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'''Western Supermarkets''' is [[Birmingham]]'s largest locally-owned grocery store chain. | [[Image:Western logo.jpg|right]] | ||
'''Western Supermarkets''' is [[Birmingham]]'s largest locally-owned grocery store chain. Currently, '''Western Supermarkets, Inc.''' operates stores under the Western Supermarket, '''FoodSmart by Western''', and '''The Village Market''' brands. The corporate headquarters is located at 2614 [[19th Street South]] in [[Homewood]]. | |||
Western Supermarket was founded in [[1948]] by [[Inos Allen Heard]] and [[Stewart Yerton]] with the opening of a store in [[Five Points West]]. In [[1987]], [[Ken Hubbard]] and [[Ed Goodwin]] bought the company from Heard. Hubbard is currently the sole owner and CEO of the company. [[Darwin Metcalf]], previously manager of the [[Mountain Brook Village]] store, is president and chief operating officer. | |||
Western Supermarket was founded in [[1948]] by [[Inos Allen Heard]] and [[Stewart Yerton]] with the opening of a store in [[Five Points West]]. In [[1987]], [[Ken Hubbard]] and [[Ed Goodwin]] bought the company from Heard. Hubbard is currently the sole owner and CEO of the company. | |||
In [[1998]], Western was the number three grocery chain in Birmingham. | In [[1998]], Western was the number three grocery chain in Birmingham. | ||
In [[2001]], in an effort to compete against the many larger grocery chains, Western began tailoring each location to its area. | In [[2001]], in an effort to compete against the many larger grocery chains, Western began tailoring each location to its area. This began with the renaming of the [[Festival Center]] location in [[Eastwood]] to FoodSmart by Western. The store's floral, seafood and deli departments were removed while a "Dollar Smart" section featuring items priced at $1 or less was added. Other examples of this local tailoring are the [[Mountain Brook]] store's extensive wine shop and the [[Highland Avenue]] location's large, "New York style" deli. Despite these adaptations, Publix surpassed Western as the number five grocery chain in Birmingham in [[2003]]. | ||
2001 also saw the loss of Western's then most profitable store, in [[Bluff Park]], after the landlord decided not to renew the store's lease. | 2001 also saw the loss of Western's then most profitable store, in [[Bluff Park]], after the landlord decided not to renew the store's lease. The location had been there since [[1967]]. | ||
== Locations == | == Locations == | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* [http://www.westernsupermarkets.com/ Western Supermakets official website | * [http://www.westernsupermarkets.com/ Western Supermakets] official website | ||
* [http://www.birminghamrewound.com/western.htm Western Supermarkets page] at Birmingham Rewound | * [http://www.birminghamrewound.com/western.htm Western Supermarkets page] at Birmingham Rewound | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
* "At Age 50, Western Savors Role of Home-Owned Supermarket" (July 28, 1998) ''Birmingham News'' | |||
* Mahoney, Ryan (October 31, 2003) "[http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2003/11/03/focus3.html Western Supermarkets carves niche market]." ''Birmingham Business Journal'' | |||
* "[http://www.westernsupermarkets.com/aboutus.php About Western Supermarkets]." Western Supermarkets - accessed December 11, 2006 | |||
* Mahoney, Ryan (December 5, 2003) "[http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2003/12/08/story6.html Publix passes Western in local grocery wars]." ''Birmingham Business Journal'' | |||
* "Neighborhood Loses Only Grocery" (July 13, 2001) ''Birmingham News'' | |||
* Williams, Roy L. (August 20, 2008) "Western Supermarkets hits 60-year milestone." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
* Hubbard, Russell (May 31, 2009) "Birmingham Western Supermarkets CEO Ken Hubbard says local flavor still works as larger rivals knock each other off." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
[[Category:Grocery stores]] | [[Category:Grocery stores]] | ||
Revision as of 13:01, 31 May 2009
Western Supermarkets is Birmingham's largest locally-owned grocery store chain. Currently, Western Supermarkets, Inc. operates stores under the Western Supermarket, FoodSmart by Western, and The Village Market brands. The corporate headquarters is located at 2614 19th Street South in Homewood.
Western Supermarket was founded in 1948 by Inos Allen Heard and Stewart Yerton with the opening of a store in Five Points West. In 1987, Ken Hubbard and Ed Goodwin bought the company from Heard. Hubbard is currently the sole owner and CEO of the company. Darwin Metcalf, previously manager of the Mountain Brook Village store, is president and chief operating officer.
In 1998, Western was the number three grocery chain in Birmingham.
In 2001, in an effort to compete against the many larger grocery chains, Western began tailoring each location to its area. This began with the renaming of the Festival Center location in Eastwood to FoodSmart by Western. The store's floral, seafood and deli departments were removed while a "Dollar Smart" section featuring items priced at $1 or less was added. Other examples of this local tailoring are the Mountain Brook store's extensive wine shop and the Highland Avenue location's large, "New York style" deli. Despite these adaptations, Publix surpassed Western as the number five grocery chain in Birmingham in 2003.
2001 also saw the loss of Western's then most profitable store, in Bluff Park, after the landlord decided not to renew the store's lease. The location had been there since 1967.
Locations
Current locations
- Western Supermarket
- Gardendale (945 Main Street)
- Highland Avenue (2230 Highland Avenue)
- Mountain Brook (Mountain Brook Shopping Center, 2717 Culver Road)
- Rocky Ridge (3350 Morgan Drive, Vestavia Hills)
- FoodSmart by Western
- Festival Center (7309 Crestwood Boulevard)
- Pelham (3592 Highway 31 South)
- The Village Market
- East Lake (7737 2nd Avenue South)
Former locations
- Bluff Park (770 Shades Mountain Plaza, 1967–2001)
- Cahaba Heights (3150 Green Valley Road, closed 2005)
- Center Point (1916 Center Point Parkway, closed 1980s)
- Crestwood Shopping Center (5610 Crestwood Boulevard, opened 1957 as 4th location)
- Five Points West
- Hoover (1887 Hoover Court, closed 2003)
- Trussville (5960 Chalkville Mountain Road, closed 2005)
External links
- Western Supermakets official website
- Western Supermarkets page at Birmingham Rewound
References
- "At Age 50, Western Savors Role of Home-Owned Supermarket" (July 28, 1998) Birmingham News
- Mahoney, Ryan (October 31, 2003) "Western Supermarkets carves niche market." Birmingham Business Journal
- "About Western Supermarkets." Western Supermarkets - accessed December 11, 2006
- Mahoney, Ryan (December 5, 2003) "Publix passes Western in local grocery wars." Birmingham Business Journal
- "Neighborhood Loses Only Grocery" (July 13, 2001) Birmingham News
- Williams, Roy L. (August 20, 2008) "Western Supermarkets hits 60-year milestone." Birmingham News
- Hubbard, Russell (May 31, 2009) "Birmingham Western Supermarkets CEO Ken Hubbard says local flavor still works as larger rivals knock each other off." Birmingham News