Banana Price Index Noun – A system developed by Anonymous in Houston to easily track price differences across grocery stores. It compares the per-pound price of #4011 Bananas. “Target is on the high end of the BPI at 25 cents per Banana.”
Bauhaus Noun – Kroger’s design scheme during the late 1970s and early 1980s prominently featured the Bauhaus font for department names, with multiple examples surviving into the 2010s.
Boomerang Adjective—A way to describe a store that has been through multiple owners, resulting in the company that constructed the store regaining possession. “When Safeway bought Randalls, they purchased a bunch of boomerang locations in Austin.”
Drop Ceiling Noun – The use of a grid system hung from wires to affix ceiling tiles to the roof of a store.
Fruit Cart Noun – Kroger’s most recent exterior logo includes a flipped ‘K’ serif containing segmented pieces resembling orange slices inside the cart. “The Fruit Cart really feels out of place on a Krogerstons.”
GSC Noun – Abbreviation for Grocers Supply Co. Houston’s largest grocery distributor, purchased by C&S Wholesale.
Greenhouse Noun—A store design used by Kroger that features a large sloped glass roof above the entryway, making for a unique storefront.
Handy Randy Noun – Any of the four Handy Andy stores purchased by Randall’s on their exit from the Houston market. The locations, including the upmarket Flagship concept, were renovated and used to pattern future Randall’s stores.
Heberstons Noun – A former Albertsons location that HEB has acquired. Usually, these locations lack some of the “accoutrements” that HEB provides.
HexaShell Noun – ~1980s Shell stations with a canopy that is comprised of hexagons and ‘outhouse’ bathrooms. Ex: Shell at Southwest Freeway and Sugar Creek in Sugar Land.
Hypermarket Noun – A large store combining Groceries, General Merchandise, HBA, Softlines, Electronics, and other departments under one roof, usually twice the size of modern Supercenter stores. Also, contains leasable space for 3rd parties. Ex: Auchan, Hypermart USA, American Fare.
Krazy Adjective – Describes individuals who obsess or fantasize about specific chains – especially Kmart. “The Kmart Krazies believe new stores are opening soon!”
Kroger Adjective – An average or typical supermarket experience, nothing great, but nothing bad either. “The new HEB’s grocery selection is quite Kroger in scope.”
Krogerstons Noun—A Kroger that was initially built or planned as an Albertsons and converted to a Kroger, especially those stores in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Sometimes also spelled “Krogersons,” “The Albertsons Express was converted to a Kwik Shop in name only at the Krogerstons.”
Krogway Noun – A Kroger that was initially constructed as a Safeway and converted to a Kroger. “The Kroger in Sherman dropped a Greenhouse location for a Safeway Superstore in 1987.”
Power Alley Noun– A supermarket feature where the bakery, deli, and floral departments are combined at the front of the store, usually in front of produce, and customers must walk through these service departments to enter the store.
Roundel Noun – A circular logotype used by multiple retailers. Ex: Target’s Bullseye, Safeway’s S.
Scrape and Rebuild Verb – The act of demolishing an existing demolishing business in preparation for the construction of a new store.
Tile Scar Noun – A horrible rash left on concrete from removing tile floors, especially prevalent at discounters. “The tile scar at Kroger is especially noticeable.”
Weinway Noun – Used to describe the 43 Weingarten’s locations sold to Safeway in 1983, sometimes leading to the misguided claim that Safeway purchased Weingarten’s.