Breaking News: Bi-Lo merges with Winn-Dixie

In an effort to save two struggling grocery chains, Mauldin, South Carolina-based Bi-Lo and Jacksonville, Florida-based Winn Dixie have announced a merger. Winn-Dixie retreated from the Carolinas in 2005, and Bi-Lo has downsized their footprint as well. Currently, the two stores will keep their names and consumers probably won't see many changes. More here

Could Kroger and/or Publix be headed to Charlotte?

Reuters is reporting that Mauldin, S.C.-based Bi-Lo is up for sale again. If you recall, last year Food Lion was announced as a potential bidder for Bi-Lo until Lone Star Funds, Bi-Lo's parent company, announced that Bi-Lo was no longer for sale. The chain has been teetering on highs and lows, while expanding their stores in some markets such as Columbia they have completely pulled out of other markets like the Triad after selling their stores to the failed Southern Family Markets. Reuters reports that Bi-Lo emerged from bankruptcy in March of this year.

Kroger and Publix are reportedly the top contenders for Bi-Lo. If this is the case, it brings the potential for Publix to enter the Charlotte market and for Kroger to reenter the market. However, we're not sure if this exactly will happen as it might be more likely and logical for grocery stores that are currently in the market to take over stores, most notably stores that already have: Food Lion/Bloom, Super G Mart, Compare Foods. Bi-Lo has closed a number of stores in the Charlotte region in recent times, two on Independence Boulevard, one in Dilworth and one on Little Rock Road to name a few. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see what continues to unfold in the Bi-Lo saga.

Reuters Article

Grocerying News Updates

Danville's Harris Teeter Closing in March

Last summer, Grocerying had the chance to visit Danville, Virginia and a Harris Teeter that we dubbed "the store that time forgot." As the news of its closing comes as little surprise, it is a blow to the already economically depressed Danville. Danville's grocerying scene now consists of Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly, Aldi, Wal-Mart Supercenter and a few small independents. In recent years Danville has also lost a Kroger, although Kroger still has a presence in nearby Martinsville. The closest Harris Teeter stores will now be in Greensboro, where some employees are transferring to and some customers say they will make the drive. It is worth noting that when we wrote the piece last year we predicted that the Danville store would not last much longer. Read more from the Danville Register & Bee

Wal-Mart now leads the Charlotte market

Wal-Mart has dethroned Harris Teeter as grocery market leader, according to an article published in today's Charlotte Observer. This comes as no surprise either as the Charlotte area's grocerying scene has changed immensely. We've seen stores leave (Winn-Dixie), new stores arrive (Lowes Foods) and a rise in specialty chains (Trader Joe's, Aldi, Compare Foods, Earth Fare) and of course supercenters (Wal-Mart, Target). Aside from Wal-Mart, in terms of number of stores Harris Teeter still dominates the northern and southern end of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, while Food Lion dominates the eastern and western portions. Get the full story from The Charlotte Observer and check out their graphic.

Bi-Lo's Woes & New Strategies

On the heels of Bi-Lo's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy reorganization and almost buyout by Food Lion, the South Carolina based grocery chain is trying a new strategy. The company has struggled to make a niche for itself as a mid-market grocer, so now they are banking on customer loyalty. Bi-Lo has partnered with area BP gas stations to promote usage of Bi-Lo's BonusCard for a program called Fuelperks. Read more about Fuelperks from The Charlotte Business Journal.

In other Bi-Lo news, two Charlotte area stores are slated for closing. Bi-Lo's store on Little Rock Road, which was a former Winn-Dixie, will close in March as will their store in Indian Trail off Independence Boulevard. WCCB-TV Fox Charlotte did a story on how anchor tenant Bi-Lo's closing causes a ripple effect throughout the shopping center hurting the smaller businesses.

Breaking News Update on Bi-Lo and Food Lion

Seems that Bi-Lo has rejected Food Lion's takeover offer. Read more from the Charlotte Observer.

BREAKING NEWS: Food Lion's parent company in talks to acquire Bi-Lo assets

(Associated Press 10/5/2009)

Belgian international food retailer Delhaize Group is in talks to buy shops and inventory worth $425 million from South Carolina-based BI-LO, a grocery chain that entered bankruptcy proceedings earlier this year.

In a statement Monday, Delhaize Group said it was in non-binding talks to acquire “a substantial majority” of BI-LO LLC's assets. It said the assets to be acquired had revenue of over $2 billion last year.

Delhaize said it intends to integrate BI-LO's shops into its Food Lion chain of shops. Food Lion has more than 1,300 stores in 11 states with 74,000 employees.

Mauldin, S.C.-based BI-LO LLC is a privately held company that operates 214 supermarkets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee and employs around 15,500 people. It filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in March.

Delhaize said the offer was subject to bankruptcy court approvals and that it hoped to complete a transaction after obtaining a non-appealable sale order from the court.

A representative for BI-LO could not be immediately reached for comment.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

(Stores photographed are in Statesville, NC)

Bi-Lo closing in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood, to be replaced by Bloom store

The Bi-Lo store at Dilworth Crossing in Charlotte, at the corner of Park Road and Ideal Way, is set to close this week after serving the Dilworth Community since 1988. But the history of the store dates back to a few years prior, when residents were engaged in a debate as to whether a grocery store should be built in their neighborhood or not. The Kroger Company wanted to build a store in this historic streetcar suburb, thus spurring the phrase "No Krogering In Dilworth." A photograph of the sign can be seen here. Prior to Bi-Lo's renovation of the store, the Dilworth store was one of Kroger's classic"greenhouse" style stores. You can still find the remnants of Kroger Greenhouse style stores around Charlotte these days converted into something else.

Currently, the Bi-Lo store encompasses around 45,000 square feet, and the interior seems like it was remodeled in the mid-to-late 90s but Grocerying does not officially know when the updates took place. The store also has been patroned by residents not only in Dilworth, but residents of the Wilmore community and other lower income areas, respectively, near I-77 for whom the store has provided as an alternative to neighborhood stores and the lack of having a full size grocery store in their immediate area. Bi-Lo has noted that the closing of their Dilworth store is not related to their recent filing for bankruptcy protection. According to the Charlotte Observer, the reason for Bi-Lo's departure from Dilworth is due to terms in their lease agreement, as the owner of the center wants to bring in a store that would better suit the neighborhood, which over the last 20 years has gone through a redevelopment of sorts of its own.

Many feel that Bi-Lo has struggled to find a niche, especially in the Charlotte market, as their stores in the lower-to-middle end are closing and as the concept of Super Bi-Lo is being tested in the market. Because the Bi-Lo store in Dilworth is in a prime location in what some may call a trendy neighborhood, the store will not sit vacant for long. Bloom, the "high tech" and more upscale market run by Food Lion, will construct a 55,000 square foot location in its space. Grabbing the location is a real boon for Bloom. Currently, their stores are on the fringes of the Charlotte area, and this will be their first real in-town location in south Charlotte, a region of town that is dominated by Harris Teeter. The Bloom store is scheduled to open by the end of the year.

More photos of the interior and exterior of the store:




The sign reads: "Our Park Road Bi-Lo will be closing on 4-25 Saturday at 7 p.m. We have enjoyed serving the community since 1988 and hnope you visit us at our other Charlotte locations. Thank you"

UPDATE: This store has been converted to a Food Lion.

Bi-Lo files for bankruptcy protection

In recent years, Bi-Lo has seen a lot of ups and downs. The grocer is in a unique position, trying to find a niche with itself between discount grocer and semi-upscale hyper-market. With a tough economy, the chain which is based near Greenville, South Carolina has filed for bankruptcy protection. Since 2005, Bi-Lo stores have dwindled more than they have prospered, as they were sold off from Ahold to Lone Star Funds along with their sister supermarket Bruno's. Many stores were shuttered or turned to C&S Wholesale's Southern Family Markets, which failed miserably. Some may say this was inevitable, but doesn't come as a major surprise. Despite the bankruptcy protection filing, Bi-Lo says they will continue to operate stores as normal. Read more about this from the Greenville News here. The pictured store is in Rutherfordton, NC.

Bi-Lo Independence Square Update

We've recently learned that the Bi-Lo store at Charlotte's Independence Square on Independence Boulevard has closed. This is the latest store to close on a quickly deteriorating "corridor of crap" where everything is seemingly moving south on US 74, or to the Uptown/Midtown area, leaving a black hole in between. The Steve & Barry's store, which took over the former Super K-mart Center on Independence Boulevard is closing as well, soon to leave another big empty 200,000 square foot store.

Super Bi-Lo - Rock Hill, South Carolina; Matthews, NC

This is the first Super Bi-Lo in the Charlotte market, about 25 minutes south of Charlotte in Rock Hill. The store replaces the old Rock Hill Mall on Cherry Road. This store opened in November, and it is 63,000 square feet, nearly double the size of a standard Bi-Lo store. The former Bi-Lo store across the street on Cherry Road is now vacant and it is unknown at this time as to what will fill that spot. Another Bi-Lo, on Main Street in Rock Hill, is also being converted to the Super format. Additionally, a Super Bi-Lo is slated to open in Matthews, NC (at Weddington and McKee Roads) this year as well (photographed below). This is significant too because Bi-Lo is bolstering its image in the Harris-Teeter-saturated suburban south Charlotte market, where Bi-Lo only really has one other store on Elm Lane. Additionally, this marks Bi-Lo's return to Matthews since closing their store on Independence Blvd next to the old K-mart back in the 1990s. Read more about Rock Hill's Bi-Lo store in the press release here (and see how a Super Bi-Lo differs from a regular Bi-Lo).
Have any of you been to a Super Bi-Lo store? Leave comments...

To Note: Greensboro had a Super Bi-Lo (and Knoxville too) at one time, but this was before they implemented the current prototype Super Bi-Lo store.

Grocerying in east Lincoln and Gaston counties, NC

Food Lion - Stanley, NC

Bi-Lo, Stanley, NC

Harris Teeter, Lincolnton (Boger City), NC

[Former] Winn-Dixie, Lincolnton (Boger City), NC

Harris Teeter, Denver (Westport), NC

Food Lion, Denver (Westport), NC

Changes coming to Rock Hill's grocerying scene

[Photo Credit: Rock Hill Herald]
More good news for Rock Hill's Cherry Road area. First there was the announcement of a Super Bi-Lo store coming to the former Rock Hill Mall, which has been vacant and abandoned for years. Now, the former Harris Teeter on Cherry Road could become an Earth Fare store, bringing organics and variety to the market. Additionally, Compare Foods - which focuses on the international and Latino market - is coming to the old Winn-Dixie. It's a good thing to see these boxes being filled!

Bi-Lo For Sale? + Bi-Lo at Litchfield Landing, SC

Bi-Lo at Litchfield Landing in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, a uniquely designd store with 33,773 square feet of space. (Edens & Advant) Link: http://www.edensandavant.com/oc_center_detail.asp?cid=232

Interestingly enough, with the rumor of Publix coming into the Charlotte market (and other NC markets), Lone Star Funds has put Bi-Lo on the sales block. Bi-Lo says they aren't going anywhere though but I guess this is one story that we will have to be watching closely (see what happened in the Triad with the whole Southern Family Markets fiasco). And it really wouldn't be surprising, any grocer in CLT that isn't independent (Compare Foods, Home Economoist) or a leading chain (Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Wal-Mart and up-and-coming Lowes Food) will probably not find success in Charlotte (Winn-Dixie, the most recent example).

"In the Charlotte region, Bi-Lo has seen its market share slowly erode as Harris Teeter and Wal-Mart have gained dominance. In 2004, Bi-Lo held 13 percent of the market with 27 stores, according to TradeDimensions International, a market research firm."

Articles:
http://charlotte.com/122/story/81186.html Bi-lo on sales block.
http://charlotte.com/122/story/82470.html Will the whole Bi-Lo sell?

Before & After: Bi-Lo, Freedom Drive/Ashley Road

The first store opened originally in 1978 at Freedom Plaza (corner of Freedom Dr. and Ashley Rd.) as one of the first Kroger Sav-On stores in Charlotte. Then in the 80s when Kroger bowed out, it naturally became a Bi-Lo store. There is also a store that looks identical to this one over on Eastway as well at Northpark Mall. Bi-Lo left this location in 2002 to move down the street to the corner of Ashley and Allegheny to build one of their signature stores that is over 50,000 square feet. At last check, the old store had become a Dollar Tree store.

Information from Charlotte Mecklenburg Tax Website & Groceteria.com

Grocerying in Winston-Salem

Lowes Foods - [Silas Creek] Parkway Plaza

This Lowes Foods opened in 1992, but is slated to close this month and become a Compare Foods store, which will be Winston-Salem's first. The store looks older than an early 90s store though, so I'm guessing it was something previously (a Byrd's perhaps?).
UPDATE: Grocerying reader Matt said that this store was once Lowes Foods' flagship store upon re-entering the Winston-Salem market and the first to feature their current logo and was most likely a Lowes since its opening.

Former Harris Teeter? - K-mart Plaza, Peters Creek Parkway

Is this really a former Harris Teeter store on Peters Creek Parkway, next to an old-school K-mart (which I have added a picture of for reference). If it was an old HT, it must have been the really old prototype store. (K-mart pictured below)
UPDATE: Anonymous said this was indeed a former Harris Teeter, which was originally a Big Star, and it operated as a low-volume store until its closing in the late 1990s.

K-mart - Peters Creek Parkway (see related blurb above)

Harris Teeter - Thruway Center

This store is located in one of Winston's oldest shopping centers, Thruway, and I consider this a "legacy" store of Harris Teeter, one that fits in the category with the other Morocroft-like prototype stores of the chain. I think that most of the major NC cities have one of these HT stores, as seen Thruway in Winston-Salem, Morocroft in Charlotte, Cameron Village in Raleigh, Friendly Center in Greensboro and Commons at University Place in Durham.
Update: Steven said this store was built where a Winn-Dixie once stood, once very upmarket.

Harris Teeter - Cloverdale

This HT nearby to the previous one shown is an old Kroger store (I believe) and is in close proximity to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (that's a mouthful).
Update: Steven said before this was an HT & Kroger, it was a former Zayre. Additionally, old Kroger shells are found in the area at the Dollar Tree store in Cloverdale and the Goodwill nearby.

Former Bi-Lo, turned former Southern Family Markets, Peters Creek Parkway.

Food Lion - Peters Creek Parkway.

This store is directly across the street from the former Southern Family Markets and probably has gained a lot of business from the former customers of that store.

Grocerying in Asheville

Sav-Mor Foods

I don't have a lot of info on this store, but it is located off Merrimon in north Asheville. Some say it was former a Best Foods? Leave comments if you've got any information on this store. I've seen a couple others throughout the mountains.
Update: Anonymous said "Regarding Sav-Mor, it was a Best Foods prior to being Sav-Mor. The name has just changed on the front but the store itself (with the exception of some sundry items) and the staff are all the same as when it was Best Foods. It's owned by the Ingles chain and carries their LaraLynn store brand products. Before Best Foods opened there, it was a Winn-Dixie store and then stayed vacant for quite a while when that closed. Harris Teeter wanted to open a store there but, as I recall, there was some neighborhood resistance to it (problem with right of ways and loading docks) and during that time Ingles bought the property and installed their Best Foods store shortly thereafter."

Bi-Lo, Hendersonville Road

This Bi-Lo store serves communities along Hendersonville Road between Asheville and Arden. Bi-Lo's presence in Asheville is natural due to the fact that they are based just down the highway near Greenville, SC. This one is located at the corner of Overlook Drive at the base of a hill, across K-mart.

Ingles / Long Shoals Road (near Biltmore Park & Arden)

Ingles - Merrimon Road / North Asheville

Ingles is Asheville's omnipresent food retailer and is a homegrown chain too. Their stores range from new prototypes to smaller stores which still have a charm of yesteryear, and they carry a wide range of products to serve Asheville's eclectic population. The store above is on Merrimon Road, near Asheville Country Club and UNCA. The store at the top is the new Ingles prototype, akin to that of newer Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Bloom and Super Bi-Lo stores.

Food Lion - Weaverville Road (Newbridge Shopping Center)

This Food Lion store is located between Asheville and Weaverville, and serves north Asheville. Additionally, it is the closest Food Lion store to UNC Asheville.

Earth Fare - Westgate, Asheville.

This store is Earth Fare's flagship location and first store which began in 1975 and helped enable them to be the fine natural and organic foods retailer that they've become today. Read more about this store here: http://www.earthfare.com/storeinfo/details/3079

See Also: Harris Teeter - Asheville

Also: Greenlife Grocery
Unfortunately, I never did get a chance to get a pic of Greenlife Grocery, as anonymous #2 was asking about (who also mentioned that they were rated best grocer by the Mountain Xpress). However, I must say that they are definately worth mentioning and supporting. Personally I like them because they carry LOCAL organic produce (which seems to be a rarity nowadays) and it is my wish that there were more stores like theirs. Here's more info from their Myspace:
[yes, a grocer with a myspace!]

"The Asheville store opened on July, 17th 2004. The original Greenlife Grocery was opened by Chuck Pruett in July 1999, located in an charming old corner grocery on Hixson Pike in the Riverside area of Chattanooga. Greenlife Grocery is a full service natural foods store dedicated to bringing you and your family the freshest and healthiest foods and products available. No artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or hydrogenated oils. We are committed to supporting local foods and local economy. We believe a healthy environment starts with a healthy community. We strive to support organic local produce, local meats, local cheeses, local breads, local supplements & body care, and other local goods whenever possible. We pride ourselves in offering as many organic options to our customers as are available. We believe that supporting organic is one of the best ways to make positive changes in people's health and the environments of local communities, and the earth itself. Greenlife operates two full-service natural foods grocery stores dedicated to bringing you and your family the freshest and healthiest foods and products available. No artificial flavors, colors, preservatives. The freshest and finest in Chattanooga, TN, and Asheville, NC. Greenlife Grocery is proud to support local suppliers of food and other natural products, as well as serve the Chattanooga and Asheville communities through education, events, promotions, and sponsorships. The original Greenlife Grocery was opened by Chuck Pruett in July 1999, located in an charming old corner grocery on Hixson Pike in the Riverside area of Chattanooga. Originally built as a Food King grocery store, the Chattanooga Greenlife has about 8,000 sq. ft. Greenlife expanded with the opening of the Asheville store in July, 2004. Chuck Pruett and his partner John Swann transformed an old A&P grocery store with attached laundramat, built in the mid-1960's, into the new 20,000 sq. ft. store. Greenlife Grocery Asheville is located one block off I-240 just north of downtown Asheville."

Bi-Lo - Independence Square, Charlotte

(Berkley Capital/KIMCO)
This Bi-Lo grocery store in Charlotte's Independence Square Shopping Center encompasses around 56,000 square feet and the store was originally built in 1988. The store was a Kroger for a short period of time the 80s, when Kroger tried to unsuccessfully re-enter the Charlotte market.** The store has great visibility from the heavily traveled Independence Boulevard (Hwy 74) between downtown Charlotte and Matthews.

**Edit: actually, according to Grocerying reader Rick, this store was never a Kroger.

Southern Family Markets: Leaving NC

(Southern Family Markets - High Point)

It is noteworthy mentioning that Southern Family Markets, which was the store that replaced Bi-Lo when they pulled out of the Triad and Fayetteville areas of NC, is now pulling out of NC altogether. We've lost two major grocers in the Triad area (Winn Dixie and Bi-Lo), and now with SFM leaving will we see vacant storefronts, independent grocers, a new or returning player to the market (Kroger, Publix) or one of the current chains (Lowes, Food Lion, HT) takeover these stores... your thoughts?

Winston Salem Journal article

Before & After: Bi-Lo, Pineville

This Bi-Lo store is located at the corner of Park Road and Hwy 51 near 485 in Pineville's The Terraces at Park Place. The store opened originally in 1981 as a Kroger, and then became a Bi-Lo during the Kroger/Bi-Lo switch in the late 1980s. The store went through a renovation process as displayed in the images above in 2001, and currently encompasses 45,074 square feet. (Loopnet)

Bi-Lo - Cornelius

This Bi-Lo store was short-lived, it closed down a few years ago and is currently vacant. It's in the community of Cornelius, on lake norman (north of Charlotte) The store is "sandwiched" between an older Harris Teeter store and a newer Harris Teeter store, serving the Peninsula and the Davidson Area.

Update: 12/18, we've heard on the radio that this Bi-Lo is currently a Salvation Army Market.