Monday, September 08, 2008

Evolution

You wonder what will be the next direction for our local Fry's supermarket. They're big in greeting cards, offer the usual in drug store items, take care of home office basics, and operate a small florist shop. And, oh boy, are they really big in kitsch! Not that I'm quite sure where you are supposed to put a big Betty Boop, a seraped Mexican or a giant plaster boot.

There's a small room at the entrance devoted to somewhat less kitchy household accessories. Yes, I thought of the dotter up in Alaska when I spotted the fine mirror embraced by a sun, but shipping costs are prohibitive.

But of late I've wondered if I've accidentally wandered into The Room Store. A sofa? Coffee table? Bookcase? At Fry's? And most recently, they've been joined by a modest, but rather attractive kitchen table (below). I wonder how many of these sell each week? Do they pay the rent on the floor space -- or is there another rationale for venturing into the furniture biz.

Yes, I'm aware that there's an Electronics Fry's, but I believe the two are quite separate entities. Maybe our grocery Fry's, now owned by Kroger, is planning to compete head on in electronics next. Very little would surprise me these days.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Fry's is subleasing the space to someone who is liquidating a home furnishings store?

~Anon in AV.

TomboCheck said...

maybe grocery sales are down and they are looking for ways to drum up business. :)

Anonymous said...

The electronics Fry's here in Calif. can be pretty fun-- many of the stores attempt to keep to a theme in decorating, such as "Mayan Ruin," "Outer Space," and even "Old
West" (Prescott boosters should jump in on that one) One of the theme-less Fry's makes up for it with an actual Tesla coil which sparks and scares kids every 20 minutes or so.

The furniture-grocery connection puzzles me, but so did seeing the familiar Fry's logo attached to a nerd superstore.

DeltaCubed said...

You can put that big "devilish" Betty Boop in my office anytime!

David Kirk said...

Fascinating! Maybe they are trying to outdo Wal-mart!?

Granny J said...

anon av -- no, couldn't be; that's the outfit over on North Montezuma, the house of perpetual liquidation.

tombo -- no way, I'd say. That stuff I pictured is truly discretionary spending. Isn't it???

melanie -- wow! A giant Tesla coil. Now, where would we plant one in the Prescott area? Atop a high peak is my choice.

ddd -- I hadn't considered one's office as a suitable venue for out-of-this-world kitch. Good suggestion.

dk -- you've got it. Not much of that stuff I showed is R.E.D., so it's definitely not Target they're targeting.

Anonymous said...

In Germany, you'll find a large, usually plastic, cook standing in front of an eatery. A boot might be in front of a shoe shop. Just a little unusual advertising. I haven't seen a Betty Boop, but in front of a Hair salon, it would fit.

Couldn't log in.

Steve in Germany.

Granny J said...

steve -- Don't those visual signs date from the days that only the upper, upper crust was literate? Don't understand what's wrong with Blogger today!

Anonymous said...

Roomstore is a chain of furniture stores. Roomstore operates its on-line sales through the domain RoomStore.com. The company is one of the leading Web's furniture stores. THE ROOMSTORE has numerous warehouses and locations to provide fast quality delivery and good customer service. However, there are many customers who are not satisfied with the company. I learned about this on this great site www.pissedconsumer.com, where I read the complaints.

Granny J said...

Oops, Sharlotte -- Blogger thought that you might be commercial spam and tagged you. I read your comment & laughed at Blogger! That's all right, I'd rather be given a choice any time! My question, however, is just how do you and your friends find time to produce all those reviews???

 
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