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Fresh and Easy stores - -

The one in my town in Ventura County, CA, is annoyingly placed with a bad traffic pattern, to enter and exit.
I couldn’t believe it. Especially with this town’s strict rules and laws.
It should have been placed clear across town where it may have done good business because there is no market anywhere near this community of newer homes, apartments, and condos...

I have not paid it a visit - it’s been there well over a year - maybe more.
If it gives up that building, I can’t imagine who would want to occupy it - we’ll see - - -

We continue to shop at Trader Joe’s, and a small
family-owned health food store.

It’s fine to expand fast if people want what you’re selling. No one wants Fresh ‘n Easy.

Have you ever been to one? Their stores are on too-small lots — because that lowers start-up costs. Only now you’re behind the 8-ball. Hard to turn into, impossible to park. If you drive around for ten minutes and can’t find a space, you’re going to leave and never go back.

If you do get in, there are no clerks. Sorry, no questions. No one to help you find something. No one to check you out at the registers. I suppose there are workers hiding behind the scenes somewhere... but the shopping experience is you’re on your own, checking and bagging and paying for your groceries. Food isn’t pre-packaged, bar-coded widgets you can just run through a scanner. There’s always an issue. Always. And it’s on you to figure it out. It’s an enormous time suck.

Moving to consumer automation isn’t something to celebrate. I never got to drive during the days when someone else pumped your gas, and I would be happy to pay a little extra for it.

There’s nothing “easy” about shopping at those stupid Euro-stores. They will not be missed.