Roch.'s Sam's Club to get $3.5 million makeover
A $3.5 million makeover is slated to kick off yet this year at Rochester's Sam’s Club store
The Sam's at 3410 55th St. N.W. is one of 74 stores across the country currently scheduled for an upgrade. Sam's is the discount club member of Walmart's retail family.
"…This club will be modified to make shopping easier and faster by
placing the most purchased products in more convenient locations and
improving both interior and exterior areas of the club," stated Carrie Foster, Sam's spokeswoman, in an e-mail response to my questions.
A building permit estimating the value of the project at $3,546,318 was submitted to city planning officials earlier this week. Foster says the work is expected to wrap up next summer.
Sam's statement says a new drive-up canopy is being to added to keep customers dry when loading up their purchases during bad weather. The store's pharmacy and vision centers are also scheduled for remodeling to improve their efficiency.
The last time this store underwent a major remodel was in November 2010, when it expanded its selection of baby food, diapers, produce, meats, cheeses and over-the-counter medicines.
Is it a coincidence that this big dollar remodeling project is slated to kick off just as Sam's top competitor gears up to enter the market?
The company's officials chose not to respond to that question, when I sent it to them.
However, it is hard to not factor in the effect of the 150,000-square-foot Costco discount club store plus gas station under construction along West Circle Drive. Costco has announced an opening date of Nov. 16 for this store, its first in this part of the state.
One thing's for sure: Rochester discount shoppers will soon have both retailers working hard to vie for their business.
Competition, obviously, can be a good thing for customers looking for a good deal and for more variety.
The Sam's at 3410 55th St. N.W. is one of 74 stores across the country currently scheduled for an upgrade. Sam's is the discount club member of Walmart's retail family.
A building permit estimating the value of the project at $3,546,318 was submitted to city planning officials earlier this week. Foster says the work is expected to wrap up next summer.
Sam's statement says a new drive-up canopy is being to added to keep customers dry when loading up their purchases during bad weather. The store's pharmacy and vision centers are also scheduled for remodeling to improve their efficiency.
The last time this store underwent a major remodel was in November 2010, when it expanded its selection of baby food, diapers, produce, meats, cheeses and over-the-counter medicines.
Is it a coincidence that this big dollar remodeling project is slated to kick off just as Sam's top competitor gears up to enter the market?
The company's officials chose not to respond to that question, when I sent it to them.
However, it is hard to not factor in the effect of the 150,000-square-foot Costco discount club store plus gas station under construction along West Circle Drive. Costco has announced an opening date of Nov. 16 for this store, its first in this part of the state.
One thing's for sure: Rochester discount shoppers will soon have both retailers working hard to vie for their business.
Competition, obviously, can be a good thing for customers looking for a good deal and for more variety.
Sam's Club should save their money since they will likely be closing the club shortly after Costco takes all their customers.
Posted by: Bill | August 24, 2012 at 04:47 PM
Closing? LOL Sams and Costco are 2 different stores-people will shop at both, you might lose a few customers but not all of them.
Posted by: Mike | August 25, 2012 at 06:44 PM