Kroger in Lafayette LA

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Formergrocer
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by Formergrocer »

I believe Kroger left the Lafayette area in 1987 when the store in the store in Lafayette (Willow Street) and the Family Center in Morgan City were part of the sale of the Kroger stores in St. Louis to National (Loblaw Group). The store on Arnold Boulevard was closed and was a Campos Electronic Store. The store in Opelousas on Crestwell Lane replaced the smaller store on the westside of Opelousas. It opened in 1982 and closed in 1982. It never made a profit in the year it was open.
wnetmacman
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by wnetmacman »

Formergrocer wrote: 29 Apr 2023 00:16 I believe Kroger left the Lafayette area in 1987 when the store in the store in Lafayette (Willow Street) and the Family Center in Morgan City were part of the sale of the Kroger stores in St. Louis to National (Loblaw Group). The store on Arnold Boulevard was closed and was a Campos Electronic Store. The store in Opelousas on Crestwell Lane replaced the smaller store on the westside of Opelousas. It opened in 1982 and closed in 1982. It never made a profit in the year it was open.
Kroger sold both Lafayette stores, New Iberia and Morgan City to National at the same time, 1986. National opted not to run Arnould, as the Real Superstore was under construction just up Johnston, and it would have been a wasted effort. Willow closed within a year, and Morgan City was gone just after 1991. New Iberia is still a local supermarket in one half.

Opelousas was closed when the store on the western edge of town lost its lease in 1978. Its Family Center did not open until 1981, just east of I-49. It was closed with the Baton Rouge 1982 strike. It may also have been due to the fact that Opelousas, poulation of around 18,000, also had Winn Dixie, A&P, Delchamps and National all within a mile of Creswell and on the west side of I-49, which had just been opened through town.
Scott Greer
BatteryMill
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by BatteryMill »

wnetmacman wrote: 29 Apr 2023 09:11 Kroger sold both Lafayette stores, New Iberia and Morgan City to National at the same time, 1986. National opted not to run Arnould, as the Real Superstore was under construction just up Johnston, and it would have been a wasted effort. Willow closed within a year, and Morgan City was gone just after 1991. New Iberia is still a local supermarket in one half.

Opelousas was closed when the store on the western edge of town lost its lease in 1978. Its Family Center did not open until 1981, just east of I-49. It was closed with the Baton Rouge 1982 strike. It may also have been due to the fact that Opelousas, poulation of around 18,000, also had Winn Dixie, A&P, Delchamps and National all within a mile of Creswell and on the west side of I-49, which had just been opened through town.
What was the location of the original Opelousas store, and what was its history?
wnetmacman
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by wnetmacman »

BatteryMill wrote: 29 Apr 2023 11:42 What was the location of the original Opelousas store, and what was its history?
The original Opelousas location was on US190 at the western edge of town where 190 splits into one way Vine and Landry streets. It shared parking with a Howard Brothers store which outlived it. I'm not sure if they held the lease that was lost in 1978. The store opened in the early 1970s.
Scott Greer
BatteryMill
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by BatteryMill »

wnetmacman wrote: 29 Apr 2023 11:58
BatteryMill wrote: 29 Apr 2023 11:42 What was the location of the original Opelousas store, and what was its history?
The original Opelousas location was on US190 at the western edge of town where 190 splits into one way Vine and Landry streets. It shared parking with a Howard Brothers store which outlived it. I'm not sure if they held the lease that was lost in 1978. The store opened in the early 1970s.
I'd wager it as opening a little earlier; Historic Aerials shows the center up in 1969, and a 1967 listing of nearly every Kroger location mentions a Kroger already existing in Opelousas at the time.
wnetmacman
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by wnetmacman »

BatteryMill wrote: 29 Apr 2023 14:39
wnetmacman wrote: 29 Apr 2023 11:58
BatteryMill wrote: 29 Apr 2023 11:42 What was the location of the original Opelousas store, and what was its history?
The original Opelousas location was on US190 at the western edge of town where 190 splits into one way Vine and Landry streets. It shared parking with a Howard Brothers store which outlived it. I'm not sure if they held the lease that was lost in 1978. The store opened in the early 1970s.
I'd wager it as opening a little earlier; Historic Aerials shows the center up in 1969, and a 1967 listing of nearly every Kroger location mentions a Kroger already existing in Opelousas at the time.
Sorry; in doing a little digging, this store opened April 1966.
Scott Greer
BatteryMill
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by BatteryMill »

wnetmacman wrote: 04 May 2023 23:44
BatteryMill wrote: 29 Apr 2023 14:39
wnetmacman wrote: 29 Apr 2023 11:58

The original Opelousas location was on US190 at the western edge of town where 190 splits into one way Vine and Landry streets. It shared parking with a Howard Brothers store which outlived it. I'm not sure if they held the lease that was lost in 1978. The store opened in the early 1970s.
I'd wager it as opening a little earlier; Historic Aerials shows the center up in 1969, and a 1967 listing of nearly every Kroger location mentions a Kroger already existing in Opelousas at the time.
Sorry; in doing a little digging, this store opened April 1966.
Would like to see these sources.
wnetmacman
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Re: Kroger in Lafayette LA

Post by wnetmacman »

BatteryMill wrote: 05 May 2023 16:10
wnetmacman wrote: 04 May 2023 23:44
BatteryMill wrote: 29 Apr 2023 14:39

I'd wager it as opening a little earlier; Historic Aerials shows the center up in 1969, and a 1967 listing of nearly every Kroger location mentions a Kroger already existing in Opelousas at the time.
Sorry; in doing a little digging, this store opened April 1966.
Would like to see these sources.
Updated with actual pics instead of URLs:

Newspapers.com - Opelousas Daily World, April 5, 1966 announcing the opening. Note at that time that Howard Bros. was a Gibson Franchisee:
Kroger_Opening.jpg
Newspapers.com - Opelousas Daily World, April 5, 1966 - photo of the store at its opening:
Kroger_opening_Pic.jpg
Newspapers.com - Opelousas Daily World, January 25, 1978 showing the Lost Lease ad:
Kroger_Closing.jpg
Scott Greer
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