Freight Storage at Kroger

January 18, 2007 Monte Neece 12 comments

The two dozen storage containers in the Kroger parking lot at Rufe Snow and Keller Parkway have been an eye-sore for months and apparently will be there for several more months as Kroger does some slow-paced remodeling. It makes a key intersection in the heart of our city look like the Houston ship docks. How can this be ok when there was so much concern that the landscaped sales trailer near city hall would be unsightly? Was this freight storage approved by the city, or is Kroger allowed to place anything they want in the parking lot?

Community Development, Town Center none

Comments

Written by Doug about 4 years ago.

I’m sure it’s allowed in their building permit.
Written by Monte Neece about 4 years ago.

If it’s allowed in their building permit, then the question is whether the building permit should have been issued to allow it. Those containers have been there for well beyond any reasonable time. Further, there is room behind the building for them. I view it as their insensitivity to the community.
Written by Mike Ross about 4 years ago.

I too have been wondering why those things are sitting out there. It does make Keller look like a low-end area. Just another reason not to shop at Kroger.
Written by Jim Carson about 4 years ago.

According to Director of Community Development Nika Reinecke, temporary storage of construction material is allowed under the building (remodeling) permit.

Another Keller resident who wrote Kroger to complain about the limited parking received the following reply:

Thanks for the comments on the parking area that is blocked by the storage buildings. You are right and I just wanted to let you know the reason for them and let you know that it will not be too much longer. The store is going through a major remodel and the storage buildings are holding all the new cases and shelving that goes into the store. The remodel should be done around March but the storage containers will start disappearing before that because as they start putting cases in the store they will carry the storage containers off. When it is all done we will have a brand new beautiful store with more variety of products. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.

I agree with Monte’s assumption of Kroger’s insensitivity to the community. If I was the store manager, after the third week of those containers sitting out there annoying my customers, I would have begun negotiating with the contractor to find some temporary warehouse space nearby.
Written by Thomas about 4 years ago.

Another way to look at it is what if Kroger didn’t remodel? Maybe they could have just closed the store and directed their customers to the newer store on Rufe Snow. Of course if the city had been on the ball they would have required some landscaping around the containers so they wouldn’t have been visable from the street.
Written by Monte Neece about 4 years ago.

Good point, Thomas. We certainly want to encourage our retailers to stay in the city and to continue to invest in their local businesses. Tom Thumb closed the Rufe Snow location in NRH that was not as close as the newer Kroger on Rufe Snow. Come to think of it, I have been concerned that they might consolidate to the newer store. Still, I would like to see them be more considerate by not littering one of our most visible intersections with freight containers for five months. We want to encourage people to Shop Keller and, at least for this remodeling period, they aren’t helping our cause. Thanks for another view, though.
Written by Doug about 4 years ago.

While there may be area for the container behind the center, I’m sure it’s in the fire lanes which can not be blocked for any reason.

I don’t notice such things as I’m in the business and use storage containers on most of my jobs. And who is to say what a reasonable amount of time is?

Most Electrical and Specialty trade items must be ordered far in advance and stored on site in order for the contractor to be paid for such items and to make sure you have inventory on hand when they are needed.
Written by Monte Neece about 4 years ago.

You ask, “Who is to say what a reasonable amount of time is?” I’m sure Kroger remodels a lot of stores and can say exactly how long is reasonable to them. I’m sure the city building inspector has an idea of how long is reasonable. If the March date mentioned above holds true, I believe it will be about nine months for this project. My view is that is too long for this eyesore, but the point is that the Kroger handled it is insensitive to the good will of the community. One simple thing would have helped: Kroger could have erected a sign last fall that said something like “Investing in Keller with an updated store! Watch for your newly remodeled Kroger in March 2007!”
Written by Doug about 4 years ago.

Why are they being insensitive? They are spending thier money remodeling thier store. The location isn’t anything special, it’s a shopping center on a road with other shopping centers. It’s not like it’s next door to the Lourve.

When you get a building permit, the general time frame is for one year from the date it’s issued. And a remodel is much more difficult than building from scratch…..don’t believe me, ask anybody that’s had a kitchen or bath remodeled in thier house. They are always over budget and way past their schedule. Now take that and multiply it by 5,000 when you have a store that is staying open during construction.
Written by Monte Neece about 4 years ago.

Well, we’ve established that some people are not bothered by the storage of freight containers in this location while others feel it is an unsightly blight on a major intersection in our city. To each his own. I just threw it out for discussion. I’ll still shop Kroger, but I think it was an interesting comparison to the discussion about the appearance of the Art House sales trailer being placed on City Hall property (rental fees notwithstanding).
Written by Monty about 4 years ago.

When you think about it, construction itself is not very aesthetic (see Arthouse mudhole) until it’s finished. The containers didn’t bother me much, except as a U.S. Customs officer (ret.) they do give me a sudden fright if I look up while my mind is occupied elsewhere and come face to face with an Evergreen or a Maersk. My blood runs cold as for a brief second I think I’m back at work. Horrors.
Written by Keller City Limits » Blog Archive » Elephant Repellant about 3 years ago.

[...] Link to the initial complaint Posted by Jim Carson [...]

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