Rachel DePompa files her final Ukrop's story commemorating the official end of the multi-generational grocery saga that employed and captivated countless Richmonders over the years, including many who never realized how dreadful the local chains' birthday cakes truly were.
The Ukrop's name is still on the cafe's and on several food products, but make no mistake Martin's is now in charge.
Scanlon says, "We're finally done with the construction and now we can start doing what we do best serving customers and selling groceries."
It took millions of dollars and the re-hiring and training of 3,600 former Ukrop's employees. Twenty-five stores were changed over in six weeks. Each closing for a week and cramming in a cleaning, fresh coat of paint, new construction, new lighting, bigger aisles, and even new food products.
Customers appear to be taking to the change. Eugene Doughty said, "I am impressed. there's lots of people around here." Shirley Wilcox added, "We think it's wonderful. We think it's beautiful. They've done a wonderful job. The decor is nice and one thing it is it's bright."
Bright, it is. And a poll running along with the NBC12 story shows Richmonders split on whether they truly miss their old hometown grocer. If this were politics, a 59-41 split against Martin's would be a landslide; I wonder how it plays out in grocery land.
This I can say with some confidence – the next Times-Dispatch report on local grocery market share is going to be a must-read.
