Can West Bend, a community of nearly 31,000, located in a county of nearly 133,000, support 10 grocery stores?
Let’s have a conversation….West Bend is currently home to a variety of groceries including a pair of Pick ‘n Saves, Aldi, Klotz’s Piggly Wiggly, Walmart, La Mexicana Grocery, Ries’ Sausage Plus Spirits and Sendik’s.
Meijer is a multi-billion dollar Supercenter headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and located in five states throughout the Midwest, with over 200 stores and more than 60,000 employees. Meijer opened stores in 2015 in Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, Kenosha and Grafton, which is less than 40 miles from West Bend.
“Grafton is a separate trade area to West Bend,” Waukesha-based grocery analyst David Livingston with DJL Research said. “So there would be minimal overlap.”
Livingston said if there is enough population to support eight stores there is room for Meijer.
“After they open, there will be eight or nine stores because one or two will probably close,” he said. “Meijer is not looking to compete with Pick ‘n Save they are looking to replace them.”
Roundy’s/Kroger, according to Livingston, will most likely be collateral damage.Livingston said Meijer, like most well-capitalized grocers, looks for markets where financially strapped competitors are performing above their normal average.“West Bend has historically been a good market for Pick ‘n Save so Meijer sees that as low hanging fruit,” said Livingston. “All grocers but Aldi will be affected because Aldi is in another world with its low prices.”
Northfield Block and its parent company Oldcastle Architectural Products Group sold its 30-acre parcel of land in the 2000 block of S. Main Street; the site was formerly home to Bend Industries.
The parcel on the south end of town, according to Livingston, is prime property with good shopping nearby, high traffic, and near a major traffic artery. It also has physical attributes like good visibility, ingress/egress (easy left turns) and parking.
District 2 alderman Steve Hutchins said the success of two new stores really depends. “Overall this is a good sign for the community and we’ve made the city a whole lot more business friendly and that’s why things are happening like this.”
One of the incoming groceries has been confirmed and the other will open in Hutchins district. “That will add to the tax base, the increment and it will help with jobs,” he said.
The name of the independent grocery is not being released at this time.
What are your thoughts? Can West Bend support two more groceries??
Interesting that Pick ‘n Save is viewed as collateral damage by an industry insider. If George was still in the picture I don’t think it would be so simple.
it is a shame that no one looks to add attraction and sees value in the NORTH end of 45. That side of town has people living in it that spend money as well. But they have to go down to the South side where the traffic is starting to get to be more trouble than it is worth.
Yes, the north side needs more! Meyer should have built at 45 and Hwy D!!!!!!!
I disagree.. The kettle moraine north of West Bend on HWY D is beautiful. Personally, I would rather drive 5 minutes to shop on the south side of town than see the north country side get developed.
I’m all for competition in ANY market – tends to keep prices (and hopefully quality) front and center.
We need them like we need more banks! Those of us who have lived here long enough yearn for the quality smaller stores like Kohls and Sentry which wal mart pushed out with there non union labor. Maybe Meijer ought to target Walmart instead of Pick n Save, sounds like there more competition to one another than the Pick n Saves.
Whether or not Meijer considers WalMart a target, I think WalMart considers itself a target. Otherwise, why would they be scrambling to get their store remodeled at the same time Meijer is being built?
Maybe with the new stores we might convince someone in town to put to use the flashing yellow arrow.I know it exists,I’ve seen it in other cities.Its funny to watch 2 cars make it through a green arrow and then the rest go thru the yellow and red.Maybe the city can put the cost of turning yellow arrow on, into Meijers tax payment.
People need food. Competition will improve quality and lower prices…….that is a proven fact. Meijers has proven itself to be competent and productive member in the communities it serves. Those making ridiculous comments about Walmart pushing other companies out don’t know what they are talking about. Also, Miejers will compete with Walmart and all stores in town. Having more choices for the people of this community is a good thing, despite what some may say.
Meijer in a community like West Bend will be a blessing. We need something other than a walmart in this town as walmarts can be terrible.
Meijer & Kroger co-exist in the Michigan/Ohio area. When visiting my daughter there, I prefer Meijer to WM. Glad to see Meijer in WI & especially the WB area. Love shopping at Klotz’s Piggly Wiggly, Reis’ Sausage & Jeff’s Spirits. I also get a few things at Aldi. Closing Sendiks, WM & Roundy’s on Washington Ave. wouldn’t bother me, other than it leaves unsightly, empty buildings for more Halloween Express locations. When Kmart went out, Fleet should have expanded and operated from both sides of 18th- just like they do in Green Bay. Sick of “Not available in WB” and having to drive to the Falls. Hope the independent grocery store is a Woodman’s and that they could put in the vicinity of 33 & D!
I hope Meijer’s puts PNS out of business. They constantly overcharge and sometimes don’t have their “free items” available on the first day of the offer. It’s a hassle to shop at PNS with rainchecks and incorrect receipts in hand. Counting the days when I’ll never have to step foot in Pick N Save again!
Meanwhile Hartford is all but forgotten.
Meanwhile Hartford is all but forgotten with everything including restaurants and WCCE (especially when the push for public transportation was started by the City of Hartford through their Red Flyer program when Greyhound pulled out in the 1980’s.
Next to nothing there in any category.
Put in a target and a food lion and a Olive Garden and a golden corell. And a chick fillet.