both stores closed. The entire chain ceased to exist after a bankruptcy in 2016. The former downtown location is now home to Flo-Bama.

H.G. Hill Grocery was acquired by Winn-Dixie, then closed down all local stores years later. Just this year, Aldi has purchased the entire Winn-Dixie chain. The Court Street home to H.G. Hill now houses Mugshots.

While we regret Publix's preference of real estate for its north Florence store, at least it will offer another choice for those who don't care to venture that far beyond Needmore. So, don't mention Kroger...you might jinx it.

A&P on Court Street