More Than Groceries Filled Friendly West-Side Cub Foods, Store Closing In January
For all of my years that I have lived in Madison one grocery store has been my stop for the big shops, and the quick pick-ups. While there have been rumors for several years the Mineral Point Cub grocery store would close, it was not until this morning that the news was made official to the public.
This store, for James and myself, was always more than just a place to get groceries.
Over time we knew the employees, and it seemed we spent as much time talking to them as loading a grocery cart. Be it the always smiling woman who stocked the shelves, or the woman who worked late hours when the store was open 24 hours a day, there was always easy conversations and the knowledge that the employees were sincere people.
One of the oldest employees is a friend that we have had over for lunch on occasion. When we lived on the west side James made some crab apple jelly and took a jar for her as she scanned the food over the price checker. I still recall the look on the face of the customer behind us as he smiled over the fact we were bringing food into the store to give away. She never fails to say as she notices us in her line “Oh, I was just thinking about you two!”
That however was the real tone and mood of the fine folks who worked at Cub Foods on Mineral Point. They all will be missed very much by many who knew them and willingly agreed to drive an extra mile to shop there.
News that Metcalfe’s Market will take over on the site is a real disappointment. Why that chain of stories has such a following is a mystery to me. Seems that some think they need to pay more for their groceries, or they will not taste the same.
Over time James and I have stocked our freezer with Cub Foods meat specials. In fact since the weather is cold and rainy today James thawed a turkey bought at that store and will warm this old house with an oven of goodness for dinner tonight.
Many fond memories will remain after Cub grocery closes their doors for the final time come January. When that happens there will be on less business place where we can enter and be greeted with smiles and” hello” from all of the check-out lanes.
That type of down-home style grocery store seems to be out of fashion these days.
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this should be a lesson to all businesses, your people make your reputation. and it’s funny, we had exactly the opposite experience at the east side Cubs. the managers would stand at a counter up front, and watch the check-out lines build until they were literally backed-up into the food aisles. Then, when I was hemmed in after waiting 15 minutes to give them my money, they’d open up another check-out, and instead of taking a few people who had been waiting the longest, whoever walked up at the last minute got checked out and on their way. I left more than one basket of ice cream and frozen foods and walked out. and the staff would carp at people who used coupons, because they wouldn’t scan, even the Cubs coupons. guess they had TOO much business. I heard from several people in Green Bay who had the same experience. We shopped almost exclusively at Cubs for years. When Copps opened up, they apparently had a good training programs for staff and managers, as their service was excellent. Now Hy-vee sets the standard for friendly, helpful service, and when you bring something to their attention, they ACT on it. As opposed to Cubs, when they had signs with out-dated or incorrect prices on, and it rang up wrong, and you told the clerk, two days later the wrongs signs were still up in the aisles (of course if you entice customers to chose an item and they don’t pay attention and pay more, it’s all for the better.) The Cub parking lot on the East Side has been deserted almost every time we’ve stopped there for the last year or so. It’s ironic, I lived in Green Bay when Cubs came to town, and it was amazing, they drove several of the local chains out of business, like Sure-way. Nobody could compete with their prices. We now go to the Co-op, because it’s so convenient with their multiple driveways!
there is always woodman’s or hy-vee. they are employee-owned…….
Cub Foods left the Chicago area when they bought all of the Jewel/Osco stores. Sad all of the locations became Ultra Foods. Cub Foods seemed to have more Friendly, welcoming employees. On the rare occasions I go to Ultra Foods, it is like going through one big Mosh Pit.