I had been meaning to write a post about my increasing appearances at the Ukrop’s in Roanoke, which opened several months ago along Franklin Road. I have found myself frequenting the grocery store much more regularly over the past couple months and have been quite pleased with the prices, quality, and atmosphere of the store.

Then, I noticed a recent article in The Roanoke Times which suggested that sales at the store are currently not sufficient for it to continue to operate long-term.

Say it isn’t so Roanoke!

Well, over the past few months I have done I would say at least 80% of my grocery shopping at Ukrop’s. Shopping that used to occur almost exclusively at Food Lion and very occasionally at Kroger’s. As of yet I haven’t got into the Fresh Market scene, and I never, ever grocery shop at Walmart.

Since moving into my house in the City back in 2005, and until recently, I had done 99% of my grocery shopping at Food Lion. I usually stop at the one at Oak Grove Plaza, or the one near the Salem Valley 8. I much prefer 2-3 grocery trips a week filling up one of those hand-baskets each time, instead of one big trip a week and pushing around a cart.

For the most part, everything was fine in shopping at Food Lion. If they didn’t carry particular items (such as the only flavor of food my cat will eat) I would reluctantly make a stop at Kroger’s.

But, there came a time a few months ago when I took my grandmother out to help with her grocery shopping, and she wanted to go to Ukrop’s.

Quite frankly, I considered Ukrop’s to be a “store for the rich” because it was new and had an extensive dining area with prepared foods. Now, I make OK money I guess, but I live in a modest 2 bedroom home and drive a paid for 6-year-old car. I’m hardly rich. So for the longest time I had just stayed with my routine in shopping at Food Lion, which I considered to be a more thrifty grocery store.

But, as I was to find out, for many of the items I regularly purchase the prices at Ukrop’s are very competitive with Food Lion and Kroger’s. In some cases, the prices at Ukrop’s are even noticeably cheaper. As for the items that are more costly at Ukrop’s (such as meats and produce) I think the higher quality very easily offsets the increase.

Secondary to the quality and pricing, and much more superficial, but I just like the layout of the store. Instead of the standard long aisles, there are these half-aisles with a walkway down the middle.

Produce and meat that is on display doesn’t look sloppy at Ukrop’s, but all looks very clean and appetizing.

And I absolutely love the self-checkout, it saves me considerable time. I realize the idea of self-checkout basically does away with several job positions, but it really is much easier for an introvert like me.

I work in the downtown area so the store is quite convenient to hit on the way home to my house in Virginia Heights.

If there is even any traded, I don’t own stock in Ukrop’s, so I have really nothing to gain by writing in favor of the store. Just the hope that this nice addition to the Roanoke area makes it, and continues to be in business for a good while.

Have any of you ever shopped there? How was your experience?