Larry W.
Yelp
TEN O'CLOCK PM CLOSING TIME, WALMART? REALLY?!
I'll agree with what at least one other reviewer said. This Walmart is TINY, I guess that's why they call it a "Neighborhood Market" instead of a "SuperCenter". From a marketing / financial standpoint, it does make sense for Walmart; there are a TON of LARGE "regular" and "ethnic" Food Stores in this area, half a dozen of them within walking distance of this particular "WallyWorld".
Well, the store is BUILT now, so as far as SIZE goes, it is what it is; no changin' it now, so LIVE WITH IT. There's not much Walmart can do at this point to make the store bigger, and again, given the close proximity of the aforementioned "other" Grocery stores, I probably would've done the same thing. In other places where I spend time, I don't use Walmart as my PRIMARY Grocery store anyway. I use them for what I consider their PRIMARY function: A DISCOUNT DEPARTMENT STORE.
In fact, in Texas, they look particularly silly, trying to compete (in the Grocery realm) with HEB. Although they're a "Texas ONLY" Grocery chain, HEB beats 'em HANDS DOWN, NO CONTEST!
"Wally" probably didn't expect a "local yokel" to kick their ASS, but that's what happens in Texas! HEB's smart enough to know that their Business Model probably wouldn't work outside of Texas, so they know their place, but it's still a Multi-BILLION Dollar place they've carved out! Don't take no "Rockit Siantist" to figure out they're out-selling Wally in that arena, either, even though we have THOSE in Texas too, the "Siantists", that is ("Walmart, we have a problem...")
Walmart? They seem to think they can compete ANYWHERE, against ANYONE, but that's not always the case. While I shop 'em as much as anyone and appreciate the place they fill in my "shopping Life", it's satisfying to see 'em get their nose rubbed in the DIRT (or worse) every once in awhile. It's more than satisfying; it's downright FUNNY to see 'em make such HUGE MIS-calculations of their competition. Texas: THAT'S where they oughtta stick to the so-called "Neighborhood Markets" (at least anywhere there's an HEB, which is EVERYWHERE).
Here, in Escondido, a larger store (apparently) would've been more welcome. But rather than its size, I've got a bigger problem with this store's HOURS OF OPERATION. And that's something Walmart CAN fix.
I spend an equal or greater amount of time in Austin, and it seems like EVERYTHING there is 24/ 7. Not really, but there ARE no less than THREE Walmarts within 10 minutes of my home there that are. Conversely, "Escondido-at-large" seems to "roll up the sidewalks" very early. I was hoping Walmart might be a trendsetter in that department.
NOPE!
Last night:
Friday, just after 10 PM. Wanting to pick up a few items for a Festival I'm going to the next day, I stop by Walmart, and they're ALREADY CLOSED? And I was FAR from the ONLY one showing up at that time of evening, wanting to shop & finding a LOCKED DOOR. Judging from the closing times of other Escondido businesses, I wasn't expecting a 24-hour store from Walmart, but I WAS expecting maybe MIDNIGHT. No such luck.
ALBERSTON'S was still open, though, just around the corner. There were a coupla items I had to do without last night, but for the items I COULD buy at a still-open store, Albertson's got what WOULD have been Walmart's money, and I saw at least two other parties of people I'd encountered at Walmart's LOCKED front door, at Albertson's, in addition to me. We were all very disappointed with Wally.
Sorry Walmart, NOT a good thing for repeat business.
DEAR WALMART: You can't do anything about the SIZE of the store (shoulda been bigger), but you can certainly EXTEND THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
The most "similar" store to Walmart in this area is a TARGET and THEY are open 'till 11 PM (excluding Sunday), AND have what they call a "Fresh Grocery", which I take to be maybe a PRODUCE and a MEAT DEPTARTMENT? I've shopped there, but never checked out their Grocery; I just don't think "Grocery" when I think Target, same with Walmart.
And you SHOULD extend your hours, "Wally", to Midnight, at least. C'mon, you'll generate enough business to justify it, I'm sure.
Side note: I tried to CALL ON THE PHONE in advance (due to the fact that Walmart doesn't post "Hours of Operation" on their Website); apparently they hadn't gotten their phone hooked up properly & the call wouldn't connect, so the ONLY way to find out was to drive up there.
Add to that the fact that there was NO GRAND OPENING, NO SPECIALS, NO NOTHING, and ya got a pretty ANTI-CLIMACTIC opening.
GOOD NEWS:
We Escondido-ites don't have to drive to San Marcos anymore, to get our "Wally-fix".
BAD NEWS:
San Marcos store beats Escondido store in a number of categories, and after such a long wait for a (geographically) closer Walmart, a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.
If ya go to Walmart, GO EARLY!
larrythediner
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