Contributor Post: Kroger Skeletons and Remnants - Big Lots #1425, Southgate, Michigan

The following is (mostly) a SMR:MCRH Contributor Post.

 

This post will look at retail in Southgate, Wayne County, MI.

 

Kroger Michigan Division #524 / Family Foodland #5524 / Big Lots #1425

14155 Eureka Road, Southgate, MI

Driving distance and time from downtown Detroit: 15.1 miles, approx. 22 minutes

This Kroger store originally opened in 1981 as the second Kroger-bannered grocery store to operate within the city of Southgate, and the first of two greenhouse-styled Kroger stores to open in the Downriver suburbs that year. A concrete wall separating the back of the property from adjacent homes on Balsam and Nancy Streets abruptly exploded on June 14, 1984, and almost a month later, it was announced that the store would close on July 21, 1984, along with 69 other southeastern Michigan Kroger stores, due to a protracted labor strike.

It should be noted that the mid-1980s were a rough period for Kroger regarding labor disputes. Elsewhere in the country, the chain closed all of its stores in western Pennsylvania in 1983-84, northeastern Ohio in 1985, and northern Alabama in 1986, all due to labor strikes.

Just over a month after exiting southeastern Michigan, Kroger announced intentions to reenter the market, albeit with a reduced 45-store footprint, with the remaining stores remaining closed, including this location. It wouldn't sit empty for long, though...come November 1984, and Family Foodland, a joint venture between Kroger and Wetterau (which was sold to SuperValu in 1992), comes in and reopens the store along with two other previously-closed Downriver Kroger stores under the Family Foodland banner.

For all intents and purposes, however, Family Foodland stores were really just Kroger stores operating with some extent of wholesale model, as Kroger trucks continued to supply the Southgate store well into the 1990s. Family Foodland ultimately closed for good in 1998, sending the building back into vacancy. Today, only one 1984-shuttered southeastern Michigan Kroger store remains in operation with Foodland's nameplate, Larry's Foodland in Livonia, albeit now supplied entirely by SuperValu.

 

The following year (1999), Big Lots took over the former greenhouse Kroger/Family Foodland building to replace a store that they had operated since 1985 at 1555 Fort Street in Lincoln Park (which itself was a former Wrigley's grocery store building, and itself found quick reoccupation by current tenant AutoZone). The most notable changes since have been signage updates to Big Lots' current logo in the early 2010s...and even this chapter in the building's life is nearing its end, as Big Lots is currently remodeling the former Toys "R" Us #9262 building just a few doors west on Eureka Road, and as that building is larger, Big Lots will move into there in June 2021, leaving this building vacant once again.

That news is why Former Retail Employee/Y4123 toured this store, and the photo above is his, but for now we're gonna show you two photos that I took of this store in 2019, when we could still freely roam the world.

 

The exterior still looks exactly like it did when Kroger opened this store in 1981, other than the necessary signage changes to reflect the new tenants that took over starting in 1984. This store is of the second-version greenhouse exterior style, which was beginning to roll out in 1981, featuring three "bays" beneath a slanted-glass greenhouse with the walls on either side of the greenhouse extending all the way up to the roof line. This was the latest greenhouse exterior variation to have existed in Michigan, as there was a freeze on new store openings for several years following the 1984 strike.

 

 

This was the closest I got to an interior photo of the store in 2019, and you can see some of the interior, but it isn't much. Let's head back to 2021 and inside with Y4123...

The classic greenhouse Kroger features continue as we make our way through the entryway, with its black tile visible on the right side entryway wall and continuing into the store proper.

A distinctive feature of greenhouse Kroger interiors are the curved walls, which there are still plenty of in this Big Lots. Lined up nearly below the upper wall is just one of many relics from the decor package this Kroger carried - Bauhaus - which still appear on the floor. If you're wondering what Bauhaus looked like in a ground-up greenhouse Kroger, this link has plenty of example photos. This was the leftmost end of produce back when this building was still primarily selling food.

This building is the last remaining occupied ex-greenhouse Kroger in Michigan that hasn't been subdivided nor remodeled beyond recognition.

 

A close-up of more Bauhaus Kroger tile striping.

 

 

Carpeting is sold in the far back of the sales floor, beneath the perimeter upper wall. This was where meat coolers were located in this building's supermarket days.

 

 

This makeshift hallway through the back rooms leads to awkwardly-placed restrooms.

 

 

As we move back towards the front of the store, here's another Kroger tile close-up, appropriately in the one area of this Big Lots that still sells food.

 

A look across the front of the store, with the background dominated by the marvelous greenhouse, as well as a few giant round air diffuse to add to our 80's vibe. The furniture department here is small compared to other Big Lots stores, which is why this location is moving to the former Toys "R" Us #9262 building. This link should provide you with visualizations on how the former Toys "R" Us #9262 building will likely look like once Big Lots moves there.

Here's one final photo of another part of the grocery department that contains Kroger's old flooring.

Closing out Y4123's tour, here's the very front end of the store near the checkouts, with additional furniture in this spot, continuing beneath the greenhouse.

For the rest of today's post, I am introducing a new feature to this blog that's somewhat borrowed from the Albertsons Florida Blog. First, let's jump to some street level photos.

Big Lots #1425 - October 2020 - The road sign has been replaced again. (Google Street View)

Big Lots #1425 - July 2017 - The building sign has been replaced. (Google Street View)

 

Big Lots #1425 - July 2014 - The road sign has been replaced. (Bing Streetside)

Big Lots #1425 - July 2007 - As it appeared when Big Lots opened. (Google Street View)

 

And now for some satellite photos.

 

(Left to Right) Big Lots #1425 / Advance America Cash Advance / Nutrition Unlimited - March 2020 (Google Earth)

(L to R) Big Lots #1425 / Advance America Cash Advance / Nutrition Unlimited - May 2010 (Google Earth)

(L to R) Big Lots #1425 / Advance America Cash Advance / Better Health Store - April 2002 - A Big Lots store has now taken over the Family Foodland building. (Google Earth)

 

(L to R) Former Family Foodland / Former Dollar Mart / Better Health Store - March 1999 - Kroger has long left, and Family Foodland has come and gone. (Google Earth)

 

(L to R) Kroger / December's / unoccupied / unoccupied - September 1981 - A brand new greenhouse Kroger store is visible. (DTE Aerial Photo Collection)
 

Future Site of Kroger - 1973 - The store was built on previously empty land. (Historic Aerials)
 

And this concludes the unusual story of a single little greenhouse Kroger. Until next time...

June 2021 Update: As predicted, Big Lots has indeed opened in the former Toys "R" Us #9262 building, with the new store number of #4723, and has closed #1425 for good as of June 4, 2021. A photo of the new location is below, and here is a related news article.

 

Big Lots #4723 as seen in May 2021, just weeks before its opening.