Hampden's Fresh & Green's - 6 Months On (That Didn't Last Long)

by Benn Ray

The Fresh & Green's market that replaced the bankrupt Superfresh on 41st St. in Hampden has come a long way since I first began reporting on its opening this past summer.

In fact, it had almost become a favorite place to shop for me since there were never any customers there and always multiple cashiers waiting to ring me up.

But now, Fresh & Green's seems to have come full circle, with employees and customers wondering just what the hell is going on and shelves looking bare.

I noticed things were amiss on Sunday, January 22 when I stopped in after the disappointing Ravens game to pick up some supplies.

The produce section looked a little wiped out. My initial thought was that a lot of people were having gameday parties and making food, but we're talking about football fans. Let's face it, folks weren't making refreshing salads for the big game. So gameday wasn't really any explanation at all.

The situation in the produce section proceeded to worsen. Tonight, just one week later, there's hardly any produce in the store.

And the situation has spread to other parts of the store as well.

The meats section also seems to be out of food.

The juice and dairy sections also looked unstocked.

So what's going on at Fresh & Green's? That's the question everyone who relies on the market for food wants to know.

According to reports, even the staff and management don't know what's going on. The manager has evidently still been placing orders, but the food hasn't come.

If the store was trying to reduce inventory to make room for the renovations promised on the side outside as you enter the market, it seems reasonable to assume they would tell the managers to adjust orders accordingly. But if orders are placed and vendors aren't delivering, that suggests an issue with accounts payable -meaning vendors may not be getting paid (an indicator of a financial issue).

I have contacted Fresh & Green's corporate offices and inquired about the state of the market, and its future, but at this point, they have not gotten back to me.

It should be noted that the Fresh & Green's never managed to regain the customers lost after the switchover from Superfresh.

If this market fails, as an anchor store, it will continue to provide a lack of stability to the once bustling shopping plaza. At one point, a local, well-respected liquor store tried to move into the plaza but was blocked by community interests. This too could have provided much-needed activity in the plaza.

And then, should the rumors about Giant moving from the Rotunda into the Fresh & Green's location (which seems unlikely to me at this point), prove true, then that destabilizes the Rotunda by removing its anchor. And that will make things slightly less convenient for the senior communities who rely on the Giant for food.

But that leaves one nagging question - what's happening at the Fresh & Green? And at this point, no one seems to know for sure.

Comments

[Keyes]

I get that Mobtown Shank makes a distinction between local businesses and chains, but there is still something ironic about this post to me. It seems that this blog consistently plays a major role in stirring up community interests in order to block developments that would bring "much-needed activity" to the area. I know, I know.. you only opposed the "bad" developments that would have brought much needed activity. I guess sometimes I just wish we had more of a mixture around here. That there wasn't such a filter against well-known brands.

[Molly @ Wonderland Kitchen]

On 1/29, after sharing a laugh with my fellow produce-shopping refugees and directing another customer to the this-is-where-the-eggs-were section, I asked my cashier what was up, and she said she honestly had no idea (which was extra disturbing): Maybe it was renovations; maybe they were closing, she suggested. I don't drive and walk to this grocery regularly, so I hope they can pull things together.

[Amboy Dukes]

I think that "Keyes" doesn't understand, among other things, the meaning of irony.

[Editbarry.wordpress.com]

I heard last week from a very important community figure in Hampden that the Fresh & Greens required cashiers from the former Superfresh to re-apply for the same jobs they had held, at a significant reduction in benefits and salary. Further, if the Superfresh employees chose NOT to apply for those jobs and accept the new terms of employment, Superfresh would refuse to pay their unemployment benefits. If that is true - and so many in the immediate area believe it is that the truth of the matter is moot - you can be sure neither those former employees nor their families and friends ever returned to shop. Perhaps national chains will learn from this example that it doesn't pay to rip off your patrons even before you stock the shelves.

[Vdouglas]

As a former employee of Superfresh and a current employee of Fresh and Green's, i can feel for the customers. When asked what is happening by a customer, my reply i have no idea we are being told nothing. I feel as a loyal employee, i have a right for some answers. They are playing with peoples livelihoods. Not only did we get screwed by Superfresh, but are now getting the same treatment from this company. It's sad when customers know more than the employees.Are there any good companies out there? I was once told by my father years ago. kid you are just a number. I think i understand what he meant by that.

[andrew]

Clearly the failure of this store is a direct result of the competition it might get in the future from the Walmart that hasn't been built in Remington yet.

[jstone]

Well as an employee of Fresh & Greens (very thankful I was offered a job), I just want to thank all the lovely customers who came into our store complaining about our prices, this that and the other... Now that rumor is circulating that we are closing you still want to bash us... Well guess what, you finally got your wish and now you can deal with all the HIGH PRICES with Giant!!! also, if Giant were to hire some of us it will be at minimum wage, no benefits and no seniority... By the way where is the union?????? So thanks again to our wonderful Hampden neighbors who blew it for us AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

[Robin S]

seriously, don't blame it on the people of hampden about Fresh & Green's not lasting, I mean almost $5.00 for a gallon of milk, come on people, so glad i decided not to stay at this store as an employee and so what you will lose your seniorty and your pay. You should of knew the first day that they opened and there was hardly anyone in the store that it would not survive. So what you will lose your pay, Seniorty and benefits what about all the people who worked for Super Fresh all those years who lost all that and good chance they will lose their pensions also

[jstone]

Do you not realize your pension is federally controlled? What stupid people....

[Hoes Heights resident]

jstone, you should be blaming Fresh & Green's management for the store failing, not the customers, who will of course go wherever they can get the best combo of low prices, good selection, and good service. A store doesn't fail based on customer complaints. Fresh & Green's corporate management either has a plan that includes allowing a store to fail, or it's incompetent and didn't know how to make a go of it.

I live nearby in Hoes Heights, and I shop there many times a week. Until last night, that is, when a 16 year-old cashier told me she didn't know anything and that the managers had been meeting for going on 7 hours. I already knew not to expect any produce, but there was also no 2% organic milk, and no plain Greek yogurt--2 of the paltry 3 items I came to buy. I've finally *had* to start shopping at Giant.

It's very inhumane the way the corporate parent has starved the local management and you, the staff, of information. And it's a logical fallacy for you to blame the customers for the business's bad decisions and lack of leadership. Blame the company you work for. They either don't know what they're doing, or they do but they don't know how to make it happen without hurting their employees and destroying their brand in their (potential) customers' eyes.

[C. Fresco]

Well said Hoes Heights resident.