The Foodland on Huntsville Road is changing it's name. I'm not sure if they will continue to be associated with the other Foodland stores in the area, but after from my last visit, I suspect not.
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My guess is whomever inherited Bob Love's estate has started making some business decisions
I was in there a few days ago and noticed that their inventory was really low - lots of empty shelves. I asked them if they were going out of business and they said "no, just making some inventory changes."
I ask the cashier about that last time I was in there. I was told they will no longer be associated with the Foodland name or ads.
See how old some of you were, does anyone remember when it was Mckee's Grocery Store ? It was really small then. Then it became McKees Shop Rite. Then was added on around 1970's and the last part of the storage warehouse was just before 1990.
This little store built the empire of Foodlands this day that you see. This small store took in more sales then any of the other stores until Bob Love started combining his smaller stores into one big store that you see today.
A lot of people in East Florence will remember Mr. Chandler that worked there and he was a good person for many years.
This little store built the empire of Foodlands this day that you see. This small store took in more sales then any of the other stores until Bob Love started combining his smaller stores into one big store that you see today.
A lot of people in East Florence will remember Mr. Chandler that worked there and he was a good person for many years.
All the Foodlands were sold back to Mitchell grocery company. Many of the buildings are still owned by L&L which is a trust.
And for the record, Bob Love was never the owner.
And for the record, Bob Love was never the owner.
To Covsomni1...I was a little girl but I do remember when it was McKees...so that is how old I am.. lol.
Jugflier is probably correct. I do know that one of Bob Love's companies - the largest - was L&M, Inc. I assume that L&M stands for Love and Mitchell.
Bob Love owned several of his stores (I don't remember if they were Big Stars or FoodLands) jointly with the managers.
No matter how it was owned, Mr. Love insisted on maintaining the books, and maintained oversight on all the companies.
Bob Love owned several of his stores (I don't remember if they were Big Stars or FoodLands) jointly with the managers.
No matter how it was owned, Mr. Love insisted on maintaining the books, and maintained oversight on all the companies.
Bob Love owned less than a 20% stake in the Foodlands. The company is owned by L&L which is a trust owned by over 6 different people. Those people set up Bob as the President. Bob was a minority owner.
Crusty, you are correct on the grocery. L&M owned the inventory, but not the buildings. The grocery was sold back to Mitchell.
Crusty, you are correct on the grocery. L&M owned the inventory, but not the buildings. The grocery was sold back to Mitchell.
Are these six people local people? If not the hometown grocery concept is a myth!
yes, they are all family members.
For the record, L & L Services, Inc. is a management company that was owned by Bob R. Love with a majority of the shares (and president of the company), his brother-in-law owned approx 5% (best I can remember) of the company. A handful of the Foodland stores were owned by L & L Services, another handful of the stores were owned by Shop Rite, Inc. (company owned by Bob R. Love), and another handful of the Foodland stores were owned by JMBL, Inc. JMBL, Inc. (Jack Mitchell - Bob Love) is a company that was owned by Bob R. Love and Jack Mitchell. Since Bob's passing, through an agreement between Bob Love and Jack Mitchell, Mitchell bought the Foodland stores from the Estate of Bob Love. Some of the grocery store buildings were owned by Bob Love himself, and some are owned by Love Family Partnership, LLC. Love Family Partnership is the family partnership between Bob Love, his brother, and 2 sisters. I have no information as to the Foodland on Hsv Rd. and what's going on. I do know that the building has been and is owned by Mckee and was leased by L & L Services, Inc./Bob Love.
The Foodland store in Russellville, Moulton and Greenhill were not part of the chain of stores owned by Bob Love.
The Foodland store in Russellville, Moulton and Greenhill were not part of the chain of stores owned by Bob Love.
Greenhill location has been a Piggly Wiggly for sometime
Thanks to those who answered my question. The info is well-received!
Carroll,
It's clear you are familiar with Bob, and much of your info is close. Bob was not a 95% owner in L&L. In fact he had silent partners, I know those partners, and am good friends with the family. I will leave it at that as I am sure you will agree, they wouldn't want their business discussed in a public forum like this.
Good day.
It's clear you are familiar with Bob, and much of your info is close. Bob was not a 95% owner in L&L. In fact he had silent partners, I know those partners, and am good friends with the family. I will leave it at that as I am sure you will agree, they wouldn't want their business discussed in a public forum like this.
Good day.
I don't know where you're getting your information, but there were/are no silent partners in L & L Services outside the brother-in-law. There are partners in Colbert Memorial from ATL, different partners in Answerphone of Natchez and Answercall of Natchez, but those partners have no interest in L & L.
Let me say that my information is not pillow talk. As I said, I know all the parties involved, it's obvious you don't.
Just checked with my contact at Mitchell Grocery. The Huntsville Rd. Foodland is going to be called the Super Dollar Foodmart. They've got other stores of this concept in other areas. They're going to be running various specials and carry more generic brand food items in a different price zone than the regular Foodland stores.
Sounds like ALDI is going to have some competetion.
Jugflier, would you happen to be one of the silent partners?
These questions are immaterial. Your mention of Doug Black indicates that you have an agenda.
Earthmomma is right...you have an agenda in asking such questions and to one(s) that question my "knowledge" of facts here you go....
Jugflier...I knew you would eventually go and say "I know all the parties involved, it's obvious you don't."
You're right...apparently I don't know what I'm talking about even though I used to work directly for Bob Love as a vice president at L & L Services, where one doorway and 3 Rottweilers separated Bob Love's desk and my desk, used to coordinate Board of Directors meetings for L & L Services, sat in on meetings with the banks, coordinated and directed family meetings of the Love Family Partnership (which were held at Bob Love's house in the dining room), coordinated legal issues with the corporate attorney, went and met with Bob Love's personal physician the day we didn't know if Bob had a stroke or had contracted Bell's Palsy (which BP was the case) and asked the Dr. to call Bob at home to come into the office immediately for an examination (because Bob was being stubborn and didn't want to go to the Dr.), coordinated asset management and assisted Bob Love in other business matters related to all of his companies...obviously I don't know what I'm talking about.
As for the latter question of Bob's personal life and that of Doug Black, the question is immaterial to the question of what's going on at the HSV Rd. Foodland (which used to be referenced as Foodland #9906) or Bob Love's business acumen...Bob Love did and contributed more to the Shoals area than most people in the area...especially for the City of Sheffield. He was a very good friend and mentor.
Having said all that, I think the Super Dollar Foodmart will be a good concept for the HSV Rd. store. It may become a future version of the old Woodward Ave. Shop Rite store, which so many people miss including myself.
Jugflier...I knew you would eventually go and say "I know all the parties involved, it's obvious you don't."
You're right...apparently I don't know what I'm talking about even though I used to work directly for Bob Love as a vice president at L & L Services, where one doorway and 3 Rottweilers separated Bob Love's desk and my desk, used to coordinate Board of Directors meetings for L & L Services, sat in on meetings with the banks, coordinated and directed family meetings of the Love Family Partnership (which were held at Bob Love's house in the dining room), coordinated legal issues with the corporate attorney, went and met with Bob Love's personal physician the day we didn't know if Bob had a stroke or had contracted Bell's Palsy (which BP was the case) and asked the Dr. to call Bob at home to come into the office immediately for an examination (because Bob was being stubborn and didn't want to go to the Dr.), coordinated asset management and assisted Bob Love in other business matters related to all of his companies...obviously I don't know what I'm talking about.
As for the latter question of Bob's personal life and that of Doug Black, the question is immaterial to the question of what's going on at the HSV Rd. Foodland (which used to be referenced as Foodland #9906) or Bob Love's business acumen...Bob Love did and contributed more to the Shoals area than most people in the area...especially for the City of Sheffield. He was a very good friend and mentor.
Having said all that, I think the Super Dollar Foodmart will be a good concept for the HSV Rd. store. It may become a future version of the old Woodward Ave. Shop Rite store, which so many people miss including myself.
Before my mom passed away, she always loved to shop at the Huntsville Road store, because they made her feel like family and awsays welcomed. Because of her health and limited mobility, she tried to avoid the super store, because of the added walking just to find the few items which she needed.
I visited the Huntsville Road store often, because of it's location. As a matter of fact, I was in there late yesterday afternoon and saw some of the changes being made. I wish them the best in their new ventures.
If their concept is sucessful, it will give the ALDI's following another option. I have nothing against ALDI's and sometimes shop their for some items, but do not like their selection of meats. That is where I believe that the firmer Huntsville Road location of Foodland will succeed as they also have several selections of bulk products that other stores do no offer including a 5 items for $ 20.00.
I visited the Huntsville Road store often, because of it's location. As a matter of fact, I was in there late yesterday afternoon and saw some of the changes being made. I wish them the best in their new ventures.
If their concept is sucessful, it will give the ALDI's following another option. I have nothing against ALDI's and sometimes shop their for some items, but do not like their selection of meats. That is where I believe that the firmer Huntsville Road location of Foodland will succeed as they also have several selections of bulk products that other stores do no offer including a 5 items for $ 20.00.
What part of "Silent Partners" don't you understand?
You were the hired hand, nothing more.
You were the hired hand, nothing more.
you two should just have a good ole fashioned boxing match and duke it out. anyways, only been to that location once. i frequent the one in Elgin weekly and sometimes the one in killen and rogesville. i do know one thing though, foodland has THE BEST price on Luvs diapers, and i've compared every store around. F Aldi
I have been gone from Florence for twenty years but at one time, Foodland, on Huntsville Rd. had execellent cuts of meat. I am not sure if they still do today or not.