This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Franklin loses a Sendik's
Franklin
Monday night, I contacted a relative of mine who works at a Pick ‘n’ Save to try to learn more. I was told Pick ‘n’ Save employees have heard the rumors for weeks that Sendik’s was going to close, but they had heard nothing about Pick ‘n’ Save taking over.
Very, very early this morning, my relative called me to tell me a higher-up confirmed Pick ‘n’ Save was moving into the Sendik’s facility and that no Pick ‘n’ Save outlets in Franklin would close.
I am very surprised and saddened by this news.
I have patronized both Sendik’s stores in
So what happened?
Was the Sendik’s at Highway 100 too close to the one at 51st and Rawson? No, that’s a foolish theory.
Was the Sendik’s at 51st and Rawson so far superior to the one that is about to close? I don’t think so, though I could make a case as to why one had advantages over the other, including opening earlier.
Was it the economy?
Maybe. That’s an obvious, convenient answer.
The true answer is one that far too many just don’t understand. The market decided. It had nothing to do with the cuts of beef, pedestrian access (Gimme a break), ripples in the parking lot, or number of bike paths. The market (consumers) made its voice heard.
This is sad news. Sendik’s opened with great splash (I was there) and great promise. No other community had two Sendik’s stores.
Some will lose their jobs.
However, there is no blight of an empty building for months to come. Pick ‘n’ Save ain’t chopped liver. Unlike some developments that never were, this property continues to operate and grow.
The owners of Pick ‘n’ Save are smart. Hopefully they will learn from what troubled Sendik’s.
A Pick ‘n’ Save insider says it would be wise to adopt a program where locals, i.e. the consumers across the street in that nice swanky subdivision, could call in their complete shopping orders for pick-up and have Pick ‘n’ Save comply.
Do it, Pick ‘n’ Save.
The fact is
While we feel terrible about the loss of Sendik’s, we should feel good about the possibilities that await
6 COMMENTS
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"These are sharp businesspeople. They knew the landscape when they jumped in."
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Thanks, Josh.
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My point is that you can't say that the "market decided" and then shoot down all the reasons (trivial or not) that caused the market to "decide". This is why your argument makes no sense.
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Sorry. The above comment should read, "DON'T suffer the same fate."
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So why did this Sendiks' fail, Josh?
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"The true answer is one that far too many just don’t understand. The market decided. It had nothing to do with the cuts of beef, pedestrian access (Gimme a break), ripples in the parking lot, or number of bike paths. The market (consumers) made its voice heard."
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Back to topJ Strupp - Jul 06, 2009 12:01 PM - Report Abuse
I agree. But the landscape changed on them last fall. We live in a different world now. What looked promising early last year doesn't look so attractive anymore (i.e. Fountains of Franklin).
Kevin Fischer - Jul 02, 2009 5:08 PM - Report Abuse
I believe the owners when they say sales couldn't keep up with costs. They also refer to demographics in the area.
While they refer to "competition," they never specifically mention Target. Others speculate Target is the main factor here, but the two are totally different shopping experiences and destinations.
The two Sendik's too close to each other? That's not even serous, although the 51st and Rawson location may have had some sort of built-in advantage having opened earlier.
I don't think the Highway 100 spot is a poor location to do business, it's just a new location.
These are sharp businesspeople. They knew the landscape when they jumped in. They thought they could make it go. So did I. So many other Sendik's had already been extremely successful.
I respect them and their decision and commend them for their endeavor.
J Strupp - Jul 02, 2009 1:08 PM - Report Abuse
Moving on....
In my opinion (since you asked) the market for upscale retail has collapsed and won't be coming back as it once existed. The American consumer has been permanently traumatized by this economic crisis and doesn't have the appetite for upscale shopping that it once did (this is also why the Sendiks' business model is in trouble long term).
My guess is that Sendik's at Wyndham was hit by the perfect storm: A structural change in consumer behavior, rent obligations that were based off a real estate environment that no longer exists, and, in general, a poor location to do business.
If I were to guess, I would say Roundy's is going to lose their collective rear-ends at the location too. But they keep Target Greatland out of the picture, which is probably the real goal. You don't have to be a genius to see that Wyndham Village doesn't really make any sense for Roundy's other than to protect market share. Sendik's posed little threat to Roundy's. Target Greatland, Wal-Mart, Woodman's, etc. will pose the real threat moving forward. Even more so than before the world changed last fall.
My .02.
Kevin Fischer - Jul 01, 2009 6:48 PM - Report Abuse
Kevin Fischer - Jul 01, 2009 6:46 PM - Report Abuse
Were the cuts of beef worse than those at 51st and Rawson?
Were people outraged that there weren't pedestrian walkways or bike paths?
What are the reasons, Josh?
Enlighten us all why this Sendik's out of all the others is now closing. Please elaborate so other businesspeople can learn from you so they suffer the same fate.
As usual, you lend nothing to the conversation. You come on here just to be a jerk.
J Strupp - Jul 01, 2009 1:25 PM - Report Abuse
Yeah this analysis doesn't make any sense at all. Actually, it's rather scary how you misrepresent the consumer decision-making process.
"The market decided" BECAUSE of the cuts of beef, lack of pedestrian access, ripples in the parking lot, proximity to another Sendiks, the economy in general or whatever else caused the consumer to stay away (trivial or not). I think that, in an attempt to mock people who knew more about the sustainability of this development than you, you managed to ignore and marginalize the very reasons that Sendik's failed at Wyndham Village.