Did they ever finish the Von's Remodel?

[Parvo Pup]

After all of the angst over the colder-than-a witch's-rearend posts about the Von's remodel - have they finished and what is the consensus of their job?

[oakhurstleaf]

I like the finished product...the longer aisles took some getting used to and of course, getting familiar with the reassigned product locations. I like the new look for the bakery, deli, and produce areas.

The aisles seem tighter (is it real or my imagination?).

I'm just glad it's done..I prefer Vons hands-down to Raleys.

[Yosemite Joy]

The last couple times I have bought groceries I have gone to Vons. The prices have risen I've noticed, they are about the same as Raley's now (which is where I do 98% of my shopping). I like Vons' new look much better than before.

I didn't like how bright it was before, and it looks so much calmer now with the dim lighting. And the floral has improved, and the organic foods they carry now are nice (though I wish they carried organic/natural meats like Raley's).

I think they are having a grand reopening something tomorrow? I got a coupon in the mail.

[rimalicious]

I found out tonight they will have a live sushi chef on staff ....

[beautiful_mess38]

I've always shopped at Vons and I love the way it looks now. You can still find good bargains there. Like everything prices have gone up do to gas prices. Asked my brother about that.
And yes the lighting is alot calmer.

[Yosemite Joy]

Yes, that is true it didn't ocur to me that my timing wth shopping at Vons coincides with the rising cost of oil.

Speaking of which, I am guessing that oil has something to do with the cheap *** plastic bags they have at Raleys now. I get paper (and re use it) but last week they bagged my milk (sigh) in plastic bags and when I got them out of the truck at home the gallons fell through the bottom of the bags.

[Newcomer]

Originally posted by rimalicious:
I found out tonight they will have a live sushi chef on staff ....

I hope he/she is live!

[rimalicious]

Originally posted by Newcomer:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rimalicious:
I found out tonight they will have a live sushi chef on staff ....

I hope he/she is live! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

as opposed to the pre-packaged stuff they have had in the past ...

[Kahlua Kid]

I found out tonight they will have a live sushi chef on staff ....[/QUOTE]

I hope he/she is live![/QUOTE]

as opposed to the pre-packaged stuff they have had in the past ...[/QUOTE]

I should hope they didn't prepackage the Sushi chef in the past! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/freak.gif

[BGW]

I have always been a Von's shopper. I love the staff and I do like the overall look and feel of the changes.

I do miss being able to cut through the isles though...and yes, Leaf, the isles are tighter. A cut-through would sure cut out a lot fo the traffic jams.

I am sure they were trying to get more space availabilty for their buck; I just feel it is like forced impulse buying at work.

Funny that I am also going to be the one that doesn't care for the dimmer lighting. My mind associated the brighter lighting with cleanliness. Raley's always seems dark dingy and dirty to me and I know it was mainly the lighting that gave me that impression.

I am thrilled with the produce section and though I am not a wine drinker, I do like how they have set up the wines.

The only other thing I thought odd was that Von's was the only local pharmacy not located in the back of a store making it much easier to use and accessible to the elderly and physically challenged. I wonder why pharmacies are located in the back of stores in the first place. Handicapped parking right up front but one still has to walk a mile to get meds...hmmm

It is all here nor there; as long as I live here I will always be a Von's shopper.

[John @ 3300ft.]

Originally posted by bgirlsworld:
...Raley's always seems dark dingy and dirty to me and I know it was mainly the lighting that gave me that impression.


They had been turning off half of their lights to conserve energy, since way back when we had rolling blackouts during the Davis Administration. Enron was running their price manipulation scam.

[oakhurstleaf]

I wonder if they'll put the sushi chef at the checkstand... Vons is always spreading their employees across dept lines. A way to save money and for their employees to get more hours/pay.

I would think the lighting change was made for the sake of adding some upscale ambience. Fluorescent lighting tends to make people more alert and in turn, shop more decisively and quickly. Perhaps, they want people to get cozy and linger. It's subliminal.

The tighter, longer aisles are a pain...you get half-way and realize there isn't anything you need at the other end and attempt to make a U-turn...but you gotta wait till the aisle is clear. It's hard to stand back and analyze the merchandise without having to assume different positions so other shoppers can pass or ponder alongside you. A lot of "excuse me" and "pardon me" and repositioning going on. Hate to shop there when it's really crowded.

[Dodgergirl]

I was in there today around 4, they had just started their "grand opening" specials. Well, the selections were good, the prices were lower than usual & they had all sorts of food available for samples. I tried some NY steak, a bit of cheese & some soup. There musta been 20 different food offerings. I think they got a picture of me & I'm hoping it doesn't show up in print anywhere...
Their new Organic line is good. I've been buying it for a few months now & the products I've tried are of good quality.
I think I split my shopping between Vons & Raleys, but if Vons keeps up with its progress, I might be heading there more often.

[beautiful_mess38]

re: the lighting. Safeway started that along time ago in thier fruit and produce section. I first noticed it in Virginia Beach when I was thier in 1987. I thought it was pretty cool. Then when a safeway remodeled in Wa. State they did the same thing. When the Bigman and I were in Carmel, they had thiers that way.

[CatdaBrat]

Hmmm, a sushi chef, eh? Maybe now I can get some real sushi at a grocery store instead of that horrible white/orange shredded fake crabmeat and mayonnaise stuff that you see everywhere. I used to like it years ago but grew sick of it very quickly after I had better stuff.

I miss cut-through aisles, too. I hate those damn drink holders on the carts. Why are they necessary anyway? Next thing you know, they will have color TV monitors and potty chairs built in.

I was shopping there on Friday, but didn't go to the Grand Opening thingie. I didn't want to fight the end-of-aisle crowds that the free sample tables attract. It's hard enough to get my shopping done at Costco, what with the log-jams of starving mobs, so I didn't want to deal with it at Vons, too. Funny, I often see people standing there scarfing down one "sample" after another. I am surprised the employees don't say anything to them.

Anyway, I guess I am in favor of most of the changes at Vons. The "10 for $10" sales are pretty good, and I like all the new gourmet foods, but wow -- the costs are pretty steep for all that new, hoity-toity food. I saw some expensive, teeny baby cauliflower in purple, green, orange and white, among many other oddities that I am not sure will go over too well up here. But at least they are available and we have more choices.

[Keith]

Originally posted by oakhurstleaf:
I wonder if they'll put the sushi chef at the checkstand... Vons is always spreading their employees across dept lines. A way to save money and for their employees to get more hours/pay.

I would think the lighting change was made for the sake of adding some upscale ambience. Fluorescent lighting tends to make people more alert and in turn, shop more decisively and quickly. Perhaps, they want people to get cozy and linger. It's subliminal.

The tighter, longer aisles are a pain...you get half-way and realize there isn't anything you need at the other end and attempt to make a U-turn...but you gotta wait till the aisle is clear. It's hard to stand back and analyze the merchandise without having to assume different positions so other shoppers can pass or ponder alongside you. A lot of "excuse me" and "pardon me" and repositioning going on. Hate to shop there when it's really crowded.
The Sushi Chef http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/goofy.gif and his wife are private contractors working within Vons Deli Department.
They will only be working with the Sushi Products.
They have an outside business in Fresno, which is family owned.

[Mr. Man]

I think it's just evolved into a store with bad lighting, higher prices, and hard to manuever aisles, marred by columns in the way. I'd be happy if they fired the some of the staff and replaced them. I want to go shopping without everyone in the store asking me if I am finding everything OK, like I'm retarded or something.

Of course I can't find anything, you've moved it all to some hidden part of the store, like a puzzle that I have to put together all over again. Thanks VONS!

[jjcheyenne]

I thought I was the only one frustrated by the staff at Vons. Every time I go there, even though they see me every week, every staff member comes up to me and asks, "May I help you?". It does make me feel like they think I look stupid or something. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/confused.gif If I need help I will ask. You don't need to ask me all the time like I am stupid. Sheeez!

[Dodgergirl]

They have to ask, it's part of their job. I know it must be hard to say, "Um, yes, thanks"... Or, "No, can you find this for me?" It is a service industry, and we are their clientele.
Yes, it drives me nuts, too... They know I'm there for Steaks, Smirnoff, Dog Food & Milk, with the occasional veggie tossed in.... BUT they continue to ask. So, I just smile & move on with life.
As for the new look, it reminds me of L.A., which is a good & a bad thing... http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rolleyes2.gif
But I did hear from an employee yesterday the samples are gonna be there for three weeks, that also is a good thing for some and a nuisance for others. Free Lunch, anyone? http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rofl5.gif

[BGW]

But I did hear from an employee yesterday the samples are gonna be there for three weeks, that also is a good thing for some and a nuisance for others. Free Lunch, anyone?

Sounds like we need to have a 'first' Tuesday Lunch!!http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/xxrotflmao.gif

[jakobscalpel]

Went to Vons this morning for the first time in over a year. I think the remodel was trying to mimic the feel of a Whole Foods store. And I only got chastised three times for not having a Vons club card, instead of the usual five, so it was good experience overall. Still, remodel or no, I'm a Raleys/Whole Foods shopper.

[Nascar8Fan]

I love the remodel and new look. The only thing that I am not too happy with is the raise in prices. What's up with Capri Sun juice boxes going up from $1.98 to almost $3.00! That is a major jump. We went for the grand re-opening and saved over $30 on a small shopping spree. We will continue being a Vons customer and Raley's for the hard to find stuff.

[Dodgergirl]

My shopping still depends on which side of the street I'm on...

[CatdaBrat]

I like the LOOK of the remodel but I find the longer, tighter aisles to be very frustrating. Every time I go I see and hear shoppers grumbling, apologizing, and trying to manueuver themselves and the carts or scooters around everybody else. Sometimes I see people actually lifting their carts up off the back wheels so they can re-position them around obstacles, then they will grumble out loud.

And yes, it IS a lot harder now to stand there and try to decide which product you might want to pluck off the shelves because no matter what, you are in somebody's way and they are standing there waiting for you to move. And when you DO move, you end up being in the way of a line of other shoppers!!!

I find the whole experience to be an exercise in waiting, apologizing and trying to get out of peoples' way while I TRY to get my own shopping done. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the changes, soft lighting, etc., I find myself anxious to get out.

And for whatever reason, prices soared, and if it is due to a rise in oil prices, I will be surprised if the cost of groceries eventually goes down if and when the cost of oil does.

Then I notice that most times when I shop, many of the sale items are gone. Plus it does get tiring to have to say I am doing fine 47,000 times, but I understand the staff has to ask.

But despite the higher prices and frustrations I still like the Vons chain. I just need to get used to the changes.

[oakhurstleaf]

I went there yesterday to pick up a few things and I noticed a big jump on the 24-case of Friskies catfood. It went up $3! From 9.99 to 12.99...I was shocked! I could understand a normal 5% price-hike due to inflation...but this reminds me of when coffee went thru the roof overnight. I'm scared to see what other things have gone way up...like in just the last week. Maybe Raley's will be the "low price leader" after Vons starts marking everything up.

[John @ 3300ft.]

I stopped in Sunday, and was happy to see it finished. What's with the fence around Starbucks? http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/goofy.gif
Didn't buy much, in a hurry, but there seemed to be alot of good club card deals posted around.

[Mysteefied]

I'm not fond of it at all. Will go there less than I did before. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/tongue.gif

[monkey]

I don't like it either. They should have more employees doing their jobs rather than asking how I am and if I need help finding anything. I know it is their job but I do find myelf getting frustrated nearly everytime I go there. I don't like the narrow, long aisles and I don't like the new produce section. I also don't like all the price hikes I have noticed. I'll be shopping at Raley's from now on. Ok, rant over thanks for listening. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/bonk.gif

[CatdaBrat]

I feel like that kid, Arnold Horshack, from that old 70s TV show, "Welcome Back, Kotter," when he would raise his hand in class and go, "OOO! OOO!" I keep popping up with more chatter.

I used to prefer the selections over at Raley's (except for their meat -- Rancher's Reserve is the best!), but did my main shopping across the highway because Vons was so much cheaper. I used to check the prices with a pad and pen and sometimes they were wayyyyy higher at Raley's.

But now I think the two stores must be pretty much equal ... not that Raley's prices came down, but obviously because Vons prices have gone up. (I figured that would happen, as we have to pay for the remodel somehow.)

If the stores are going to be even-steven price-wise, then those nice, user friendly aisles at Raley's will be an important factor in deciding where to shop. I know I will be spending more time and money there now.

[John @ 3300ft.]

Sounds like Raley's is going to be the winner in Von's remodel... http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/greedy.gif
I keep hearing about how great Von's meat and produce is compared to Raleys... I always found Raleys to be superior in taste and quality. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/yes.gif
Historically, Rayleys was always higher priced, but they have been reducing their everyday prices to compete with Von's, and their special sale prices can't be beat locally.
Von's is a good supermarket, there are some things that they have better selections of, like frozen dinners, and their Club Card savings are usually great, but for some reason I just enjoy shopping at Raley's more...

(Except when the Chinese Tour Buses unload http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/laugh.gif)

[Mr. Man]

And don't we love when the Chinese/Korean tour buses unload at Raley's and we all try to get the hell out of there!

[Dodgergirl]

I got caught in a flurry of French tourists (2 buses) the other day at Vons. At least when I got stuck letting the Japanese tourists out of their bus at Vons, each one of them stopped tp bow in front of my car. Now that was funny. (It wasn't then, I was late)