Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Mid-January Updates

Hello all,

I just have a few announcements that I would like to make today.

First of all, I would like to thank the Acme Style blog for announcing the arrival of the Albertsons Florida Blog. Ever since that post went up two weeks ago, the Albertsons Florida Blog has gotten almost 300 non-spam hits. While that may not seem like a lot, I'm very happy with that accomplishment. At least the spambots and I aren't the only ones who have an interest in Albertsons' Florida stores. With that being said, I would like to welcome all of the new visitors to the blog and thank all of the returning visitors for coming back.

Also, over the last two weeks, I've added 5 planned Albertsons stores to the store list and the map. These are stores #4408 in Brandon, #4409 in Town n' Country, #4453 in Mobile, Alabama, #4481 in Hialeah, and #44XX at the SE Corner of 14th and Sheridan in Hollywood. I was surprised when I found the planned store in Alabama. The plans for that store date back to 1996, about 11 years after Albertsons originally pulled out of Alabama. Of all of the planned stores I've found, this one intrigues me the most, mostly because I didn't think Albertsons would try re-entering Alabama once again. The details I could find on this store were limited, however. 

In other news, The Albertsons Florida Blog is now on Flickr! There isn't much there right now, but as the weeks go on I'll begin to add some more photos to it. The Albertsons Florida Blog Flickr page will be mostly to serve as a home for my non-Albertsons retail photos, but I'll also post some Albertsons photos on it too, but after I post them here (I don't want to leak my Albertsons photos on Flickr before they get their own post). The link to The Albertsons Florida Blog's Flickr page is located on the right panel of the blog. 

The biggest thing to come in the last few weeks here at the Albertsons Florida Blog is the addition of the Store Model directory to the Useful Information tab (right below Albertsons Florida Store Numbering), which I just added today. Here you can find information on all of the different store designs that Albertsons has used in Florida from the first store in 1974 to the last in 2004. I tried giving all the different models their own name (I thought that would be easier and clearer than saying things like the mid-80's model and the late 80's/early 90's model), but I'm sure some of the names could be better. If anybody has a better name for one of the models, please tell me and I'll consider changing it before the ones I made up begin to catch on. 

Also, I've finally decided on a date for the first store post. The first extensive look at a Florida Albertsons store here on the Albertsons Florida Blog will be Saturday, March 1, 2014, so mark your calendars. The location will be...well, let's not ruin the surprise. Update: Just to clarify, the first store to go up will be a former store.

Albertsons also made their official announcement of store closures today, which usually comes around January. Good news: None of the final four Florida stores are on the list. Bad news: 26 more Albertsons, Acme, and Shaws stores will be closing in February. Southern California was the hardest hit with 11 stores closing. Check out the article on Supermarket News here.

Well, that's all for now. Feel free to look around and blog, leave a comment or send me an e-mail. 

Until next time, 
The Albertsons Florida Blogger

P.S. - If you were wondering why the New Year, New Blog post disappeared earlier today, I accidentally hit the wrong button this morning and sent it back to being a draft, and I didn't realize it until this evening. The post has since been reinstated. Sorry about that. 

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

New Year, New Blog

Hello everyone!

The orange ball in downtown Orlando has officially dropped, meaning that 2014 has officially begun!

2014 is a big year for Albertsons. This year marks Albertsons' 75th year in business and Albertsons' 40th year in Florida. Not only that, but 2014 will mark the official launch of the Albertsons Florida Blog! Whoo-hoo!

Will 2014 be a good year or a bad year for Albertsons? Supposedly sales were pretty good in 2013 throughout the entire chain, but my main concern is those final four Florida stores. Will they make it through the year? Will Florida get a fifth Albertsons in 2014? While I can give a pretty certain answer to that second question, the first still bugs me. I've been told by some that those four stores wouldn't last more than another year and that they should have been shut down with the last round of closings. Yet here they still are, isolated from the rest of the chain.

My new years' resolution is to go visit as many Albertsons Florida stores, past and present, that I can. As always, feel free to contribute your own photos and info on any of the Albertsons Florida stores, and any Sweetbay photos (more on that below). Sweetbay's clock is running out soon.

I want to make this blog as great as it can be. Let's make 2014 a great, Albertsons filled, year. First official store post to go up in early March. For now, enjoy all of the Albertsons store info tables (lots of good stuff there) and the store map.

Happy New Year to all, and tell all of you friends about us!
The Albertsons Florida Blogger