See Post #14
Bradfords
- Thread starter NOTSMC
- Start date
McKays caused their own demise.
The quality of their meat and produce declined post Covid.
If someone wanted substandard fare, they could have gone to Walmart or FL cheaper.
Supposedly the owners of Woodburns were related to the Mckays and the remodeling of the old Mckays in Hollywood was a rebirth of a Woodburns type store. They're going for a different type of customer. With Tommy's lack of business acumen like his father had, the stores haven't really been as profitable as they could have been.
Edit: Although not fact, I'd be willing to bet that the money behind Bradford's has stayed within the family.
(shrug) - see, I WENT there because their meat and produce was cheaper, just as I go to ALDI. I can make cheaper stuff taste good, so long as it isn't spoiled or exceptionally fatty and so forth.
I hate going to Walmart - period. I hate the crowds - the extremely small aisles - the idiot customers - the crazy pharmacy - the registers which are almost never manned, favoring self-checkout with people pushing multiple carts - the atroicous parking lot and the lunatic drivers - to me, shopping at Wal-Mart is akin to the third world. IF I go, it's late at night close to closing, where at least, I don't have to deal with it.
I hate FL/Weis. The store layout makes no sense and the whole place is always - dingy.
I really didn't mind the Shopper's/McKay's (the new improved ones). It just wasn't close enough to be worth the drive and we don't use their pharmacy.
I know people who live in Leonard's Grant for whom - that store IS their regular grocery. I cannot guess why. I go there either -
1. When I am passing by and want a hot sandwich or
2. Checking their bargains.
I know that if I am looking for something VERY SPECIFIC, it's a pretty rare instance they will EVER have had it in stock.
I'll buy boxed/packaged stuff from Walmart of someone else for cheap, since it's the same wherever.
For the produce and meat, I'll spend if I have to but I want something decent.
These days thats Giant and HT. I can get something cut like I want, when buying quantity.
Although Giant seems to be getting more and more prepackaged cuts coming into their store these days.
I'll be driving by - or even possibly INTO - the WalMart - and it's wall to wall people. Even Giant and Harris Teeter don't have parking maxxed out to the ends, and they even share the plaza with others.
I cannot shop in their produce area without someone nearly ramming me. I don't know if it's the number of people - the angled islands - or the fact that to GET to the bakery or meat area, you still have to GO THROUGH the produce area.
I will go to Walmart for a few things - when my son was in Boy Scouts, their camping/fishing/sporting goods area was a good place to go. Their TVs and general electronics are cheapest, and when my kids still had to get Halloween costumes and school supllies, it was worth the madness.
When my wife would want tons of their SF jellos or I needed baby supplies or a VERY SPECIFIC product - often Walmart had it - like Southwest Style Egg Whites or jars of dried fruits. Or a walker. Or a transport chair. Or a miniature Christmas tree.
Admittedly, I do go to Giant partly because - they all know me and are very nice to me. I've had staff walk all around the store looking for stuff I can't find, and the pharmacy has called the house to explain stuff, like long back orders and what can be done. They - are - exceptional.
HT I like because - they just are more likely to have cool stuff. Good fresh pizza, wings and an Asian bar. Their checkers LOOK to help you if the lines are long. Their service is worth the extra price.
The other stores - they do that cashier thing where they are checking out your stuff - they totally, totally ignore you and chat with the other cashiers, as though you weren't even there.
I'll go to Bradford's every couple of weeks for hot bar or steamed crab legs. My regular shopping is done at Aldi.
luvmygdaughters
Well-Known Member
Love Bradfords seafood and meat!! Their Texas Gulf Shrimp are great, I always get them to steam it.
I was delighted to see that they have jumbo lump crabmeat. I'm not too far from Kellums Seafood but they never seem to have it when I'm looking for it. A week or two ago, we went to Chesapeake Bounty and they had it. Guess where it was from? Kellums. Had to go across the bridge to get it.
Anyhoo, I got into quite a conversation with the seafood manager at Bradfords and he informed me they keep it in stock. And that the scallops were dry not wet. Bradfords is going to keep me cooking all summer.
Oh and I glanced at their Maryland crab soup. Looks like the Maryland crab soup I grew up with. Tomato and broth based, lots of summer veggies.
Sounds like a Southern Maryland story. Is Woodburns still open? I've never been in one.
Closed years ago.
NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
Chesapeake's Bounty has contracts with dozens of watermen across the three Counties, that's why they always seem to have bountiful crabs and lower prices, when other outlets are somewhat short and higher priced.
I'm really pissed they were forced out in North Beach because this time of the year we were in the store four five times a week for produce.
Why were they forced out of North Beach?
NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
The building sold and the new owner wanted to do her thing so she evicted the Bounty and another business. She underestimated the start up cost for her business (as well as overpaying for the building and wasting her early money on non-essential to the business things) even though she had a business already. That business closed the first of the year and was supposed to start in the new location.
She resorted to Go Fund Me and outright "Send Me Money" appeals in order to do the things, mostly Health Department and Codes, she needed to do.
I told you that part because she could have had at least one if not two paying tenants which wouldn't have encroached on the area she's using for her business, which still isn't really up and running. She's mostly retailing items from other vendors.
jrt_ms1995
Well-Known Member
To summarize - she be stupid.
LightRoasted
If I may ...
NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
People in north County would know.