ALDI for Callan - again!!

foxcoverteddy

Dear Cabaal, you take me too seriously, I agree with what you say wholeheartedly, but my use of historic is suggesting that for the first time since modern Callan arrived it has a choice of shopping without the long trek to other towns etc.
Seeing you have opened a window, do you not worry about the traffic or possible traffic problem?
I wonder what they will write in fifty years time about Callan? Now that could be interesting.
But thank you for letting me know maybe it was a slight presumption on my part to use historic. Foxy

Phil MaCrackin

It's gonna be historic indeed for Supervalu!

foxcoverteddy

Well Phil, you said it and I have a feeling you are right, I have all through the thread supported Supervalu and the staff. I have stressed that we need the store or one similar, could be Lidl, but of late so many people have complained I am wondering why.
The re-vamp did nothing to help customers, even though I am almost a daily visitor I find it difficult to find things and sometimes when i do they have a special offer in a completely different place.
Loughboy is a success well seems to be anyway, i think thomastown is and Carrick supervalu's, but I worry about Callan, even getting checmk-out operators does ones head in, lots of people and only two people working, they have to use the phone to get help, which doesn't always come, where are the manager's.
I have a sneaky feeling and I can be very sneaky that when they write about Callan in fifty years time, they might just mention the day the town was released from it's shackles and became a shoppers paradise, that might be a bit over the top, we need more shops for that.
I suppose if Tesco came back, there you go Phil, Tesco for Callan
Time for Coffee, regards from an excited and sneaky Foxy

Phil MaCrackin

Revamp? What revamp! They just rearranged the furniture a bit in there, nothing real has changed, it's still grubby and untidy. Maybe when there's less footfall there over the next few weeks, they'll have time to straighten the place out....

foxcoverteddy

As a matter of interest do supervalu Callan sponser any of anything in the town, we know Musgraves do the tidy town thing, but does our own store have a sponsership scheme?
I suppose we might go the whole hog does any business sponser the sports in the town, I am not including Katz or L'arche.
There is a boxing club, John Lockes, anything else?

Phil MaCrackin

That's a good question you know!!! I can visualise some of the signage up in the field there, but I can't picture anything by SV. Maybe some town folk on here might know!

foxcoverteddy

Yes, well I did not like to mention it, but seeing you got in, it is isn't it, have you looked at the checkouts, where is health and safety, down the side of the atm, not that I am making any criticism, just noting, but seriously I think tatty shops should be a thing of the past, surely we have moved on it is the 21st century, not the dark ages. Come on Callan lift up thine eyes move on, thanks Phil

foxcoverteddy

I reckon our man would know Cabaal, he is after all the fountain of all knowledge, thank god he doesn't know me, or does he?

Phil MaCrackin

Well foxy, the one thing that bugs me is untidiness- yes that area around the ATM is awful, pots & pans and light hardware items are not in any order there. The 'express' till over by the off license is also ridiculous, shabby old curtains supposedly hiding the cigarettes, but limply cast to one side, the whole presentation behind that till is a disaster.... BUT my real pet hate is old signs, posters and sticker remnants around the place... Signs put up by passing thru managers and floor assistants, eg 'don't forget to turn off the lights' then another 'don't forget to turn on the lights' this kind of thing is crazy ... Silly A4 printouts hung by the scruff with a single piece of tape.... Smarten up SV!!!!!!!!!

foxcoverteddy

I do not think anyone will disagree with you there, for a modern shop it is dismal, and it seems from a management prospective this is what we think of the people of Callan.
They must have been to Aldi or lidl, or even dunnes at some stage, in my job when i had one I had been known to raid dustbins of offices we suspected of doing other work on the side, not during the day of course i then had a garage full of unwanted garbage, actually very good fun, told you i was sneaky.
Just off to Callan.

Phil MaCrackin

LOL!! Me too... Gotta go to Supervalu!!! Hahah!! The irony of it

The Premier Man

foxcoverteddy wrote: »

Well Phil, you said it and I have a feeling you are right, I have all through the thread supported Supervalu and the staff. I have stressed that we need the store or one similar, could be Lidl, but of late so many people have complained I am wondering why.
The re-vamp did nothing to help customers, even though I am almost a daily visitor I find it difficult to find things and sometimes when i do they have a special offer in a completely different place.
Loughboy is a success well seems to be anyway, i think thomastown is and Carrick supervalu's, but I worry about Callan, even getting checmk-out operators does ones head in, lots of people and only two people working, they have to use the phone to get help, which doesn't always come, where are the manager's.
I have a sneaky feeling and I can be very sneaky that when they write about Callan in fifty years time, they might just mention the day the town was released from it's shackles and became a shoppers paradise, that might be a bit over the top, we need more shops for that.
I suppose if Tesco came back, there you go Phil, Tesco for Callan
Time for Coffee, regards from an excited and sneaky Foxy

well if your worrying about qeues in checkouts,i don't know why you are so excited that aldi is coming.they are an absolute disaster for this,the shop could be full and only one checkout open with a qeue half the length of the shop.

Phil MaCrackin

A fair point premier, but, in truth if everyone was doing their weekly shop in SV, like they are in Aldi, SV would have the same problem too.

Cabaal

The Premier Man wrote: »

well if your worrying about qeues in checkouts,i don't know why you are so excited that aldi is coming.they are an absolute disaster for this,the shop could be full and only one checkout open with a qeue half the length of the shop.

I will say thats not my experience in any Aldi I've ever been in, anytime the q goes past the cardboard sign they always open another checkout.

It doesn't matter if the checkout has to be done by a manager or assist manager, it gets opened

foxcoverteddy

Yes we all have a, don't know what about queue's but I am a regular Aldi user and have never had that sort of problem but perhaps it depends on which branch you go to.
I always think the check out operation is something else at Aldi they don't hang about but that is only my opinion.
Thursday is approaching

Dan Jaman

There is one thing that gets up my nose and that's when anothe check-out is opened, it's often the ones who're just coming up to the queue who step into the newly-opened checkout. Queue-jumping swine, they are.

foxcoverteddy

Dan it is infuriating when that happens, you are lucky queue's here are seldom a problem, try the UK I have seen drivers go off the motorway at an intersection go round the roundabout and come back up on the motorway just to gain a few places. Even worse are the people who go to M&S on Christmas eve morning and steal someones turkey or chicken from their trolley and pop it in their own, despicable should be a law about it.
I had a lady in Harrods who was trying to get past me, when there clearly wasn't room, shuffing like mad, so I perhaps used slightly more force than I should because she ended up in a pile of saucepans, flabberghasted to say the least.
Beware Foxy

emeldc

From Harrods to Aldi. There's recession for ya

foxcoverteddy

No, the thing with stores like that they buy in special sale goods and there really are some down to earth bargains, working near by was handy, other than that such stores are a definate no, no.
I would prefer the people in Petticoat Lane or East Street Market much more genuine, you knew where you stood with them, and it is much the same as Aldi down to earth, no expensive frills, no stupid prices.
I think you might find it is all down to happiness, another story.
thank you Foxy

nhg

This Thread is 2 yrs old today and only 2 days left to go to the opening of the store.........

foxcoverteddy

Happy Birthday Thread, many thanks to Phil and NHG for keeping us up to speed, hasn't the time just flown, it has been great fun, what next?
I came in by way of a thread in Ennis co Clare, where there is a discussion going on about Tesco building another store on the outskirts of the town, they have one in the centre, couldn.t resist telling them they were lucky we have to go to another county to shop Tesco.
One wonders what Callan will be like in six months time, hopefully Aldi will increase the number of shoppers comin g to the town, but to be honest apart from SV what else would you come to Callan for, forgot we have four chemists, apart from them.
You can't buy ladies clothes or shoes, you must go to Kilkenny or other town, there is no computer store, camera shop, bookshop, cycle store, perhaps we do not have the population to support all these things.
Tesco might help if we had one, so perhaps we should have a Tesco for Callan thread?
Two whole long days to wait for Henry to throw open the doors of the 100th Aldi store, there is definaztely a buzz about it, expect there will be some who will moan, look what aldi have done to Bridge St, someone did but it ain't Aldi.
We are marching forward with a smile and more change in our pockets.
Thanks NHG, regards Foxy

Phil MaCrackin

In fairness Foxy, there used to be some of those stores in Callan before, except the camera & bookshop.... But I may be proven wrong...
There's been numerous failed attempts at a computer repair place, and there used be a ladies clothes shop where the big wheel off license is now. Hennessys used have a bike repair shop on lower bridge street opposite hacketts shop...
Maybe Dwyers sold cameras (where McDowells is now) ... I can't recall.
Of course there's the new Polish grocery shop now, don't know how well that's doing....

So the thread is 2 years old today! It took Aldi a 4.5 months to build it, so it goes to show how much inefficiency exists in the co.council & bord pleanala....

foxcoverteddy

Yes I noticed you were around earlier, I wonder the reason so much went out of Callan, it should by rights be bustling with trade, perhaps Aldi will help to bring people back, my impression is that SV did the exact opposite, one really did have to go further afield for so many things.
I understand that any village that has just a general store could well lose out with Aldi, though I weigh up the cost of petrol before setting off for small things in Clonmel or kilkenny, is it worth the trip.
Many places just do not have the market, a small store would need a good turnover of veg to make it pay, whereas Aldi and SV will normally have fresh every day or other day.
Though i put much of the success of fruit and veg in SV down to Erin, one can tell when she is not there.
I must admit I am not keen on paying top price for goods that are not of a reasonable quality.
2 days Phil, see you there and Nhg.
Foxy

Odyssey 2005

:pOnly one more sleep left....

Cabaal

Phil MaCrackin wrote: »

and there used be a ladies clothes shop where the big wheel off license is now.

Indded there was, it did very good business as well,
Shop only closed when the women running it retired.

Hennessys used have a bike repair shop on lower bridge street opposite hacketts shop...

I remember it well and got my bike fixed loads of times in it over the years,

If you really go far back (before my time) were supervalue is now there used to be a cinema but it was burnt down...before the cinema there used to be a massive bike shop...circa 1900.

I'd like to see a Cycle shop in Callan again but there's just not enough people cycling anymore to support it. For example, when i was in school the bike sheds in the primary and secondary schools were full....these days they are empty.

This is nothing to do with the schools, its to do with over protective parents driving kids everywhere

A camera shop would never last here, nor would a book shop due to changes ion how people buy and use both types of items,

A computer repair shop is a waste of rental costs as you can run the same business out of a home without paying rental for a premises.

foxcoverteddy

T'is perhaps a sad day, Aldi open tomorrow, perhaps we will have come full circle, however I am sure something as interesting and absorbing as Aldi will appear.
Actually i have been following a thread on the Clare forum, Tesco for Ennis, they have one and Tesco want to build a second store, lucky them we haven't got one, however there were comments about shops in the town closing, some suggesting it was Tesco's fault, but it turns out that a similar situation to Kilkenny, council rates too high, car parking charges etc and the changing face of shopping.
Back to Aldi and beloved Callan, very strange Cabaal mentions the cycling, Kilkenny seems to be hell bent on having cycle ways etc, but not in Callan, one problem is that many of the school children live outside of the town, and in all fairness would you let your child cross the by-pass during the rush hour? No provision was made for pedestrians or cyclists to get across.
If you are not a driver then calculating the speed of oncoming traffic is difficult, bad enough for some drivers as it is. Country roads are not lit either.
Will any shops suffer in Callan? The vast majority are what one might call service shops, Hairdressers, Beauticians, Take-Aways, Betting Shops etc,
which should not be affected.
This leaves us with our one newspaper shop, who everyone else has made inroads into, SV, Co-op, and Mahers Garage, but in fairness Kerwicks sell many things for school children's needs, has the best assortment of cards etc, again Aldi doesn't.
John the butcher, Aldi hasn't one and recently SV have attempted to jump on the meat for the week wagon that John has done for a very long time, who is the big bad wolf then, and of course we have our old friend Joe next door to John, Joe has a very loyal following of customers and is very obliging and one hopes, well n o supermarket is going to sell flowers of Joes quality, let alone make up bouquets, wreaths etc.
Notice SV sells flowers these days, so who is the big bad wolf, they are not looked after like Joe's, Aldi are a bit into plants but if you want the best Joe it is, he will have all sorts of odds and ends you won't get in the supermarket.
You haven't mentioned Londis, no it is a petrol station, it sells food, yes but it is a convenience store of sorts, things you would buy that you had forgotten, same as Big Gas, or could not be bothered to go into SV.
Hopefully the coming of Aldi might well boost our few little shops, really it is up to us to look after them, they have served us well has John and Joe and Paddy.
O'Briens, well Aldi do do clothes of sorts but nothing to compare with O'Briens, top of the range stuff and quaint, like going back in time, long may it thrive.
One more mention our friend Billy and clare bakers extra-ordinary, Aldi doesn't have an in-store bakery as yet, yes SV do, who is the big bad wolf then, without doubt no one but no one bakes bread like our own baker, Aldi will bring in cheaper bread from the North, Lynch's, it is okay, in fact if I couldn't get Billy's I would buy Aldi's, but like john and Joe Billy is the king of bread makers, the carbon footprint from bakery to store is very small.
So there you are, tomorrow is the day, dare I say it, yes of course i am a historic day for Callan shoppers, it may not go down in the history books, nor come to that matter does the association of Callan with coca cola.
So to all who have read our posts, agreed or otherwise the time has arrived, but to so many who have given support, helped, added to the thread, thanks so much, we might get another couple of posts out of the opening.
Don't forget it is a two euro coin for the trolley but most of all enjoy the shopping, have fun and save money, look for the Irish food and help Ireland.
Bye for now and regards to all Foxy

Phil MaCrackin

I remember the SV site when it was just a rubble site from the days of that cinema! I think it was Caulfields has that first, they have a place in new Ross as well, and maybe loughboy is theirs too. Someone told me last night incidentally, that SV in Carrick On Suir there was never as busy since Aldi & Lidl opened!!! Interesting!!

foxcoverteddy

Hi Phil, our wonder man of the boards, well if our SV gets busier what the hell are they going to do, they are having a job coping as it is.
Actually I think loughboy has found the same, well I do use Carrick and Loughboy but both are larger than Callan and as a result are better stocked.
I think a cash injection will be needed to enlarge the store, or build a new one outside of town, like Aldi near but not in the middle.
Though i am told there is a huge space behind the BOI that could be used.
There might be space down the new line.
Take care, regards Foxy

Phil MaCrackin

Ha! Wonder man? I don't think so Foxy! You're the one who kept the thread energised! I hope the weather is kinder tomorrow though! I spose the signs aren't great for SV, but I still think there's a place for them. Although the shop down in friary walk didn't last long....

foxcoverteddy

You had the bright idea in the first place, anyway yes hope it is better tomorrow my sleeping bag isn't waterproof, joke.
Off to SV, and the Friary Walk escapade, must have cost a fortune but again it was price and choice, it really didn't fit into the scheme of things, I felt for Ray but to be honest his little shop was fantastic, almost a niche shop, it was always a pleasure to go into it, he had it and decided Cost cutter was the right direction, when in truth he was the right direction, not Cost cutter.
But again SV undercut the small trader, who is the big bad wolf and now what happens, wait until tomorrow , though it will take a few weeks to settle down into a normality.
Off to SV yet again, watch out for le coq sport, Foxy

foxcoverteddy

was in SV this morning it smelt like they had given something a lick of paint, not sure what, but they have really left it late.
When will they learn that no one and I mean no one enjoys being taken for a ride with prices, both coffee and tea had examples of paying in excess of a euro for a large version as opposed to two small ones.
The fruit and veg looked somewhat moth eaten with empty baskets, and again shelves made to look like they were full of items and in fact they had only one line behind was empty.
Checkouts had queue's only two operating, what are they going to do when things get back to normal?
Just over 10 hours to go to lift off, wow we gotta hear Henry.

Phil MaCrackin

I think they painted the door frames grey on the way in there, you can still see the brush stokes on them!! LOL

Autosport

Foxy was that you i saw earlier outside Aldi taking photos???

foxcoverteddy

A definate no, actually I didn't think of it, should have done, went past about 11.30 you would have thought the place was in full swing, i needed as we always do some bits and pieces in SV, like one of billy's loaves, mandarins, fish fingers, just love em for lunch and milk, forgot the honey and some burger buns for our 12 year old, probably pop in to Aldi for potatoes in the morning.
Apparently there are some brill offers when the doors open, we didn't get a leaflet but locals did.
I bet the photographer was Phil, was it you Phil whom Autosport saw?
Any way my friends it is time to say good night and enjoy tomorrow and you have all been really super pals, hang on Nhg is missing, and Dan Jaman and everyone else.
God bless and sincere regards Foxy

Phil MaCrackin

Hey fellow boarders, nope it wasn't me either! I was only in SV at about 9am and not in town after that. Yes I heard a leaflet went out to locals, but I haven't seen it myself. Hopefully the weather improves by morning!!! See you all there, I'll be the one with the red tie... LOL!!!

Dan Jaman

I cannot be arsed with the crowds on the opening of these things, so I'll toddle along in the afternoon for my usual Aldidl stuff. Magic thing for me now, is there's an Aldi within cycling distance when the weather's good and I don't have to drag up to KK for bits and bobs.
Aldi don't do Spam-alike, though.

Autosport

Damn i thought i was after seeing you take the pics. Maybe it was SV

I'm afraid i wont be there for the opening as i'll be in work but i hope all goes well and Foxy i think you should be cutting the ribbon

Phil MaCrackin

I think you should too Foxy!! What has HS contributed here? pffff!!! LOL!!!
I'm gonna try be there anyways, was there ever free stuff at an Aldi opening?

foxcoverteddy

Thanks gang, I really feel so proud at what we as a group has achieved, I said to my other half, who is intending to be there at 9am, look for a gent in a red tie, that will be Phil, no clues as to Autosport, though you won't be there as you said you are working, but expect to see you jump out of 3 series Beamer, Nhg I do know, Dan mmm, not many on bikes but I suspect it is a Blue Yamaha, no doubt if I go up to people and say hello, they think I have lost it.
I will be late as I see our lad off on the school bus at about 8.50, yes I could make it, and I do need shopping.
Reading Dan's post reminded me my dear mother in law who was so loved by many, when we had sunday tea a lot of the family would be round for the lovely soda bread and freshly made scones, made by our one who will be in Aldi at 9am, would insist that we could only buy the ham from Ray Hacketts, it has always remained one of those memories.
There are a lot of clues to who Foxy is, it is like throwing sandals to the wind. some of my clues are a bit limp.
Right time for breakfast and a quick read of the news, my usual to you all Foxy

foxcoverteddy

Quick one we get a mention in the Indy, part of Aldi intention to open more stores and employ 300. apparently 15 to a store, hey has anyone from SV deflected, it is a bit like the berlin wall, did anyone escape, Ho ho ho haven't seen dermot of late, oh no he is not the manager surely.

nhg

Good morning Guys, The long wait is nearing the finish line... I hope that I am right & that ALDI will be a help to other Callan businesses, I know I for one will be trying to get all my grocery shopping done in Callan as opposed to going to KK or the likes at the weekend to get a few bits, I assume lots more will be like me.

SV seem to be on a big spruce up, just makes me wonder what it would be like if ALDI were'nt coming to town - we're still the same customers as have always been there! They have there chance now to grab extra customers, hopefully they will pull their socks up & be able to keep them.

Will probably just drive by ALDI around opening time as my little man is fascinated by it as I drop him to school & head to work, will probably ramble up after work this evening with little man & OH.

Foxy & I have regular conversations when we meet - usually in sv, our next one should be interesting........

Thanks for the updates guys, it's been great......

It will be interesting what direction posts to this thread will take after 9am today.......

Cabaal

100th store opening

http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/aldi-jobs-ireland-874566-Apr2013/

Phil MaCrackin

Well foxy, I'm not sure what you can say we achieved, other than chat about things, but it is fun, that's for sure! Sadly I won't be there at 9 either, the pitfalls of work Maybe at lunchtime I hope..... Least the day has cleaned up for it!!!
Hopefully someone get some vids for YouTube of the event!!

nhg

As we drove by at 9.01 on the way to school, doors open and some shoppers going in & some coming out so it must have opened earlier than 9.00, cars even parked out side the car park on the chapple lane road.

Phil MaCrackin

OMG!! It's like Xmas eve in here! If SV had this crowd once a month they'd be flying!!!

S28382

Hey Foxy will can you please start a campaign to get Tesco to KK. im not committed enough to do it.

foxcoverteddy

Phil I went round looking for a man with a red tie, got some funny looks, the place was grand met half the family in there, it certain ly is the future of shopping, it should bring an impetus to retailers about the viability of Callan as a shopping centre.
I walked round carrying my bag of roosters no sign of Phil, the other half was primed to look for the red tie.
At least I saw Henry and our local councillor. Then I left to go to John for my meat.
No doubt there will be a few more posts, thanks again Foxy

foxcoverteddy

S28382 fair comment, yes Kilkenny should have Tesco, it represents another dimension in the shopping spectrum, which is being denied to us, unless of course one is prepared to travel outside the county or have home delivery, which Tesco is brilliant at.
To start with who is behind the ban on Tesco in our county, you might say ah, the council, but the electors are crying out for Tesco to come to Kilkenny, so who is pushing the council to reject applications for a store.
We know there is a very strong business contingent who are hell bent on preserving what is, so strong they won't allow the high Street to be traffic free, which could give Kilkenny a continental flavour.
There must be someone who is prepared to blow the whistle on this gang who are keeping us in the past.
There are empty units in Loughboy which could well be a supermarket oh dear no you cannot sell groceries, anything else yes.
Progress in the city is being crippled against the wishes of the people.
The people should be heard, demand your councillor does something about it.
Lets have the debate in the open, Tesco for Kilkenny.
So why do we have two Dunnes Stores, two Lidl and two Aldi and one Supervalu?

Phil MaCrackin

I'm just out of there too Foxy, it's a bit crazy, people buying things they don't really need, I saw one fella,who shall remain nameless, going off with 5 oil filled heater, and a head of broccoli !! Haha!

SV on the other hand is certainly quieter today, but still a stir about the place!!
Time will tell!!

S28382

foxcoverteddy wrote: »

S28382 fair comment, yes Kilkenny should have Tesco, it represents another dimension in the shopping spectrum, which is being denied to us, unless of course one is prepared to travel outside the county or have home delivery, which Tesco is brilliant at.
To start with who is behind the ban on Tesco in our county, you might say ah, the council, but the electors are crying out for Tesco to come to Kilkenny, so who is pushing the council to reject applications for a store.
We know there is a very strong business contingent who are hell bent on preserving what is, so strong they won't allow the high Street to be traffic free, which could give Kilkenny a continental flavour.
There must be someone who is prepared to blow the whistle on this gang who are keeping us in the past.
There are empty units in Loughboy which could well be a supermarket oh dear no you cannot sell groceries, anything else yes.
Progress in the city is being crippled against the wishes of the people.
The people should be heard, demand your councillor does something about it.
Lets have the debate in the open, Tesco for Kilkenny.
So why do we have two Dunnes Stores, two Lidl and two Aldi and one Supervalu?

So is it some businesses objecting to Tesco or is it the council? im hearing its the council, Im a blow in so im not familiar with the politics of KK. I love living in KK. I love the way its kept clean, the good vibe always around the place, the lovely walkways, the castle......So im presuming for the most part the council do a good job in keeping KK ticking away and your right about Dunnes/Aldi/Lidl/Supervalu so why not have a Tesco.