Jedidiah Saturday, November 22, 2008

Retail

It’s Official - Capital City Grocery Closing Today

As previously speculated and investigated, Capital City Grocery will serve the downtown Raleigh area for only a few more hours Saturday and then close its doors.

Sad news for many downtown residents who have hoped for a successful grocery at this location since it opened last July. It had a great run of Friday night jams that were full of families and dogs. These events were a great addition to the downtown community and culture.

The one thing that won’t be missed is the $6 price on a half gallon of organic milk that I bought this morning. May the next venture in this space learn from the problems of the current business model.

Capital City Grocery - What’s the Deal

Capital City Grocery - Food Fight

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Read More: Retail, Other posts by Jedidiah.

Filed Under: The Modern Depression, Closings

  • Jason11/22 04:07 PM

    I hope somebody is willing to take a chance on that space again.  There are so many condos and homes coming online within a half mile of that location that it seems like it would have a chance.  It’s tough to make ends meet on the retail side when the residential piece is not quite in place.

    Here’s some free advice for the next ownership:  NEVER NEVER NEVER run out of product.  I don’t think the owners of these small shops understand that if you’re out of one item (for example, lettuce), you don’t just lose the $2.75 sale.  The next time the customer considers where to go when he is in a hurry to get home to get dinner on the table, he will think it’s a bad risk to go to your store, and instead will head to the big box store.  Now you’ve just lost $35 in sales, and you’re gradually losing that customer.

    I realize that it’s hard to predict demand, and it’s too expensive to throw out perishables when you’ve over-ordered.  But if you are down to your last head of lettuce and your last gallon of skim milk, and your shipment doesn’t come in for two days, send somebody to HT and buy just enough for the day, for cryin’ out loud.  So you’d buy a few items at retail, and you might lose $0.25 per item.  But you keep the customers coming back.

    A sort of “just in time” inventory management.  I just don’t know how these small business owners think they can retain customers if they’re out of every 20th product.  A lot of people will put up with the reduced selection (and will even pay a small premium for the convenience of a local market), but they won’t tolerate coming in for something they know you carry, and you’re out of it.

    I agree with the Jedidiah—they had ridiculous overcharges on some products.  Their Tropicana OJ was something like $4.50 for a half-gallon.  Seems like you should reward your regular shoppers by charging reasonable prices on staples, and try to make your money on the luxury items.  Maybe offer a discount program for customers who spend over $300 per month…

  • Marcus Morton11/22 04:13 PM

    There was alot going on with the company that the public doesn’t know about. It is a good place. I feel so frustrated when outsider try to speculate the exact reason for unstocked shelves and of the store closure. unless you have worked there, you wouldn’t know the truth. it’s not for me to anser any questions about why. but if you wanna know the truth ask the Weems family. Ed wanted the place to close anyway… the told truth from someone who worked there.


    P.S. Conan McCain is a good guy to have held it open for so long with no other investors but him, should I say

  • yogaboat11/22 06:09 PM

    I am so bummed. I so wanted this little store to prosper. It could have been (and still could, if someone could pick up the pieces and do it right) a thriving anchor for the residential folks down here. I think a third try is going to be a tough, tough sell, now that the first two have been so royally f**ked up.

    I totally agree with Jason about making a Harris Teeter run to keep the staples stocked.  I would have been happy as a clam if I knew they would always have whole grain breads, eggs, milk, cereal, that awesome meat section, and fresh produce. I wouldn’t even care if they didn’t have toilet paper - that stuff we just buy in bulk once a month at BJ’s.

    It doesn’t really matter what the “inside” story is. The fact is, they didn’t do what they were supposed to do - be a grocery store first.

    I haven’t been going there for weeks, knowing if I went in I wouldn’t like what I saw, and I live right across the railroad tracks.

    *sigh* back to Harris Teeter.

  • DPK11/22 06:12 PM

    Turn the space into a Trader Joes.

  • Ryan11/22 06:50 PM

    I have been a patron of CCG and really wanted Raleigh to have its own indie grocery store in that space.  With that being said, I long for a Trader Joe’s.  The chain will bring people from in and outside the beltline to Seaboard and closer to downtown.  I need 2 Buck Chuck and 1lb of almonds!

  • Fred11/22 07:23 PM

    The big boxes win again.

  • Jonathan11/22 07:39 PM

    I hope somebody tries again with this and succeeds, but it’s going to take creativity.  For nearly all things I’m pretty much of the independent and locally owned is better mentality, but for grocery stores I have a hard time with that.  I went to Capital City Grocery twice, and didn’t find the selection to be too bad, but the prices were just too high.  When you are selling the same products as the big boxes, it’s hard to find a way to differentiate yourself. 

    I agree completely with the Trader Joe’s comments, and think it could be a perfect fit there.

  • brian_M11/22 07:52 PM

    I doubt a Trader Joe’s would ever be this close to where the first one in Raleigh is going in, Wake Forest Rd. @ the beltline, but in a perfect world, this would be a great location for that store.

  • Marcus Morton11/22 08:17 PM

    To the person names Jason who said the owners did’t understand about keeping a store stocked. If you would have worked there yo uwould of understood what was going on.

    How would you feel if you started a business with ten (Just an example) investors and a within an instant your the only one. Wouldn’t it be hard to keep the store running and try to get further financing?

    To anyone who post negative comments: You just don’t understand what was going on. The individual who sadly HAD to close the store was the one who kept it open for the last six months. he couldn’t do it anymore, not cause he didn’t want to.

    I worked there so when I hear negative remarks, It hurts.

    Maybe if the customers would shop more and tell us what you needed us to stock (Customer Request Form) we would have a better idea of what you wanted. But we keep stocking what an average grocery store would and no one shopped there so in the end we all lose.

    Customers are a big part of a stores success. I’m not saying that is the reason for the closing but with only one investor and no customer traffic….. this is the result.

  • Micah11/22 08:44 PM

    Marcus, I don’t think you understand where I am coming from…And seemingly a lot of other people.  Honestly, I really don’t care what the stores internal squabbles and owner/management issues were.  That is none of my concern, nor should it be.  All I care about, as a customer, is that the store had what I, within reason, needed; That it was worth it to stop there for basic necessities instead of a stop there, THEN a trip to Harris Teeter to get everything that CCG was missing (all the while noticing that the few items I did get at Capital City were cheaper at HT).


    I’m sorry that you no longer have a job there, and I appreciate that you seem to care about the store.  It was a good idea that was very poorly executed.  I would love it if someone else could come in and re-imagine the store…It’s layout and stocking.  I would happily give it a handful of chances.

  • kg11/22 09:50 PM

    sad, but the reality (regardless of circumstances) is that you have to be in the business of satisfying the customer.

  • Marcus11/22 10:38 PM

    Micah,

    I do understand what you are saying from the perspective of a customer but from the perspective of an employee understand my frustration. Their have and still is negative commentary circulating around about CCG. it’s easiest for someone to say they never have in stock what I want or even they have empty shelves on a fairly consistent occasion. but the overall bottom line is that: as much as customers are laying out their comments of what we should, could and never did carry, those opinions never came into existence until it has been PUBLICLY ( speculation already were in order from the store’s empty shelves) exposed that we have closed the doors.

    For someone to say they had high prices for Tropical OG and never had what I needed…. I think it would of helped if those comments were expressed before it closed.

    Since I already exposed my identity, it is only right that I mentioned I worked in the produce department. some may say the prices were high, but they were fairly consistent with HT. some items may have been abit higher than the mentioned competition but that was solely based on the supplier we used which carried higher cost than our previous.

    That’s my point…. If a customer don’t complain and with consistency, we can’t provide accurate improvements.

    All the comments I post are in response to ones already on display, so far as the closing, I have no exact knowledge of the cause, but I can say (without confirmation) that the lack of customer existence may not be the cause so again the comments about the high prices or what we didn’t stock or could done better has yet to see acknowledgment.

    please stop making accusation of things that were subject to be changed if only there were more backing….

    its takes much time to kick someone when their down then it does to actually help pick them up. so please stop kicking us when we have no immediate defense…

    FOR THE RECORD: I’m only speaking on behalf of a former employee and my frustration from the comments read. I am in no way acting as representation for Capital City Grocery’s management nor owner(s).

  • Micah11/22 11:06 PM

    Get real, Marcus.  A mountain of item requests and other suggestions would not have saved CCG in it’s last incarnation.  It would have failed even if the owners were Santa and Mrs. Claus with no management strafing.  I believe it was a flawed concept as it existed, and I predicted it would close within six months of the last re-opening.  I was wrong about the time frame, but it is closed non-the-less.

    The old CCG concept was twice tried, and twice failed.  I will be very happy if another group gives it a (different) go.

  • Micah11/22 11:12 PM

    I forgot to mention that I think it is ridiculous to blame us (the customers) for the failure of CCG because we didn’t tell you we weren’t happy.  Any half-assed grocery manager would know that if the shelves are inconsistently stocked, people will be unhappy.  Staples ALWAYS have to be in stock.  As far as prices go, I think myself (and most people) don’t mind paying a slight premium for convenience, but that premium is detested when we have to spend even more time and money visiting another store for a 1/4 lb of cheddar.  Any child can sit out front, as I did while waiting for someone once, and watch people go in only to come out less than ten minutes later with nothing in their hands.

  • yogaboat11/22 11:35 PM

    The failure of the store doesn’t just affect the owners: it affects everyone who shopped or wanted to shop there, the community who made the Friday nights a success, and certainly not least, the people who worked there.  They cared about their jobs, were friendly, they got to know their customers by first name, and were a huge part of making it a neighborhood store. Bigger stores just don’t have that same feel.

    Here’s hoping the next version retains that element of humanity, combined with a smaller version of Harris Teeter.

  • mckee11/22 11:51 PM

    Micah:

    You write >>I really don’t care what the store’s internal squabbles and owner/management issues were. That is none of my concern, nor should it be.  All I care about, as a customer, is that the store had what I, within reason, needed.<< Sounds good, and I’m (mostly) with you on this.

    Then you go on to write, >>It was a good idea that was very poorly executed. I would love it if someone else could come in and re-imagine the store…It’s layout and stocking.<<

    You really can’t say much that is very meaningful or interesting about the execution of this venture without some understanding of why it failed. If you want to enter into that conversation, listening to Marcus is a good place to start.

    I’m reminded of an apocryphal story about Michelangelo. When asked by an aspiring artist to share the secret of his beautiful scuplture, he said, “First, purchase a large block of marble; Then, remove the unnecessary parts.”

    Either start with a successful grocer and figure out how he does it, OR a failed grocer and figure out why he failed, but simply saying, “keep the shelves stocked” doesn’t get you very far. I’d be willing to bet everyone involved with CCG agrees with you: keeping food on the shelves is a good idea. Why they could not seem to do so is the interesting question.

    I suspect the answer was fairly simple: the business was undercapitalized. You can’t buy product if you have no money. I have no inside knowledge of CCG whatsoever, so that’s just a guess, but undercapitalization is what kills most start-ups.

    As a rule of thumb, if you don’t have enough capital to run the first full year in the red, don’t even try opening your own business; Things cost more than you think they will, good staff will be harder to find and harder to train, and everything that can go wrong will. It usually takes a good year (or more) to iron out the kinks and get it running smoothly.

    And then, after working 12-hour days, 7 days a week, when you finally get it under control enough to take a break and engage in social activities, you’ll be surprised how many 9-5, m-f clock-watchers you’ll meet who can tell you exactly what you’re doing wrong in your business. Inexperience and brilliance often go hand in hand.

  • Jason11/23 12:06 AM

    Marcus - you’re getting the wrong idea.  I was a huge booster of CCG (under both mgmt teams).  I tried hard to do our family’s regular shopping there, knowing I was paying a premium to support a business that I thought was important for our community.  I can’t tell you how many of those customer suggestion forms I filled out - I was quite willing to share information and opinions with CCG.  I kept hoping they’d figure out how to manage inventory, but as soon as they figured out produce, they’d be out of milk or yogurt.  As for the pricing of items like OJ, you shouldn’t need notes from customers to tell you that 50% markups are too high…

  • Claire11/23 12:49 AM

    I, too, am a former employee of CCG.

    We all realized our prices were too high and that we didn’t have enough on the shelf.

    One individual is responsible for both of these things.

    None of us will name said individual for fear of being sued.

    It’s hard to get a straight answer from us because he is the kind of man that will initiate litigation against you, even though you said nothing untruthful.

    Insulting management because you don’t know these facts is understandable, but it still hurts. They had no control over his irrational whims either.

  • raleighgirl11/23 03:50 AM

    yes…Trader Joes would be wonderful.  What a PERFECT location.  Sorry, I tried many times to support this store.  I just hated having to go to the HT every single time afterwards.

  • Marcus11/23 09:09 AM

    Micah,

    I understand where you are coming from and far as the get real. I’m living real, I just lost my job and have a three year old and a wife to support you understand real.

    Someone said that the closure fails all of us, that was my whole point. you guys are leaving negative comments (those who are) when the results fails all of us.

    Far as the Claire’s comments of insulating management, that is correct. although that will always come into comments about management and it is a perfectly respectable reason to blame to closing on, it still hurts so that’s why I defend those comments. management wasn’t the problem. it was the problems that arose where management couldn’t do their job.


    Someone also said that I (or that is is ridiculous) blame customer. I’m not blaming customers for the closure. Just like someone said the closing affects all of us, it was something we all could of done better to help.

    I don’ t blame anyone, I just want revelations of what happen not be the center of attention. we closed, we failed again so there you have it.

    “It’s easiest to complain but hardest to help find a solution”

    far as the comment with the 50% markup, if HT or wholefoods had the same price, it wouldn’t be a problem but because we are a local grocery store, the price matters…. what’s that about?

    It’s like saying I paid nearly five dollars for orange juice but it came from wholefoods and being perfectly fine because you bought it from a high end store.

    She asked “sir, where did you buy that orange juice from”... capital city grocery and it cost five dollars.. she said ” ooh, you got it from there”

  • vanessa11/23 11:03 AM

    Micah, what do you do for a living?  I read this blog quite frequently and you seem to always have the solution when a business is in trouble or has failed.  You also love to criticize and seem to enjoy when people become unemployed so I am assuming that you are quite business savvy and own several successful businesses? 
    I had the same issues with CCG that everyone else did and, just like everyone, I tried to support it but gave up when I still had to run to HT.  Obviously, it was not ran well and bad business decisions were made but I do feel bad for the employees who are now out of a job right before the holidays.

  • Marcus11/23 12:21 PM

    Vanessa,

    Thanks you so much for your comment. at least someone sees this from the employees eyes.

    There are so many negative comment about the store but not one person has said, “If any former employee needs help, I can be of assistance on your job search” or even “I have a business and would like to give you a change”. that’s is another one my reasons for posting my comments.

    These people are spending there time bashing CCG, that no one ever showed any concern for us. not even a I feel sorry for the employees.

    People this can happen to you. don’t think because your secured right now that it can;t happen to you. This is life and the real world… so stop thinking your better than anyone.

    the ones who suffers is the employees so comments you post, does hurts us. we are the ones who have to go on unemployment until we find something. show sincerity.

    Thank you Vanessa. I wa actually going to ask Micah what does hes/she does that he/she have time to criticize a business that it down. where were you to prevent it from closing. where was your “business input”. now that it is closed, you have every answer.

    Please…....

  • Drew11/23 02:13 PM

    I worked at the first go round of CCG, and it’s unfortunate that it didn’t work the second time. I’ve gotten the impression that opening a grocery store is about one of the hardest small business ventures someone can embark on.  It’s really easy to say, “Just keep the shelves stocked and people will come.” 

    But it goes way beyond that. If you keep the shelves full and people don’t come, the product goes bad and you lose your money. But then if you try to be realistic and keep a back stock consistent with the customer traffic you’re getting, you run out quicker and get the bad label of being the grocery store that doesn’t have any staples. To be honest, I hope a chain gets put in the spot.  To be sucessful I think you need to have a lot of existing capital to be able to weather the rough times.  I think a chain is the only thing that would work.

    It’s cute to want an indendently owned store in your neighborhood.  But that’s twice now that people have lost a lot of money and employees have lost their jobs.

  • Micah11/23 02:57 PM

    Marcus, You did get “I’m sorry you no longer work there, and appreciate that you seemed to care about the store.”  I hope you can find suitable employment somewhere else….Somewhere that is not in danger of closing, so that you can go to work and be confident you won’t lose your job in 3 months, and you can have a job where you won’t have to deal with those horrible owners that fight and don’t know what is best for the store..


    As for me, I am in my thirties and for the past 12 years have been a business manager in the retail and retail/entertainment industry.  In the past I worked as a grocery buyer for Winn-Dixie Stores, and Publix. I also have an HVAC/R license, and sometimes do some of that work on the side (more of a hobby, really).  I don’t really see why I must have some specific background in order to give my opinions of why I think a store (or, Vanessa, a restaurant) closed.  Yes, I fully expected this place to close.  That doesn’t mean I’m happy there are many out of work, and that we lost a grocery store and locally owned business. The assumption that I am glad when people are out of work is exceptionally ridiculous. 


    Once again, I am hopeful that someone else will give it a go at that location.  If it isn’t done well, customers will stop going again, and it will close.  And Micah might just be around with a few personal observations.

  • Marcus11/23 03:40 PM

    Micah,

    for the record, I have been there a year and four months. so your 3 month category is just an assumption. I know you are not saying I’ve been there 3 months and that comment is just a generalization of the situation at hand.


    also for the record: It would be best to but a big box store there but even that doesn’t mean it would succeed. its not the name that makes success, its the community that makes it a success.

    Even if you put a HT or Trader Joe’s there, if customers doesn’t shop, then the same situation may result. the economy is still in a difficult period and any store/business can be up for closing.

    so it’s not the name of the store…..

    also you said that you fully expected it to close… why not expect it to work. you was gunning for the downfall. now you are up here happily advocating your lack of support.

    I guess it would have hurt to contact the owners to give your input since you do have 12 years of experience in that very field.

  • Todd Morman11/23 03:48 PM

    Criticism of Capital City for not being well-stocked over the past 6 months my be missing part of the picture. Marcus claims Ed Weems wanted the place closed, but I like the theory I heard better: as the other owners were trying unsuccessfully to get rid of Weems (who, I’m told, anyway, was so awful at least one distributor stopped supplying the store because it didn’t want to have anything to do with Weems), they thought they might be in a better legal/financial position if things *didn’t* go as well, and so started letting things slide in order to make it easier to get Weems to give up and get the hell out of there. Like I said, this is just a theory, but it might help explain the lack of stock. Oh, one other thing: I was shocked to learn last night that Ed Weems is a tenured professor in the Department of Business Management at NC State. I laughed my head off at that bit of hilarity; there’s lots of gossip about his treatment of students out there as well.

  • Micah11/23 03:58 PM

    I shopped there at least once a week since the original opening date.  I was never “gunning” for it to close.

    I have no interest in consulting or owning a grocery that location.  As for Trader Joe’s and HT…HT has one of their most successful stores in the entire chain a mile and a half from the CCG site at Cameron Village.  Trader Joe’s has a new store opening at Holly Park, which is about 3? miles from CCG sometime next year.

  • Marcus11/23 04:04 PM

    Todd,

    The only there is that you think it it a theory.

    I’m not going to elaborate on that situation any more to prevent from bashing anyone’s character. So that I’ve mentioned a name partially to blame for the closure but I was employed at the store.

    It takes more than one person to run a business no matter how successfully you are.

    Ed, you can attempt litigation on me if you so desire but I don’ have nothing to give because you took it away.

    I’m done with commenting because the more I post and try to defend CCG, the more I realize (not that I don’t) I’m the victim.

    Continue on with your assumptions of what happened because I have my own and some are similar to what I’m reading.

    Just keep my name out of your postings and let my name result in my own.

  • Marcus11/23 04:11 PM

    just as I say I will stop posting, there is one comment I must defend because it it in reply to one of mine.

    Micah,

    your exact comment was “Yes, I fully expected this place to close”  on 11/23 @ 01:57 PM. that somehow defines gunning for it to close.

    Now fare as the Trader Joe’s/ HT thing… I didn’t specifically say they wouldn’t succeed because I absolutely believe they would. I’m saying in general that because it holds a big box name, doesn’t guarantee success.
    you have businesses that are closing because of the status of the economy. that’s all I was pointing out.

    Cause believe if HT or Trader Joe’s open down there, I would be the first to have an application in for employment grin

    Micah,

    For the record: I’m not defending CCG, I’m defending me as a former employee and commenting on some of the comments I see as undefinable in opinion.

  • Micah11/23 04:25 PM

    “Yes, I expected this place to close.”

    You think that means I was gunning for the place to close?  In the English I know, that is not what I get from that statement.

    Two weeks ago my vet said, “I expect your dog to die within 24 hours.”  She wasn’t gunning for my little dog to die, just making an observation and prediction.

    I am sorry if you misunderstood.

  • Marcus11/23 05:03 PM

    Micah,

    I clearly understand everything I read. Its the perception of what you get from what you read. Unfortunately, That’s how I perceived it when reading the context of that comment and the words associate with it.

    CCG has closed… end of story. people are spending to much time worrying about something that no longer exist.

    If I were to focus on losing my job and then reading these comments, I may end up becoming an alcoholic (and I don’t drink)
    this is ridiculous to spend time posting a comment about a business who cannot defend themself.

    Could some one at least offer us a job? then maybe your comments would be of greater value… because you made a difference. this is to everyone not anyone specifically

  • Starr11/23 05:32 PM

    I for one am very sorry to see it close up.  I shopped there every chance I could, knowing full well I might be disappointed.  It was obvious to me several months ago this would eventually happen.  I recall my disappointment when the IGA burned down on Person St. How many here remember that? Yea, it was a dump, but it was my neighborhood grocery store. 

    I am willing to pay a premium to enjoy the convenience of living downtown. My hopes are that someone with some deep pockets can bankroll the next incarnation.  It’s sad too, so many people have lost their jobs.

    A grocery store downtown can address the needs of both the higher income residents as well as the college students and older residents in the immediate neighborhood.  It takes a determined combination of management and capital, which sadly seemed less than adequate with either version.

  • APM11/23 07:02 PM

    I would LOVE to see a Whole Foods in that location.  Maybe a WF Express (I don’t know if such thing exists) with a killer hot and cold bar.

  • Sumo11/23 07:36 PM

    Here’s another reason perhaps they closed - lack of responsiveness to customers! Shortly after CCG hired their own chef, I called to arrange a meeting with her regarding a catering event. When I went at the appointed time to meet with her, she was not there and I was told, “she should be here any minute”. I waited 30 mins then left, telling the coffee bar guy to tell her I had been there and to please call me to reschedule. I never got any call, to reschedule or to apologize for blowing me off.  So I had the party catered by Whole Foods.  This is what happens….

  • Marcus11/23 07:57 PM

    Sumo,

    that is not the reason they closed. for the record, you are talking about a person who haven’t been working there in the last 8 months so stop talking about what happened

    STOP ASSUMING THE REASON THEY HAVE CLOSED. EXAMINE THE REASON YOU STILL HAVE A JOB (IF YOU DO) AND CONTINUE STRIVING TO MAINTAIN IT.

    THEY’RE CLOSED… LEAVE IT ALONE.

    I LOST MY JOB ON SATURDAY AND ITS SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF SUPPORT FROM POSTERS OFFERING JOBS.

    the company is the company, thy failed ok. leave it alone.

    Sumo, do you have a job to offer me? if not, stop posting negative comments about the company because its the lost jobs that should be the center of attention.

    Please grow the F up….

  • Blaine11/23 09:24 PM

    Marcus..

    although I too have “tried ” to shop at CCG to little avail, I admire the dedication you show towards your former employers. Why the grocery is no longer open is of little consequence. It simply does not exist any more, so we move on…if you can show the same passion towards your next employment, you will be an asset to that establishment. I am currently interviewing for a pastry chef…if you think that you are evenly remotely qualified, I encourage you to e-mail me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    cheers, Blaine

  • Blaine11/23 09:25 PM

    oops..

    that should be

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  • Marcus11/23 10:16 PM

    Dos anyone have any openings?

    I worked in the Produce department at CCG. My skills are with produce, cashiering, stock, grill cook, prep. I’m more in the food industry as that is where all my experience lay. I am just looking for a job to support my three year old daughter.

  • Micah11/24 01:59 AM

    I thought that I was done with this thread, but I cannot help but to give a little unsolicited advice:

    Marcus, If you are really interested in help getting another job from message boards such as this one, then you should do two things:

    1. Watch what you say and how you say it.  From some of your posts here and in the other Capital City Grocery thread I don’t get the best impression of your demeanor.

    2. Take a little time to edit your posts for grammar and spelling, and be certain that they make sense. I don’t mean you have to be a writing whiz (I certainly am not), but basic communication skills are important to an employer. 

    You ARE attempting to advertise yourself as a potential employee here now, are you not? Everywhere you go in life, in person or on the internet, there might be people watching and listening that are in a position to give you a job (like me). Please don’t think I’m picking on you.  If it was possible from this forum I might have sent this to you privately.

  • Marcus11/24 08:42 AM

    Micah,

    I understand what you are saying. 

    Somwetime in life, you have to let your ego down for a second and listen. That is what I have just done when reading your comments that clearly is to cause embarrassment.

    If you wanted to contact me privately, why not ask for my email address.

    the only reason I would want to respond negatively is because it was directed to me; but this is a forum. I can care less.

    But please, if you have anything else to say to ME. ask for my email address first. I have no problem displaying it on this forum.

  • L11/24 09:44 AM

    Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s would be SUBLIME to have right there!!!!!  Who can we suggest that to..

  • TSnow2760411/24 10:03 AM

    I have very little knowledge of the grocery store business but it seems to me that if a company is trying to penetrate into a new market/area, they better be able to absorb losses for quite a while as they become established.  Especially when they cannot live on name recognition.  I have said before and still think that the best bet for a grocery at this location will be for a national/regional chain to move in.  They, unlike a one-off local store, would be better equipped to handle short-term losses and profits from their other locations can off-set losses here.  And while I’m talking about the area, how about a bank or at least an ATM?  Right now the closest are Cameron Village, F’ville St., or out Capital Blvd.

  • Marcus11/24 02:19 PM

    Thank you Matthew,

    I actually ran the Produce department. So I thank you

  • Smitty11/24 11:34 PM

    Maybe it’s time for a co-op like Weaver Street Market or the future Durham Central Market.

  • Emily11/26 01:38 AM

    I lost my job. 

    Will someone give me one?

    There has been a lack of support from possible employers.

  • stefanie11/26 05:58 PM

    I hear that Conti’s is no longer open as a grocery, either.  I guess that until residential densities increase substantially near and around downtown, not enough foot traffic is available to provide steady business (b/c foot traffic does not shop around on the way home from work and constitutes a sort of captive market share).  Land uses are changing, though, so there is hope in the relatively near future for a successful downtown grocery at Seaboard.  I am truly sorry to hear that so many lost their jobs.  I wish you the best in your job searches.

  • Gerry Jacobs11/28 01:34 PM

    The problem with any type of “mom & pop” shop in this day and age is big-box competition.  In this case, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods or Fresh Market are to be considered big box…CCG, without perfect management, can’t keep up with the economies of scale that a big box can afford.
    Another problem exists—the area residents who want a place like CCG to succeed on its own, sans big box, are living a pipe dream.  In today’s economy, particularly grocery shopping, convenience, price and availability are the ONLY things that matter.  For a place like CCG to succeed, you have to have a big box retailer like an HT or Trader Joe’s as an anchor FIRST.  They have to coexist.  A small mom & pop shop can fill the ancillary needs of local shoppers, but it could NEVER fill all of the grocery needs to local residents at a competitive price (not even in the same ballpark).
    We live in the day and age of big brands…brands that dominate the retail landscape.  They have succeeded for a reason…they meet the needs of their customers.  I for one would love to see a mainstream or large, specialty grocery retailer in the area first.  Then let a smart, dedicated local entreprenuer take the reins and open up in the shadow of the bigger retailer and fill the niche needs of the neighborhood.

  • emily11/28 09:51 PM

    I miss Lola! She was a great cashier and having a first-name relationship with the people who run our local store always felt right and good. My daughter will really miss seeing her. Sadly, I also gave up on CCG after finding staples missing from the shelves but I don’t know enough about the situation to point any fingers. I really hate that some folks are out of work right at the holidays. Clearly a lot of people, customers and employees alike, had vested interests in CCG succeeding. Let’s hug it out, y’all.

  • dover12/01 11:07 PM

    marcus- i miss you. i also miss lola. i used to work at ccg and i cared deeply about its success. i was fired by the weems under strange circumstances, but they could not deter my love for any local grocery store, not even ccg. generally speaking, i believe we all take for granted the ease to which we have access to food. the commercial food distribution system which we have in america makes it virtually impossible for a small grocery store to exist. my family has been in the grocery store business for generations until my father decided to close his remaining local stores a few years ago. we expect a constant supply of cheaply priced goods. this not only hurts and artificially augments our food economy, it is bad for the environment and local business as well. we did the best with what we had, but frankly, we had very little. the grocery industry is not the retail industry. the mark ups are much much smaller (1-2%) and without a few dozen stores, it is impossible to keep a constant supply of anything. america- readjust your expectations of local stores, or quit complaining. true financial support is not easy, but in the long run it will be rewarding. just please understand the extreme financial risk anyone makes when they open a local grocery store (especially with such little experience as the ccg management team had).

  • Lola Weaver12/08 11:14 AM

    I believe I was the oldest employee at CCG,but,I have to say that I never felt old.  All of my fellow co-workers always made me feel like I was one of them. All were younger but,they never treated me different. I also met a lot of great customers who I refer to now as Friends. I met one very sweet little girl and her Mother not long after the store opened. Their names were Tess (my little Angel) and Emily. It is always harder for an older person to find a new job but,the hardest thing is finding new friends. I will always remember everyone that I worked with and worked for.  I am very happy that I was able to meet so many great people. Maybe we will see each other later on in life.  For now I wish all of my fellow co-workers luck in finding something thay they truly enjoy.

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