Randalls is the only grocery store I go in that regularly has expired stock on the shelves. And I'm not taking about just one store.
I disagree. Randalls was a major player in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. I think they were the #2 grocery chain in the Houston area. They had the best looking stores by far.
I shop at the Randall's at Memorial @ Dairy Ashford. They've kept it in good shape, and just finished interior renovations a few months back. The closest HEB is the one at Bunker Hill, and it's a nightmare to navigate, particularly on weekends which is when I shop.
This. 25 years ago Randall’s was the best grocery store around. It was expensive but the produce was immaculate, the stores were extremely clean, the employees were paid well and service was stressed. The one by our house had a dry cleaner, huge video rental area, pleasant pharmacy and valet parking for the old. Basically you paid more for a pleasant experience. It was then sold to Albertson’s and fell apart.
Randall's is such a Houston staple that noted rapper Lil' Keke used the phrase "shop at that Randall" in the legendary June 27 freestyle. I remember going there with my mom all the time as a kid.
Aside from it sucking... grocery stores are often modeled to make their profits by owning the strip center they operate in, and collecting rent from the neighboring stores. I don't think HEB always operates that way. Randalls might. Which could have something to do with it.
Which location(s) do you shop at? The 3 or 4 I've been to on the west side between BW8 and 610 all have them.
If you forget to use your rewards card the prices are ****ing stupid. it’s more expensive than HEB and HEB has better produce/proteins. I only go to Randall’s if I’m heading to my buddies place in south shore and need to grab beer.
Not during my time and area I guess; late 80s, early 90s, NW. I can think of one Randalls, which was on 290, which may still be there. I was always surrounded by Krogers, so thats where we shopped.
The only Randalls I know of anymore is the one on Westheimer & Gessner and the one in midtown. Last time I stepped in one it was in complete disarray, broken egg shells, expired milk, just awful. They have always been expensive too, but the one thing they have on all the competition is they run the best meat sales in town. Whatever meat they have on sale that week will be cheapest in town, whether it's ribeyes, chuck roasts, NY strips, whatever. I'm a Kroger guy, HEB is good but I cant stand the shopping experience, the crowd, and the way they layout their newer stores. Kroger is convenient and I can get in and out in minutes. HEB is a damn excursion now, no different than venturing through Costco it seems. Fiesta is washed, but they still are the produce champs - they still hold all the contracts with the best farms in Mexico.
If you really want to step through a portal to the 80s, check out the Pizza Inn buffet on Mangum. Blew my mind this place still exists.
Because randalls has looked exactly the same for the last 20 years. The pearland one close to 288 is all gloomy and dreary. I go in there to renew my car registration twice a year. Groceries - HEB / Costco Other household items (cleaning supplies, shampoo/deodorant, over the counter meds etc.) - Costco / HEB / Target / Amazon and maybe Walmart if i can't find it elsewhere. The crowd at walmart is.....interesting. I went in there a few months back to get some transmission oil. Better prices than your local auto part store. I never go to Kroger.
My Grandmother in Marble Falls used to looooove the Mr. Gattis, cracked me up every time I took her there. It's closed but I'm assuming there's still stores around? I spent many, many quarters on the 4-way tabletop Gauntlet video game at the one on San Felipe when I was a kid.
I shop Kroger and HEB. HEB for the prices, Kroger for the convenience. My local Kroger has 24 self checkouts. I don’t like standing in lines, so this is like heaven to me.
Walmart is great for oil (both transmission/engine), kills most auto store prices like you said. Amazon sometimes competes but lately I'll just go to Walmart and buy the oil there, I mean you can get synthetic mobil 1 for cheap, especially vs O'Reillys/Autozone etc
