This is the first I heard of the Walnut Hills Kroger closing, and I live in Walnut Hills. I've lived in Walnut Hills for the bulk of my adult life. Raised my kids there--and for most of their lives, there has always been a Kroger's at Peebles Corner. While I understand the financial decision to close this store, I also understand the emotionality connected to closing this store. Walnut Hills is a "walking neighborhood." It's residents can walk to the places that they utilize the most: Library, Banks, Pharmacy, Post Office, Grocery etc. If you take away one of the most important items on the aforementioned list: Grocery, you take away one of the residents' means of survival.
The Walnut Hills Kroger's needs to understand the changing demographics of its residents. What I love about Walnut Hills is that the truly wealthy and the not so wealthy can live together in relative peace. When I go to the Walnut Hills Kroger's it is usually because I need something quick. I do my major shopping at Bigg's or Hyde Park Kroger because I can find what I need--like refills for my Tassimo, really fresh vegetables, and a different variety of dog food!
I'm not saying that the WH Kroger's needs to turn into a Wild Oats or Fresh Market, but I won't buy milk with an expiration date that is two days away or produce that looks like it's ready to sprout eyes and ears. I want a decent bottle of wine and while we're at it, how about premium beer like Hoegaarten. They don't have to stock a lot of it, but a few to show that they've recognized that the neighborhood has changed would be nice.
I like that the WH Kroger's has mature people waiting on the customers and they genuinely seem to care about them. Some of them even know their regular customers' names, and they know how to bag groceries. That's a good thing. The youngsters at the other stores are way too interested in their love lives to be concerned with the customers.
Find a way to keep this store open. I say to the City Council and the WH Redevelopment Group, find a way to clean up the area around this store to make it more safe for the residents to shop there. Work with the East Walnut Hills group to find a way to bring the two Walnut Hills together. Walnut Hills is an old neighborhood with great tradition. Let's keep Kroger's in place and watch it grow with the neighborhood.