63250 Wed Sep 22 20:51:52 -0700 2004 29 2 Los Angeles Area 0 338726 Oh goody, another independent bites the dust as Albertson's buys Bristol Farms hook, line & sinker. So farewell, poor Bristol, I knew you well. Wed Sep 22 20:51:52 -0700 2004 0 bernardo 1 338727 Will they convert them to an "Albertsons Marketplace"? I like Bristol, its expensive, but I like their stuff. Wed Sep 22 20:54:08 -0700 2004 338726 0 Xericx 2 338729 They'll keep them virtually unchanged it looks like. Link: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040921/latu139_1.html Wed Sep 22 20:56:45 -0700 2004 338727 0 Xericx 3 338923 With the exception of the butcher department, perhaps, Bristol Farms, of course, has been pretty mediocre since it was bought out by the Brits and expanded a few years ago. The produce is basically little different than the stuff at Von's (and not quite as good as Gelson's or Whole Foods), the quirky small-producer sourcing was more or less phased out, and the percentage of schlocky mass-market gourmet crap grew exponentially. It may be elitist to expect artisanal bacons, locally made cookies or Wolferman buns, but you were certainly paying for the difference, and my rationale for shopping there all but disappeared, except for the couple of times each year I need something like fresh quail or goose in a hurry. And even there, I paid about twice as much for specialty meats as I would have for the identical product in ethnic markets. Good riddance, say I. Thu Sep 23 18:52:02 -0700 2004 338729 0 condiment 4 339002 Bristol is just up the street from us and we always have a laugh over the prices - this is strictly an emergency stop. Wonder if they will institute the dreaded card like Albertsons did after the strike? There is something less than savory about having to produce a card in order to get 'published' prices. My vote goes to Whole Foods in Westwood although my neighbor swears that the National location is by far the best - our choice for shopping since the strike except to go to Vons for their brand dog biscuits for Devil Chow and his Missus. Fri Sep 24 09:56:14 -0700 2004 338923 0 Zoe 5 339202 We favor Wild Oats in LB & Laguna as nice compliments to the farmer's markets in the LB Marina on Su mornings & near Laguna City Hall Sa mornings. While regular prices can be high at WO, they're nothing like Bristol's, and fortunately, specials abound throughout the store. We especially like the roast Diestel turkey when available. Prepared foods, sandwiches & soups are good for a quick lunch & in LB the pizzas are so substantial one slice is sometimes enough. Nice people too. Sat Sep 25 01:34:26 -0700 2004 339002 0 bernardo 1 338732 If it were not for Oak Tree Capital buying the company about 3-4 years ago, it would have been sayonara then, as there were really no other buyers. The company was about down for the count. Good timing, quality management, and the grocery strike really all assisted in this deal. Albertsons' bottom line was quite heavily impacted by the strike, and they needed to purchase a profit center that had no 1-3% margins, but upwards of over 10%, and also an entity that had no union contracts. They should not dream of changing a thing, like they did when they renamed Sav-On to Osco, to later realize they would have to revert back to Sav-On as the locals did not want Osco at all. I think that taught them a big lesson for the local scene. And at $100M, that is a steep price if it were just for the real estate to just change it into their existing losing format, a la the Lucky merger, which really singed their fingers! Wed Sep 22 21:08:26 -0700 2004 338726 0 carter 1 338738 Serves them right for opening on sacred Chasen's ground. Wed Sep 22 21:28:38 -0700 2004 338726 0 Jon 2 338739 That Beverly Hills location, nee Chasen's, is the best store in the chain, by quite a distance, FWIW, right or wrong. Wed Sep 22 21:33:44 -0700 2004 338738 0 carter 1 338753 Let's face it. The world hasn't been the same since Jurgensens died. Wed Sep 22 23:35:12 -0700 2004 338726 0 mc michael 2 338755 As Bob Zimmerman says, the times they are a-changin'. Now I'm well aware the economics may be more favorable for us all if Walmart runs the world. But I still have to bemoan the rapidly vanishing mom & pops, which IMHO is damn shame. Down our way we still have Promeli's on 17th in NB, a butcher shop with a plastic cow in front on Warner in HB, a strange outdoor fish market off PCH & Jamboree in NB, & a couple of independent produce stands, but not too much more. At least I get a chance to interact with a few little guys at local farmer's markets here in OC & LB. Thu Sep 23 00:01:30 -0700 2004 338753 0 bernardo 3 338762 Just a note: Just a few of the Albertson's markets are still owned by Mr. Albertson (who usually worked at President of Presley Homes until he sold that company to a local guy who used to own Air California). Anyway, in one of those grocery stores that Mr. Albertson still owns (the one closest to his church), he put in a few "Bristol Farms" gourmet stuff like an olive bar, quality wines, etc. Maybe with the union of Alberton's and Bristol Farms, prices at Bristol Farms can come down a little and unique foods and/or gourmet quality at Albertson's can join in to their inventory. But, supply and demand, huh? The baker/cake decorator at one of the stores Mr. Albertson's still owns was truly top notch. I think the long labor strike freed her to higher ground. And, I hope they keep the cooking classes at Bristol Farms. Thanks for the news, Bernardo. I hope they use their opportunity for greatness (Bristol Farms quality mixed with the largest grocery chain in the world (Albertsons') to bring us affordable higher quality on some things in the regular Albertson's store. Why not? Thu Sep 23 02:03:54 -0700 2004 338755 0 kc girl 4 338791 Y'know, Albertson's actually provides value for budget conscious hounds. Several times we've had filet on sale @ $8/lb from our local A's in Seacliff, & while admittedly not quite as exquisite as Bristol's at 4 x the price, A's filets were NTL surprisingly tender & flavorful, in a word, quite respectable for the price & a good value overall. Thu Sep 23 10:44:06 -0700 2004 338762 0 bernardo 5 338795 I noticed quite a big improvement in the quality of Albertson's beef at about the time the strike ended. Thu Sep 23 11:00:27 -0700 2004 338791 0 Sam D. 6 338816 We don't seem to see the same quality in the transformed Lucky's around us as in the large always-was Albertson's in Seacliff. Also, our main disappointment is with the extremely variable quality of their fresh fish, which has driven us to purchase mostly from individual fishmongers at our local farmer's markets. But health concerns aside, the collosal shrimp (oxymoron?) is quite tasty grilled on the barbie, and inexpensive when on sale, as low as $7/lb. Thu Sep 23 12:05:45 -0700 2004 338795 0 bernardo 5 338804 "Y'know, Albertson's actually provides value for budget conscious hounds." Y'ah know, actually do. And, this morning, I got out on of their storebrand generic instant oatmeal packages (plain), stirred it up with a little vanilla powder, a little salt, and the powdered remnants from the toasted coconut cashew package (TJ brand), poured a little fat free half and half over it, sprinkled a little sugar, and placed 7 or eight (all that was left!) of the TJ coconut cashews on the plate and had a most delicious, value for budget conscious meal. To boot, I had bought the 12 individual package instant oatmeal for $1 (on special). On the filets, try searing all sides on high heat, then place them in the oven (toaster/oven okay, too) to cook. Very tender and very flavorful. In fact, if you place them in foil of their own (like another pan) on top of the oven dish, then completely wrap them with that foil when you take them out of the oven to rest for 5 or ten minutes, that also makes for a good piece of meat. I don't buy red meat all that often, so don't know alot about Alberton's sources of their beef. Anyway, that one was good. Thu Sep 23 11:29:26 -0700 2004 338791 0 kc girl 3 338763 What's the "strange outdoor fish market off PCH & Jamboree in NB" ? In Back Bay? Thu Sep 23 02:06:25 -0700 2004 338755 0 kc girl 4 338790 Affirmative Thu Sep 23 10:31:52 -0700 2004 338763 0 bernardo 4 338895 Pearson's Port Thu Sep 23 16:59:37 -0700 2004 338763 0 NinoHB 2 338769 there's still Howies market in San Gabriel and Sierra Madre. They have great meat markets and will take the groceries out to your car without asking! Thu Sep 23 02:31:31 -0700 2004 338753 0 martyR 3 338771 Howie's just opened in Glendale, as well. Located in the site of the old Whole Foods, just north of the 134 on Glendale Blvd. Thu Sep 23 02:48:07 -0700 2004 338769 0 DanaB 4 338783 That may be a Hows market, not Howies. Howies are much smaller and I hadn't heard of any expansion. Hows are good stores as well. Thu Sep 23 09:13:28 -0700 2004 338771 0 martyR 2 338808 True. To just fill out your slip and sign your name, no i.d. necessary or other verification. Ahhhh. Thu Sep 23 11:38:13 -0700 2004 338753 0 TomSwift 1 338759 God. Patricia Heaton will be busy. Thu Sep 23 00:45:14 -0700 2004 338726 0 cvc 1 338932 That's pretty funny - Bristol has swallowed up enough beloved local groceries, now they are being swallowed by a bigger shark! (And a low-rent one at that) I may sound bitter, but I think Bristol Farms is a terrible market. I have NEVER found everything I need there. They are fine if you need to pick up a few cheeses or some olives, but you need to go to another market to shop for the rest of the meal. Those tiny carts and tiny aisles give me road rage worse than the Sepulveda Pass at rush hour. Sorry to vent, I just hate that place. Thu Sep 23 19:31:45 -0700 2004 338726 0 Ashly 2 338940 We thought Bristol top of Hawthorne Hill was pretty good & like many others helped attract us to take up residence in PV in the late 80s. Then mid-90s saw a rapid expansion of Bristol begin along with an inexorable decline downhill in quality, service & most of all pizazz. And although it got me lots of freebies, I just got tired having to complain constantly to management. Having said that, Bristol's sushi is still OK & fairly priced, and some of the My Chef dinners are OK, altho portions have become skimpy of late. Meats & fish are good but pricey. The Cafe is handy & you can chow down on foods from any dept there if you like. Problem is I keep hoping for even a small shade of Zabar's in Bristol and it just never comes close. Not the bagels, not the rugelach, not the smoked salmon, not the olives, not the pastrami, hardly anything comes close. Gelson's is a bit better but no panacea. Oh well, time to just lower expectations -- don't worry, be happy. Thu Sep 23 20:23:22 -0700 2004 338932 0 bernardo 2 338955 I usually end up going to 4 or 5 different stores anyway, so the few specialty items at bristol was just another stop on the grocery trek. Any of you transplanted NY'ers shop at Wegmans? I actually wouldn't mind a Wegmans out here. Thu Sep 23 22:44:49 -0700 2004 338932 0 coffeebeast 2 339162 I would agree that the deli and prepared special occasion/holiday meals at Bristol Farms pretty much suck. Fri Sep 24 20:04:24 -0700 2004 338932 0 kc girl 1 339478 Just out of curiousity I E-Mailed BF at their website and asked what kind of changes could be expected in prices, product lines, etc as a result of the acquisition. My E-Mail went to "corporateinfo" and was forwarded to Kevin Davis, BF's President and CEO (if you can believe what you read). Within 20 minutes I received a reply: "Thanks for your E-Mail. We are excited about being owned by such a large and successful company as Albertsons, but we remain an independent wholly-owned subsidiary company. Other than the increased opportunity to build more stores, we do not expect to change our marketing philosophy, store service or quality. We are proud of our "differences" and do not plan to change the unique qualities that have made us successful. Thanks for your past patronage. We intend to earn it in the future as well. Sincerely, Kevin Davis, President CEO." I hope his expectations come to pass. Mon Sep 27 16:37:58 -0700 2004 338726 0 TomSwift 2 339962 The parent company just might keep hands off if the strategy of catering to (gouging?) well-heeled & price-insensitive clients continues to succeed unabated. OTOH, if escalating prices for the same quality fail to compensate for reduced volume, then IMHO all bets are off. Wed Sep 29 23:02:50 -0700 2004 339478 0 bernardo