The future of Krogering is on view near Flint, where Free Press business writer Fank Witsil visits a supermarket unlike the Ohio chain's other sites.
It’s Kroger’s first Marketplace concept in Michigan — and it’s two to three times the size of the average Kroger store you might know from the neighborhood.
In addition to groceries, the new Marketplace stores offer clothing, furniture — and a jewelry store. The format is an effort to compete with Meijer, Target, Wal-Mart — and even Costco.
A jewelry department (left) is part of the enlarged supermarket near Flint. (Photo from WJRT)
It opened two months ago in Lambertville, where a 68,000-square-foot store was expanded to 133,000 square feet.
A second Marketplace store in Michigan is set to open in Shelby Township in about six months — and more may be open after that. . . .
The Marketplace store in Lambertville has a gas station, and specialty sections for select meat cuts and seafood. It has an area for wine tastings, and a touch-screen kiosk to print out recipes. There’s a jewelry store, under the name Fred Meyer — and a fresh sushi shop.
In half of the store, furniture displays dot the aisles. There’s clothing and items for infants.
Witsil quotes a mom who likes "the one-stop shop," as well as a less impressed customer.
“It’s way too big,” said Dee Grimes, 72, of Temperance. “If I want jewelry, I wouldn’t go to Kroger to buy it.”
