Lindsey Nair

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I had originally planned to write about wild game this week, but then the wild news about Ukrop's broke and threw me completely off my game.

Years of anticipation and excitement led up to the opening of Roanoke's first Ukrop's grocery store. Last week, after less than two years in business, the company acknowledged that Roanoke sales are flagging.

Bobby Ukrop, president and chief executive officer of the Richmond-based chain, told my colleague Jenny Boone: "For us to continue, we need to substantially increase our business." He stopped short of saying the store may close.

The next day, I posted an entry on my Fridge Magnet blog at roanoke.com asking readers why they think Ukrop's could be in trouble. More than 115 people had commented as of press time, some with a level of passion I never expected in a grocery store discussion.

While many defended Ukrop's and seemed ashamed that Roanokers have not been more supportive of the store, others complained about everything from prices and hours to layout and location.

But I have decided to let readers speak for themselves -- the people quoted in the blue box to the right, including Ukrop's Roanoke manager Jason Woodcock, gave me permission to share their comments with the general readership.

Doug Jessie, Roanoke: No wine and beer hurts them. No Sunday hours hurts them. ... The constant unfinished construction and awkwardness of the whole development has turned me off also. The developer had a very expensive and overly ambitious plan, and they can't pull it off.

Debbie Franco, Roanoke: I am a creature of habit. ... Ukrop's is actually close to where I live and I went there a few times when they first opened. I don't really know why I never went back. I guess I'm just so used to going to Kroger and to Fresh Market if I want something special.

Katherine Sharver, Roanoke: You don't even have to shop at Ukrop's every week to get personalized greetings. In the summer of 2007 we were shopping there in preparation for a camping trip and struck up a conversation with the very nice cashier. Summer of 2008, same camping trip, same cashier, who we hadn't seen too often in the year in between. She remembered us and asked about going camping.

David Farnham, Roanoke: It's a nice store but no more so than Kroger and it seems slightly more expensive. ... The Ukrop's family are entitled to their beliefs that these [Sunday operation and alcohol sales] are wrong, but they shouldn't whine when those factors affect sales.

Kathy McGhee, Roanoke: Their customer service is wonderful, I like the variety of foods that they have and their deli area is great, not to mention their salad bar. I think that the closed status on Sunday and the prices of their standard grocery items is what hurts them; they may be priced the same as their Richmond stores and we are not Richmond, we are Roanoke!

Angela Goodpasture, Ferrum: It's tough to say why they aren't doing well. I've noticed that the Roanoke store seems different from those I frequented in Richmond -- it seems more warehouse-like and less homey. ... My stepmother had a particularly good experience at her local Ukrop's years ago. She did her shopping for the week, but as soon as the groceries were totaled, she realized she had written her last check and didn't have another form of payment. The store manager insisted that she take the groceries home and bring back a check when she had time. I've always been amazed at their generosity in that regard.

Herman Howard Schapiro, Roanoke County: Our experience at Ukrop's has been positive, very positive. ... It is our opinion that the location was the major error made by Ukrop's. ... Our biggest fear of a Ukrop's failure should be that it will serve to alienate other upscale retailers/restaurants from locating in Roanoke.

Lynne Yates, Salem: As a former Richmond resident, I was so thrilled when they decided to come to Roanoke. Unfortunately, the developer created delays in opening and continues to cause delays in the promises made in Ukrop's decision to choose that location. Ukrop's is not in trouble, but it does need our local support for smart business.

Catherine DeHaven, Roanoke: Shopping at Kroger is like shopping in a football stadium, and their prices are through the roof. Ukrop's has a relaxed atmosphere, the aisles are not as long, which means you spend less time looking for the things you need.

Debi Bourne, Salem: My mother isn't as spry as she used to be and said she would never go to Ukrop's because she wouldn't be able to navigate the underground parking garage. ... I have to wonder how many other people read about the underground parking and thought that was all that was available?

Brian Geiser, Roanoke: We have to realize that Kroger and Food Lion have firm footholds on grocery shopping in the valley. Ukrop's prices, from what I've seen, are higher than surrounding stores also. ... I'd hate to see them close, but if they're going to remain viable, they're going to have to get into competition mode with their prices.

Rebecca Gess, Roanoke: I think the Ukrop's shoppers in Richmond have adjusted to the Sunday issue and plan their shopping trips accordingly. Those of us in Roanoke have always had Sunday choices and just aren't willing to change routines for a new chain.

Christina Brannan, Roanoke: I love Ukrop's! The personal service I've gotten there far outweighs anything I've gotten anywhere else. However, I too live in N.W., and it is quite an effort to go all of the way across town just to pick up a few items. The bulk of my shopping is also done on Sunday (like many others I see), and so that eliminates them. It probably would have been better if they had moved farther away from Fresh Market so that both ends of town would have a specialty market.

Mark Hatchett, Eden, N.C. (formerly of Richmond): Roanoke is fortunate to have such an exemplary corporate citizen and a Virginia-based one at that. What I find amusing is that in a city like Roanoke with a church on virtually every corner, the good folks are not supporting a business which is closed on Sunday.

Jim DiVirgilio, Salem: I don't see how they get beyond their decision to choose such a tough location. One big disadvantage is that they don't have the gas deal here that they do in Richmond. That drives me to Kroger.

Barbara Delaney, Roanoke: Ukrop's is close to me, but I rarely think about it. My car automatically drives to Kroger at Towers. My two major shopping times are after 5 on Sunday and Tuesday -- senior citizen day at Kroger.

Teresa Zeigler, Vinton: I think Ukrop's is wonderful. Its customer service and bakery are top-notch. I drive past several Krogers to go there. I wish they were open on Sundays, but I also respect that decision for their employees. As a person with a disability, it really helps that they put the groceries in my car. Once I bought ribs to barbecue and for some reason, my recipe did not work. When I asked for advice from the meat counter, they replaced the ribs for free, despite my protests otherwise.

Jason Woodcock, Roanoke, general manager of the Ivy Market store: Thanks for all of the comments posted thus far. ... While Ukrop's isn't perfect and I know that we in Roanoke have made mistakes, we learn from them and hopefully have become even better. I believed in this company 21 years ago as a sophomore in high school, bagging groceries as a first job, as much as I do today as a married father of four wonderful children. Our mission in 1987 was to create great shopping experiences for each and every customer, and that mission remains the same today. Please ask for me on your next visit. I would love to chat with you.

In other news ...

I stated in last week's column that McAlister's Deli was only the third place I knew of in Roanoke that serves a muffuletta sandwich.

Kind readers contacted me to let me know of two other restaurants that sell this New Orleans specialty: Hollywood's Restaurant & Bakery on Plantation Road and Doreen's Gourmet on Brambleton Avenue. So if you've got the olive salad craving, check out those spots, too.

Do you want to toss in your two cents on the Ukrop's topic? Hit the blog.