Local/regional store chains you wish were nationwide?

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

Spinning off the fast food thread, I'll expand it to stores: What stores would you like to see become national? For me, I'd have to say Menard's, though with as much advertising you see for them on TV, you'd think they were nationwide-even though there's not one Menard's farther east than Kentucky! A close second would be Food City, which is mainly in eastern TN/southwest VA, though it has a handful of locations in north GA and eastern KY as well. I'm surprised they've not expanded into North Carolina yet

[PAHighways]

Spinning off the fast food thread, I'll expand it to stores: What stores would you like to see become national? For me, I'd have to say Menard's, though with as much advertising you see for them on TV, you'd think they were nationwide-even though there's not one Menard's farther east than Kentucky!

The eastern most Menards location is currently Warren, Ohio, but that will be supplanted by one that is planned to open in Uniontown, PA.

SM-G965U

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

Spinning off the fast food thread, I'll expand it to stores: What stores would you like to see become national? For me, I'd have to say Menard's, though with as much advertising you see for them on TV, you'd think they were nationwide-even though there's not one Menard's farther east than Kentucky!

The eastern most Menards location is currently Warren, Ohio, but that will be supplanted by one that is planned to open in Uniontown, PA.

SM-G965U

The Warren location must be new.....Last I saw, the easternmost one was in Louisville, KY. I am surprised the chain hasnt expanded into the southeast, with as much as they sponsor NASCAR

[Max Rockatansky]

Sprouts is a pretty good in between to regular grocery store and over the top waste of money Organic Groceries.   They've expanded from a handful of stores from when I lived in Arizona to have some out in California.  Usually I can get some kick ass deals on fruit, veggies and uncooked meat. 

[kevinb1994]

Sprouts is a pretty good in between to regular grocery store and over the top waste of money Organic Groceries.   They've expanded from a handful of stores from when I lived in Arizona to have some out in California.  Usually I can get some kick ass deals on fruit, veggies and uncooked meat.

Sprouts is a nice store to shop at, and their JAX location is at St. Johns Town Center where a Best Buy location was before moving across Town Center Parkway. Soon enough there will be another location at Tamaya Market along Beach Blvd. east of the I-295 interchange.

[Max Rockatansky]

Sprouts is a pretty good in between to regular grocery store and over the top waste of money Organic Groceries.   They've expanded from a handful of stores from when I lived in Arizona to have some out in California.  Usually I can get some kick ass deals on fruit, veggies and uncooked meat.

Sprouts is a nice store to shop at, and their JAX location is at St. Johns Town Center where a Best Buy location was before moving across Town Center Parkway. Soon enough there will be another location at Tamaya Market along Beach Blvd. east of the I-295 interchange.

I didn't even realize they had expanded out of the Southwest until your post.  I used to shop at the original store in Phoenix at Cactus Road and Tatum Road circa 2002-2004 when I lived two blocks away.  Apparently they have over 300 stores now, that's a hell of an expansion in just two decades.

[vdeane]

Wegmans.  Definitely Wegmans.  One grocery store to rule them all.

[jp the roadgeek]

Stew Leonard's

[Max Rockatansky]

Stew Leonard's

Now that's a throwback, when I was a kid we would go to the one in Danbury all the time.  That had some kick ass beer battered chicken strips and the dairy was top notch.  Probably didn't hurt they had a petting zoo which actually made me looking forward to being dragged shopping age 7 through 13.  The Danbury store even had a secret short cut through the maze that let you cut the lines if you just wanted deli food. 

[webny99]

Wegmans.  Definitely Wegmans.  One grocery store to rule them all.

The Brooklyn store is a step in the right direction. They seem to be doing quite well with eastward expansion; they just need to work on going westward now. I don't believe there are any Wegmans' west of Erie PA.

[renegade]

We could sure use a Kmart or a Sears around here.   

[ce929wax]

I second Food City, I used to shop there when I lived in Tennessee.  I've also heard Publix is a good store.

[hbelkins]

Spinning off the fast food thread, I'll expand it to stores: What stores would you like to see become national? For me, I'd have to say Menard's, though with as much advertising you see for them on TV, you'd think they were nationwide-even though there's not one Menard's farther east than Kentucky!

The eastern most Menards location is currently Warren, Ohio, but that will be supplanted by one that is planned to open in Uniontown, PA.

SM-G965U

The Warren location must be new.....Last I saw, the easternmost one was in Louisville, KY. I am surprised the chain hasnt expanded into the southeast, with as much as they sponsor NASCAR

I didn't know they were in Louisville. The easternmost one of which I was aware was Owensboro.

They only sponsored NASCAR because Daddy Menard was paying for his son's ride. Now that Paul's giving it up, I look for them to fade away from that financial commitment.

I'm glad to see Ollie's expanding into this area. Good Stuff Cheap!

[LM117]

Wegmans.  Definitely Wegmans.  One grocery store to rule them all.

They're expanding into the Triangle metro in NC. One store recently opened in Raleigh near I-440 and more stores are planned for the area.

[MikeTheActuary]

H-E-B....although it probably wouldn't be the same if it expanded.

[cwf1701]

Meijer. It would give WalMart a run for its money with its hypermarkets.

[Max Rockatansky]

Meijer. It would give WalMart a run for its money with its hypermarkets.

Back when I lived in Michigan they sure slowed the proliferation of megalithic Walmart stores.  I wouldn't say they are better per se, but the stores don't make me feel like I'm slumming a bargain basement facility like Walmart does. 

[hbelkins]

To me, Meijer is much like Target -- overpriced. Not sure how folks would compare Meijer to Target, but I prefer Meijer over Target. But I'll still shop Walmart first because of price.

[ilpt4u]

Meijer. It would give WalMart a run for its money with its hypermarkets.

I'm a big Meijer fan. In IL, tho, they haven't stretched much further south than Central IL that I have found

[Brandon]

Meijer. It would give WalMart a run for its money with its hypermarkets.

I'm a big Meijer fan. In IL, tho, they haven't stretched much further south than Central IL that I have found

Meijer, unlike Walmart or Target, is privately owned and they take their time deciding where to go and when to build.  Right now, the focus seems to be on Wisconsin and the UP, and then eastern Ohio.

I find them a heck of a lot better than Walmart.  And contrary to HB, they're about the same price as Walmart with more and better product.

[dvferyance]

Spinning off the fast food thread, I'll expand it to stores: What stores would you like to see become national? For me, I'd have to say Menard's, though with as much advertising you see for them on TV, you'd think they were nationwide-even though there's not one Menard's farther east than Kentucky!

The eastern most Menards location is currently Warren, Ohio, but that will be supplanted by one that is planned to open in Uniontown, PA.

SM-G965U

The southernmost Menards is Branson MO and the westernmost is Casper WY. I wish that Dillard's was more national to fill the void that was left behind when the Bon Ton stores aka Boston Store, Younkers, Carson's ect closed. Man I am still shocked how fast the whole thing went.

[dvferyance]

Meijer. It would give WalMart a run for its money with its hypermarkets.

I'm a big Meijer fan. In IL, tho, they haven't stretched much further south than Central IL that I have found

Actually the southernmost Meijer is Bowling Green KY it will likely remain that way. They have already said they have no desire to be a national company.

[ilpt4u]

Meijer. It would give WalMart a run for its money with its hypermarkets.

I'm a big Meijer fan. In IL, tho, they haven't stretched much further south than Central IL that I have found

Actually the southernmost Meijer is Bowling Green KY it will likely remain that way. They have already said they have no desire to be a national company.

I know there are Meijers in KY and Southern IN. Just haven't seen them in Southern IL

I don't think their goal is to get too far from home base in Michigan

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

Spinning off the fast food thread, I'll expand it to stores: What stores would you like to see become national? For me, I'd have to say Menard's, though with as much advertising you see for them on TV, you'd think they were nationwide-even though there's not one Menard's farther east than Kentucky!

The eastern most Menards location is currently Warren, Ohio, but that will be supplanted by one that is planned to open in Uniontown, PA.

SM-G965U

The Warren location must be new.....Last I saw, the easternmost one was in Louisville, KY. I am surprised the chain hasnt expanded into the southeast, with as much as they sponsor NASCAR

I didn't know they were in Louisville. The easternmost one of which I was aware was Owensboro.

They only sponsored NASCAR because Daddy Menard was paying for his son's ride. Now that Paul's giving it up, I look for them to fade away from that financial commitment.

I'm glad to see Ollie's expanding into this area. Good Stuff Cheap!

Menard's is gonna be in NASCAR long after Paul himself leaves. They are fully committed to the Penske organization. They've already announced they will sponsor the Wood Brothers #21 car (Penske farm team, if you will) with Matt DiBenedetto driving, and whoever will come after him (likely with Austin Cindric). They also sponsor Ryan Blaney's Penske #12 car, as well as Brandon Jones' XFinity series ride for Joe Gibbs and Cindric's Penske XFinity ride. Menard's is a name long steeped in racing, well before Paul started, and will remain long after he's left.

[dvferyance]

Meijer. It would give WalMart a run for its money with its hypermarkets.

I'm a big Meijer fan. In IL, tho, they haven't stretched much further south than Central IL that I have found

Actually the southernmost Meijer is Bowling Green KY it will likely remain that way. They have already said they have no desire to be a national company.

I know there are Meijers in KY and Southern IN. Just haven't seen them in Southern IL

I don't think their goal is to get too far from home base in Michigan

The farthest south they go in Illinois is Springfield. I doubt they would enter the Metro east area unless they were expanding into Missouri.