Ingles expansion on hold

The long-awaited expansion of Ingles supermarket in Hull to a 105-thousand square foot superstore has been put “on hold” for now.

Attorney Ted Sandler, who represents Ingles Markets, said July 2 that the economic downturn has delayed the project for the time being.

He said that the decision to hold off on the expansion, which the company has made a priority for several years, was made by Robert Ingle, II after he took over for his father, Robert P. Ingle, Sr., following his death in May 2011.

But Sandler said this does not mean that the superstore won’t be built. Ingles’ fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 – Sept. 30 and he said the company’s real estate committee will meet in October to discuss expansion projects for the next fiscal year.

In the meantime, Sandler noted, remodeling is ongoing in the current store, with the recent additions of new coolers for the freezer sections, a Starbucks coffee shop and the relocation and expansion of the in-store pharmacy. The video rental outlet in the store has been discontinued.

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#1 Sarah on 07/13/12 at 10:32 AM [Reply]

I'd love to know how to get in touch with Robert the third. A new store is not needed, but even if they decide to go ahead with it, the thing needed most is to train the current employees in CUSTOMER SERVICE. I worked in retail a while, and if I had given my customers the dis-service that store gives, I would have been out the front door with a pink slip.

#1.1 Leah McGrath on 07/14/12 at 11:23 AM [Reply]

Sarah, Mr.Robert Ingle II is the current CEO of Ingles. He can be reached at 828-669-2941

#1.1.1 Sarah on 07/15/12 at 07:32 AM [Reply]

Leah, Thanks for the info.

#1.2 Ben Had on 07/17/12 at 05:53 AM [Reply]

Amen Sarah. Poor customer service starts at the top, so it's easy to see why The Hull store sorely lacks it.
It would be nice if the cashiers would at least acknowledge your presence.

#2 runningdeer on 07/13/12 at 01:50 PM [Reply]

With due respect to the fact that Ingles is a good store and construction there would create some jobs for a few folks before it is built and after it got built on to, my personal opinion is that the Hull Ingles is big enough now.
The Starbucks being included has opened a few more jobs in this area as Starbucks has been trying to do all over the country lately, but not nearly enough. The closing of the video rental in Ingles took a few more jobs no doubt, so it seems to be a never ending cycle. This economy has to make a BIG change before any reason to expand that store would make any sense at all.

#3 Joe on 07/13/12 at 07:08 PM [Reply]

Since the remodle I don't even go to this ingles anymore I make the extra drive to ALDI. Ingles service is poor and I am not a fan of the new setup.

#4 Ms.K on 07/13/12 at 11:25 PM [Reply]

I like the new upright frozen foods displays, except when the employees place food boxes on their sides instead of on end so you can see the picture on the package. The edges of the packages are too hard to see and read; that's very annoying! I even suggested to the employee why this would be better and he said it was easier to stack them flat so that's what he did. The Starbucks just replaced the video section; that's the only other change I can see. What I want more than anything is as much organic food choices as possible. Otherwise, I will continue to go to EarthFare or, better, the new Fresh Market. As long as I have to go that far, I'll hit Aldi's for some items.

#5 Anonymous on 07/14/12 at 03:16 AM [Reply]

Hull Ingles looks junky. Desperately needs a remodel. Can't believe they would put it off. Doubt they will last long without the remodel. Until they clean that dump up I'm going to have to shop elsewhere.

#5.1 tk on 07/15/12 at 05:08 AM [Reply]

I really don't see how you can say it is a junky store. It is a nice, clean store, and I have always been able to find things easily. The only problem I have is they are priced higher on some things due to the fact that they have no competition close by.

#5.1.1 Mr.K on 07/17/12 at 02:25 PM [Reply]

They will soon enough, if Kroger builds on the land they bought across the intersection. This is more likely why the expansion is on hold.

#6 Virginia Moss on 07/15/12 at 12:31 PM [Reply]

I have to say I agree with most of these comments. Lack of service, lack of organics and naturals, store is big enough and the minor revamping makes sense. Junky? Not sure what that means, but the store seems clean and orderly to me. Lower prices are always appreciated. I'm finding that more and more the very helpful comparison labels are side-stepping the intent by labeling one product by the ounce and the competing product by the unit; that's not only not helpful, but I take it as being deceitful, playing the customer as a fool. This is very insulting.

#7 Virginia Moss on 07/15/12 at 12:36 PM [Reply]

It would be nice to have the pharmacy at the front rather than at the back as is the strategy in most stores in hopes you will succumb to impulse purchases along the way. When you are sick or injured and in pain, the last thing you want is to have to travel all around the store to get what you need and then travel all the way back out. You don't want to run into anyone you know because you look and feel like heck; you just want to get what you need and get out. That's why drive-through is nice.

#7.1 len on 07/17/12 at 04:30 PM [Reply]

The pharmacy is at the front of the store!

#7.1.1 Virginia Moss on 07/19/12 at 01:41 PM [Reply]

That's good news; still, a drive-through would be nice, but impossible, at the front drive.

#8 Happy2BeMe on 07/16/12 at 11:06 AM [Reply]

I prefer the Ingles in Commerce over the Ingles in Hull. I think the store seems "junky" because of some of the customers it draws. I have been there and a lady was letting her toddler son urinate while standing on the side of the car while she was in the driver's seat. That was absolutely disgusting. I've seen a certain manager always outside smoking and I've actually seen that same one sitting in a car with another employee while they were apparently on break. You can't change the type of customers your store attracts. But I've been to the Commerce store many times and have never seen any managers outside smoking nor any employees either. i think the Ingles in Hull should do a little better job of looking at who they employee.

#8.1 Mr.K on 07/16/12 at 02:10 PM [Reply]

I don't know why, but Hull seems to have a higher rate of crime than other parts of the county.

#8.1.1 Angela S. on 07/16/12 at 05:59 PM [Reply]

Yes, and the Hull Ingles seems to come up a lot in the police reports. Just in the past couple of months I remember reading that the bank there has been robbed, a purse has been snatched in the parking lot, and a man left with a family pack of ribs stuffed down his pant leg. (I laughed heartily at the details surrounding that incident.)

I actually like the store and enjoy shopping there. I never feel threatened or uncomfortable, but I do sometimes wonder if my hood ornament is safe. :D

#8.2 jem on 07/16/12 at 03:28 PM [Reply]

I'm sure you don't shop at Wal-Mart then. Ingles is high class compared to the clientele that visit Wal-Mart.

#8.3 Mrs.S on 07/17/12 at 09:21 AM [Reply]

So you see a manager outside smoking?? or sitting in a car with another person taking a break??? SO WHAT? What is your problem???

#9 Mcresident on 07/16/12 at 07:44 PM [Reply]

Yeah bc no one can hardly afford the high cost of groceries there. They jack up their prices and then give you a discount card to try to quote on quote save you money. Expansion in my opinion is not a good idea.

#10 MC on 07/17/12 at 10:51 AM [Reply]

I like Ingle's. I think going there I feel more secure than Walmart and do not often see huge upper parts of butt cracks hanging out of spandex almost see thru pants by the way. Glad to pay slightly more for less BO also. I think Ingle's cleaner too. Talk about customer service well go to DMV for a driver's license or how many of us think animal control in MC works well. I like Ingle's and my view. I like my wife also.

#10.1 Ms.K on 07/17/12 at 02:20 PM [Reply]

"I like my wife also." The question is: Does she like you and are you sure about the answer? :)

".... how many of us think animal control in MC works well." :(

Okay, I'm tired of hearing your references to animal control without any expalnation at all. Please, share with us your problem with animal control. I am unaware that there is a problem. Please, be specific and support your contentions with reason. To say the you don't like animal control tells us nothing, zilch, nada, zero. (It's nice to say you like your wife, but if you don't say why, it is completely meaningless to the readers here and I am hardly convinced of your affection.)

My apologies to readers for this off-topic diversion.

#11 Go MC on 07/17/12 at 02:22 PM [Reply]

Love Walmart spandex trashy women as hank william sang. I may have to go to Ingle's if Walmart gets too many many scooter people who weight so much can not walk.

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Ingles expansion on hold

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