Chelsea's Pamida discount store to close by year's end
Pamida's store in Chelsea is expected to close by Dec. 31.
Lisa Allmendinger | AnnArbor.com
This story has been updated at 9:10 p.m. Monday with information from Pamida.
Chelsea will lose its only chain discount store when the Nebraska-based Pamida Stores closes its long-time anchor store in the Chelsea Shopping Center on M-52 south of downtown.
The store will close on Dec. 31.
News of the store closing was announced to employees and some community officials on Thursday, said Bob Pierce, executive director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce.
"We're very saddened to hear that they're closing," Pierce said today. "Pamida serves our population very well."
The store opened in 1993, said Dean Williamson, Pamida's senior vice president for human resources and general counsel, in an email. For a time the store was among the chain's most successful.
However, he wrote, "In Chelsea, declining sales caused by a number of factors—loss of business after the fire in 2008 as well as the slow recovery from the economic downturn, to name two—made continuing operation of the store unviable."
The chain operates more than 200 stores in 16 states, according to company web information. Locations tend to be in very small towns that are not served by other general discount stores. Other Michigan locations include Brooklyn, Tecumseh, Allegan and Clare.
The chain is closing two other stores at year-end, Williamson said: Hayward, Wis., and York, Neb.
Pamida is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc.
The store reopened in fall 2008 after a fire damaged the mall - and about $1 million in inventory — about five months earlier.
No signs at the store announced the pending closure as of Monday.
Lisa Allmendinger | AnnArbor.com
The rebuilding time for the mall probably took "longer than anybody would like," Pierce said. A few vacant storefronts remain in the center, which is operated by Lars Associates LLC in West Bloomfield.
As Pamida winds down in Chelsea, Pierce said many of the town's senior citizens would likely miss the store most.
Community-based organizations also will feel a void, he added, since Pamida contributed to many of them.
"Pamida has been just a wonderful supporter of this community," he said. Grants from the Pamida Foundation went to the Chelsea Area Fire Department, Faith in Action and the chamber.
"They are very community-oriented," Pierce said.
He added: "It's very unfortunate that at this time they've chosen to close the store."
The store employs 17, and some may transfer to the Tecumseh store, Williamson said. All who do not remain with the company will receive severance, he added.
"It’s a sad occasion any time Pamida exits a community, but we want to thank the people of Chelsea for their support over the years," Williamson said. "In addition, we’d like to thank the Pamida teammates for their hard work towards making the Chelsea store successful.
"The store closing is certainly no reflection on their efforts."
Comments
Thereislightonthehorizon
Sat, Dec 11, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.
With the VERY lengthy delay re-opening after the small fire, residents knew that the store wasn't going to be on a priority list with Corporate HQ. Also the smaller and less desirable stock had it's own indications. Having Pamida in town was the best store for those of us raising young families and in need of clothing for growing children, last minute school projects, bulk items, holiday shopping and such that DIDN'T require a twenty plus mile trip East or West. If your family needed better quality dry goods (NOT higher priced fad clothing), then Vogel's and Foster's was the place to be and we NEVER regretted a purchase there with those items being of high quality and sturdy enough for multiple childrens' wearings. Groceries, of course, are at Polly's (Country Market), a clean and well stocked store. If your menu needed specialty or gourmet items, then Chelsea Market has what you need or will get it for you. Being a small city (still in it's infancy from being a Village) Chelsea is a viable stop on I94 and the crowds in it's stores are proof of that. When a person falls for the advertising spiel of "Have to Have" and "Must Have NOW" ploy, then go ahead....pack up your cars, drive 40 plus miles (there and back)and spend less time with the family at home to get those things that you "Have to Have". Pamida will be missed and since there is no reason that Corporate HQ would listen to it's customers I will set my sights and hopes on another similar type 5 & 10 store. As for me? When I need anything for the family? I'm staying in town as long as I can.
Jim Rogers
Wed, Dec 8, 2010 : 12:44 p.m.
Pamida is Paul - Mike - David, the owners' three boys. It is sad to hear negative comments, that store was not perfect, are you? We are sad.
sun runner
Wed, Dec 8, 2010 : 9:20 a.m.
@Hendrix242: "place to buy...baby clothes..." Vogels & Fosters, Mission Marketplace, and the Potting Shed all have baby clothes. Can't help you on the ammo, however. "Chelsea is ripe for a market that actually gave a damn, while still charging reasonable prices." People forget about the New Chelsea Market right in the heart of downtown. Yeah, their prices are higher than what you'd find at Polly's or Meijer, but I can walk there from my house, the store's owners know me by name, *and* also know to do things like set aside six-packs of Bell's Oracle for me without my asking, and that's worth more than any amount of money I might save by shopping at some big box store where the staff couldn't care less. @queenmom: "searching for a hot glue gun stick" Did you try Chelsea Hardware, Aco, or Chelsea Lumber? What about that scrapbooking store (Scrabook Memories?), is it still around?
robyn
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8:38 p.m.
@ Hendrix - I LIKE additives. Give me an Oreo cookie over some cardboard tasting mini cow-dung looking excuse for a 'treat'. Most general grocery stores do carry the same products - I hardly believe that Ann Arbor grocery stores have less additives in their Cap'n Crunch than Pollys does. Polly's is clean - waaaayyyy cleaner than Meijer's on Zeeb. I will NOT buy fresh meats or fish from that place. When you walk by and the fish counter smells like fish - it isn't good. Fresh fish doesn't stink. I've seen frozen food and meat found in other aisles at Meijer's and watched the store personnel put it right back in the cold case. Sorry - not going to buy that stuff, don't know how long it sat out. I've lived out here for a very long time - and I like Polly's a lot more than the stores I used to shop at in Ann Arbor and Downriver.
queenmom
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8 p.m.
Polly's clean? Really? Tell me when that happens and I may try shopping there, when I don't need to buy a great deal so I can justify the higher prices on the things I buy.I was just at Pamida Sunday searching for a hot glue gun stick (not findable in Chelsea...UGH!) and wondered how they could possibly stay in business....
HENDRIX242
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:40 p.m.
Having lived in Chelsea for 10 years now, I've always thought of Pamida as a half-stocked Kmart; everything I've ever looked for there, they've never had. The name of the store sounds like some rare disease. Chelsea suffers dramatically in the retail sector. Polly's staff could care less if you shopped there. Every time I ask for help, I am shocked at their dismissal of my interest in purchasing something from their workplace. Yesterday I asked them where they kept apple cider; no answer was offered nor any help to find out. Polly's carries far too much junk with unnecessary additives and very little organic food. Chelsea is ripe for a market that actually gave a damn, while still charging reasonable prices. Chelsea needs a place to buy linens, baby clothes, ammo - a Meijer maybe, but, please no Malwart. Pamida carried junk with a selection so poor I wouldn't waste my time looking for it there. Walmart treats their employees and by extension, their suppliers employees (see Lawnboy)like dirt. I cannot in good conscience ever go in a Walmart again. I would really like to see a return to a decent department store owned by a local, instead of the faceless corporate entity that seeks to suck all our cash into some black hole in Malibu while abusing every tax loophole.
robyn
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 2:32 p.m.
Totally agree with you Tree Town. I wonder why a larger chain can't put in an 'abbreviated' store. Re: Pollys - While they don't carry as many products as Meijers - the prices are still lower for common labels. One of the things I didn't like about the Farmer Jack store was the 'buy one get one free' sales - you had to buy TWO items - while only paying the price for one - that price was still higher than the price for the same product at Polly's. Not only that - Buy one get one free at Polly's means if you only buy ONE product - you pay half price for that one item. If you're really comparing prices product for product - Polly's is lower. If you want the international foods - they don't have the selection that Meijer's has, I go to Zeeb Rd when I make certain things that require ingredience that Polly's doesn't carry.
TreeTownGal
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 12:12 p.m.
Having friends and relatives living and working in Chelsea - they really want a Target. Clothes in Chelsea are limited, shoes, handbags, clothes for larger men and women; getting household supplies, bed linens... it's a real need. Many of the folks drive into A2 for these at Meijer's and Target. All the Meijer's I have seen are larger so if a Target goes in - it can be a smaller scale one (eliminating the grocery, food court and RX pharmacy). It could really WORK this time!
ddjames
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
the Pamida space is not large enough for a Meijer Walmart or Kmart--maybe if you tear down the whole strip mall, but even then...not enough parking. Hence, if one were to come here it will be down near 94. Plus, Meijer is just 10 minutes down road at Zeeb...so won't be a Meijer at 94. As for Country Market...I and other shoppers I know are willing to pay more money and drive further for better quality food--ingredients, appearance, and taste. If I want bulk items, P&G or Kellogs type products...then to Meijer or Kroger I go. Country Market "Polly's" advantage? They are the only large grocery store in town. What they need is some good competition.
robyn
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:36 a.m.
I really can't remember exactly how long Pamida has been in that location. I do remember that it was an Ames store prior to being Pamida. I'd like to see a similar type of store there - but with higher quality merchandise and reasonable prices. The thing that used to bother me was that I could go to the Pamida in Clinton and it was bigger and nicer - the merchandise was better too. That they didn't do the same here in Chelsea may be a reason why they are closing down. As for what should be built here - I do NOT want a huge Walmart, K-Mart, Meijers... As far as another grocery store - don't see that happeing either. Farmer Jack came and closed. The prices were waaaayyy higher than the prices at Polly's (Country Market). The one good thing about Farmer Jack was that once they moved out - Polly's moved in. Say what you want - but I think the prices and quality at Polly's is better than many other stores - including places that are supposed to be discounted - like Meijers. Plus they are clean.
4 Fingers
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:26 a.m.
That Pamida was a dump. I dunno what would be a good fit for a space that big in Chelsea. Any ideas??
ddjames
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 10:36 a.m.
"We're very saddened to hear that they're closing," Pierce said today. "Pamida serves our population very well." Personally, I am not sad at all. Pamida DID NOT serve the population well--really not at all--before the fire and it was much worse when they reopened--inferior products galor, liquidation type items. I hope for one of two things--either a grocery store more on the lines of Busch's, Hillers, or Whole Foods (not a fan of Country Market down the street) or a small department store type that carries merchandise that appeals to the Chelsea market. Many of us spend far too much time having to drive to A2 to get what we need. In closing, I think Mr. Pierce was being kind. The truth is that there is great opportunity for someone to come in and do a much better job in serving the people who live here and in the surrounding communities. But what do I think will really happen? Another misplaced business will be put in there instead. They will struggle to survive for one or two years...and the cycle will start all over again until one day a Walmart-type will buy the entire corner down at 94 & 52 and the entire Pamida strip mall will cease to exist because everyone will go to down to the street where there is so much more in a better space.
sun runner
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 9:14 a.m.
@McFly: "Chelsea could use a meijers or walmart or even a cracker barrel." Seriously? No, we couldn't. That would kill Chelsea's entire downtown. It may be modest, but at least it has character, unlike the big box establishments you mentioned. Come to Chelsea on a nice Saturday afternoon in the summer and see how many people "bypass" Chelsea.
clownfish
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
in the 2008 election cycle Rodger Krouse, Co-CEO of Sun Capital donated almost $70,000 to candidates. In 2010 he donated $30,000. Now he will send 17 people to UIA. Nice. Bet he sleeps just fine.
clownfish
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8:44 a.m.
17 more to hit the unemployment office. That sucks. I know that feeling, it is not good. Best wishes to the employees. Rodger R. Krouse is the CEO of the holding company, does anybody know how many jobs he will create with his tax break extension? Will it be more than 17?
ChelseaBob
Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 6:28 a.m.
McFly- When was the last time you were in Chelsea? We bring in tour buses of people daily to eat and shop. We have many small specialty stores and galleries, and business is good. What we don't have is the cookie cutter big box stores. If that's what you want, then you are correct, better to go to Ann Arbor or Jackson.
M.
Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 11:36 p.m.
hotsauce - The article states since 1993.
frozenhotchocolate
Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.
I blame this on wal-mart. Eventhough there is no wal-mart in Chelsea it can still be blamed on them. Because I am anti wal-mart and eventhough I have driven by Pamida alot in the past I never stopped in because they have the same color scheme as wal-mart and are big box looking, which means that they are too evil just like wal-mart.
kes
Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 8:28 p.m.
@ hotsauce: too long.
McFly
Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.
Chelsea could use a meijers or walmart or even a cracker barrel. The shopping and dining there is extremely limited regardless of budget. Travelers on I94 have no reason to exit either; they just follow the billboards, bypass chelsea, and do their shopping and dining in Jackson or Ann Arbor where there are many more choices.
hotsauce_gm
Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 5:30 p.m.
How long was it there?
robyn
Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.
They store really went downhill after they reopened. The people that work there are nice - but the store itself seemed like the dro off spot for the other Pamidas' unsold merchandise. Sorry to see it closing - it was great knowing there are a store like this in town if you needed it. I bought a lot od stuff there over the years - they have always had good sales on bedding and small appliances.