Apart from the wacky layout, about the only interesting thing about this store is at its front end, featuring classic beltless QFC checkouts and Bountiful's short-lived original register lights, the ones Kroger used before standardizing on the featureless Bountiful+ cubes we're all used to these days. This picture didn't render them particularly well, but the faint green background and vine-pattern decoration make these look quite classy, especially compared to what Kroger has used ever since!
It might seem like a small thing, but it is nice to see QFC have beltless registers! It is one of those small luxuries that goes under the radar a bit. Granted, at a store this small, it seems most of the customers are using 'bascarts' (the official term for those small carts as per a HEB employee) so there wouldn't be much for the customers to put on a belt. Oh well, it's still a nice touch. Also, does this tiny store have 3-4 registers open? That is very rare at any Kroger around here these days.
ReplyDeleteHave we talked about Vampire Robot's great collection of retail videos on YouTube? Anyway, he has a new one from inside a Virginia Safeway store from 2001. I think you will like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du7ZSSOTp6w
Most smaller QFCs still have this style of register -- I guess they're just too small for the typical ones to fit! It doesn't really work all that well now that they use normal carts rather than the folding, high-deck ones, though.
DeleteI think you have shown me that channel before -- very cool! That store is probably pretty similar to what the Port Angeles Safeway opened with in 1995, though my memories of the time before its Lifestyle remodel are very fuzzy.