Convenience Store neighborhood effect

[cindi]

pretty much if 95% of your sells are from singles, smokes and those pretty little glass rose bud things please don't be surprised if you are filled with drunks and the like and all of their wonderful little shoplifting loitering habits.  again, i would bet 75% of potential sales at the shell walks out the door at night shoplifted.
if you want people to spend money in your store (collectively speaking) you have to fill it with items that they wont/need without having to drive outside of the neighborhood for.  example - the "new improved speedway" has already shown where his priorities are, his smoke signs are up and coolers of beer filled, don't go looking for a basic like milk, he doesn't have it. 

[Springfield Girl]

I completely disagree with supporting all businesses unconditionally. One of the owners of the Superette was my neighbor at my last home. When I worked across the street I went into the store everyday. I used to joke with him that as new residents were moving into the neighborhood he would need to stock more upscale products. His response was to shake his head and say , "we'll just move". I understand that businesses have a business model that they like to adhere to but when they admit they do not want to change why are we the bad guys for not supporting them? I have said it a hundred times, if you have a good or service I want or need I will support you, if not I won't. That being said, the Superette isn't perfect but it's not bad either. It's kind of charming in it's own way. If I need something in a pinch I'll run in there, I'm just more careful since I have purchased a few stale or out of date items when I wasn't paying attention.

[sheclown]

I adore the Superette and find its produce better than I can get anywhere.  Huge eggs, ripe tomatoes, crisp apples, firm potatoes. 

And how about those sodas for 33 cents a piece! 

[Ocklawaha]

This has to be the most polite "scorn" thread that I have ever seen, everybody's talking around the subject. Gotta sell hookahs, and carburetors, somewhere. Where else to get run-proof Chocolate rolling papers, Zigzags, sheers, digital scales, steel wool pads, straws, stir sticks, pocket mirrors?

The Difference in Springfield and Nocatee, is the folks in Nocatee, buy their supplies from a reputable tobacconist, in an exclusive mall. The Mirrors, are from Clinique, straws and steel wool come from Publix. What a crock of crap, to blame this guy, or these guys for a situation that is more of a tax-revenue problem (Pot) then a health risk. The other stuff, it's addiction, illness, and fed by deep depression...

...and the Coca leaves I chewed while track walking in Colombia, didn't do a damn thing!

OCKLAWAHA

[strider]

I completely disagree with supporting all businesses unconditionally. One of the owners of the Superette was my neighbor at my last home. When I worked across the street I went into the store everyday. I used to joke with him that as new residents were moving into the neighborhood he would need to stock more upscale products. His response was to shake his head and say , "we'll just move". I understand that businesses have a business model that they like to adhere to but when they admit they do not want to change why are we the bad guys for not supporting them? I have said it a hundred times, if you have a good or service I want or need I will support you, if not I won't. That being said, the Superette isn't perfect but it's not bad either. It's kind of charming in it's own way. If I need something in a pinch I'll run in there, I'm just more careful since I have purchased a few stale or out of date items when I wasn't paying attention.

So, if I read this right, because he didn’t forsake his mainstay clientele, because he keeps on his shelves what his mainstay clientele wants instead of stocking what you want, this store should not be supported? Give me a break, this store has changed what it stocks a lot over the last ten years.  They have done a good job of keeping the clientele that made it successful and adding to their inventory a few items for that  few who live in the area who want more “upscale”. 

And to his statement, as we know the store has changed, perhaps like your comment being a “joke” so was his…. 

[Springfield Girl]

The store hasn't changed much at all in the 8 years I have been here and I never said I didn't support it. Go back and read my post. I said if a business has a good or service I need, I will support it, if not I won't. I just used the Superette as an example because he told me they did not want to change. Their business model is more suited to clientele that has been here a while instead of the newer residents moving to the neighborhood and that is okay. I do go to the Superette but I have a big family and purchase a large amount of groceries. It is more convenient and cost effective for me to do my shopping at Publix. I like to patronize businesses that have what I need at a good price in an attractive and clean environment. My money, my choice, no matter what part of town I'm in.

[Dan B]

Joe, stop being so damned black and white. All that Springfield Girl was asking was if he would consider carrying items he didn't currently offer that might appeal to a different demographic, not to replace items, or forsake anyone.

The same was done with the little market at 3rd and Market, and now they have a nice beer and wine selection, on top of all of the normal stuff.

Not sure why it has to be all or nothing with you, but I dont think anyone expects businesses to forsake anyone, except perhaps the criminal element.

On a related side note, I went to the Superette yesterday to buy some beer. Nothing too outlandish. Just some domestic lite beer.

They had one tiny section, and it was mostly Malt beers.

It would be nice to be able to go in there with some belief they might have what I am looking for. If I am going to have to go to three places to get my stuff, I may as well just keep going to the Winn Dixie or Publix.

I went through three stores yesterday till I gave up and went over to Market and 3rd to get my beer. Between not stocking the beer, two of the three places I went didnt take check cards.

I understand that there is a cost to that for the store, but we live in a world where you can use a check card almost anywhere, and most people who have the pay done through direct deposit tend to carry less cash.

[thelakelander]

Just another reminder everyone.  Here is the original post:

I was watching the renovation of the Speedway store at 8th/Perry St which was going on for weeks. I saw them upgrade electric, redo the insulation, pressure wash and paint the building and install additional lighting. All in all very good things. Although now that it opened back up I am also a bit disappointed.

Instead of the original open counter where you get served, there is now one of these bulletproof surrounded counters with a small pass through slot to pay. What kind of message does that send about the safety of Springfield ?

Additionally the owner needs some education about Jacksonville Sign Laws. Some large cigarrette posters stapled to the neighboring fence. Maybe the printout and link to the COJ page will help.
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Planning+and+Development/Building+Inspection/Sign+Laws.htm#11

I am also curious and will be watching very closely if the trash around the store will increase now that it reopened. Although I have to say so far it appears rather clean around the store. One can only hope.

Stay on topic!

[Springfield Girl]

No such thing Stephen. It's just simple preference. I have a friend who owns a dry cleaning business. He got mad at me because he said I didn't support him. I had to explain to him that I only wear machine washable clothes and don't use dry cleaners. I'm actually a pretty simple, non consumer type so when I do spend money I want to have the best experience I can.

[Springfield Girl]

Sorry Lake. I don't shop at the Speedway or Blue Fronts. See above posts for reasons.

[fsu813]

If a "nice" convenience store / gas station opened up on 8th or Main how well do you think it would do?

I'm wondering if it could survive.

I think on Main Street, across from 3rd & Main it would do just fine, as it gets more traffic, and there's a built in clientele just across the street. But i'm not sure the Shell, BP, Speeday, etc would do very well if it went to a higher standard.

[cindi]

If a "nice" convenience store / gas station opened up on 8th or Main how well do you think it would do?

I'm wondering if it could survive.

I think on Main Street, across from 3rd & Main it would do just fine, as it gets more traffic, and there's a built in clientele just across the street. But i'm not sure the Shell, BP, Speeday, etc would do very well if it went to a higher standard.

it's a little disturbing to think that low ghetto standard is all we can hope for then.  Why would the Shell station not do well if it got rid of its hooker/dealer loiterers that block the door, switched out the expired spam and put in power bars or something.  i can't imagine that "learning curve" loss of business could be any worse than the revenue lost daily from the shoplifting of beer that goes on there now. 
frankly, they could be giving gas away and i will not get it there and it is a stone's throw away.  that place is dangerous and beyond nasty.