I hear that the two Wilson Farms locations on Elmwood Avenue are due for a cosmetic makeover. Now if it were up to me, then I would day knock them down and start again. First off, they are small, unattractive eyesores on the street that shoppers stop into because of pure convenience. Obviously that is why they are called convenience stores. Can you imagine if these two store locations put an iota of thought into the buildings… not just the products? It’s not that I care for the products that much, but if I need some cereal and I don’t feel like going grocery shopping, then I find myself stopping in. In the perfect world these two corner stores would be places that would make me want to stop in.
At this time, the Wilson Farms chain is going through some cosmetic improvements. It was hoped that these improvements would entail rethinking the stores completely. It has been the dream of many to see these asphalt-ridden eyesores turned into modern day shopping destinations. Wouldn’t it be nice to see them moved up to the street with the parking in the rear? That would certainly help the store’s exposure. And can you imagine an attractive design (both inside and out) that would make you feel good about spending your money there? As it is now, I feel like the stores are dedicated to playing the lottery rather than catering to a shopping experience. I wonder if corporate knows just how many people who live in the neighborhood avoid the stores. Wouldn’t you think that input from the community would be a logical step towards improving the chain?
As we start to see capital improvements taking place at these neighborhood convenience stores, lets hope that the powers that be do more than slap a new dorky roof on top. Ah well, we’ll soon see what sort of cosmetic changes are taking place at the Wilson Farms throughout the region. It’s a shame, here’s a company that really has the ability to reinvent itself to keep up with the needs of the entire community. Here's some history on Wilson Farms and the 200-store operation.