Kroger – Corporate Arrogance with a side of DeKalb sleaze.

This is a follow-up to an article posted a few months ago.

Kroger has hit a new high in corporate arrogance – after months of delaying any commitments, after months of meetings and efforts by the City of Brookhaven’s top officials, Kroger has used their sleazy old DeKalb County connections to revise their construction permits to wholly ignore not only the landscaping details approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals, but also pass on their one-time ability to greatly improve safety at Cherokee Plaza at minimal cost.

Invoking a veil of corporate silence, Kroger’s intentions finally became known earlier this week when they provided a copy of their newly approved plan to the City of Brookhaven. The conclusion – horribly disappointing and an affront to the neighborhoods surrounding the Cherokee Plaza store.

The City was not administering the permits acquired from DeKalb County last year before the start of Brookhaven, then inexplicably DeKalb County’s Department of Planning & Sustainability arborist, India Woodson, greatly overstepped her authority and changed the approvals granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals for an astounding 15 variances. Andrew Baker, Director of Planning and Sustainability, provided documentation of why his charge, Ms. Woodson, made the changes but he must have neglected to read that her arguments actually supported the contrary argument. Just another shining example of DeKalb County government not caring about its citizens living in the northern parts of the County, and, a perfect example of why new cities have rushed to be formed. Surely even when DeKalb County is hemorrhaging bad news on so many fronts, they continue to act in a questionable manner. The writer is currently requesting information about Kroger political contributions in DeKalb County.

For those who might question my concerns, it is based upon a viewpoint that Brookhaven is a great area that I want to help keep great and growing well. Kroger, on the other hand, is a poorly operated large company that is wholly uncaring about the community they serve; they simply want our money. I will not support businesses that do not respect the community and while I might shop occasionally at this Kroger, I will only purchase sale items and that they will lose money on. I will not purchase any prepared food at Kroger because I have personally witnessed too many unsanitary/dangerous habits of their employees that I have reported to management but which have had little effect upon their behaviors. Such issues include:

1. Mayonnaise based  products being left out as Customer Samples without ice under them.
2. Employees keeping opened sodas in the bagged ice refrigerator.
3. Cutting boards falling on floor in the Deli, then being picked up and put back on the counter.
4. Employees eating food with their hands while doing food preparation for sale in the Deli.
5. Prepared food for sale well beyond its proper hold time.
6. The stinking indifferent attitude exhibited there by many of the employees
7. Their seafood counter reeking of chlorine masking spoiled product.
8. Lack of attention to meat “sell-by” dates.
9. Doing the construction work without adequate public or employee safeguards (one cashier was actually wearing her own dust mask while working)

The Kroger store manager, Bobby Smith, is a genuinely likeable and competent fellow, however he is outmatched by the tenured union employees of  UFCW #1996. It would take Mr. Smith somewhere in the vicinity of a year to fire an employee who paid even minimal attention to rules, values such as pleasantness, competence and caring go unrewarded.

Speaking about large companies wanting to make a buck while ignoring the welfare of its customers, Cherokee Plaza has several owners and is managed by Weingarten Realty, Hines is one of the principal owners. Hines is one of the principal owners of “@1377” the apartments under construction at the intersection of Dresden Road & Ellijay Drive, they are the ones who have unreasonably and unlawfully blocked traffic along the roads during construction, and, will be the company profiting through your traffic misery. What wonderful folks too!

What Can Be Done:

Let Kroger know your feelings: Bobby Smith, Store Manager: 404-240-0808 (robert.smith@stores.kroger.com) ,or,  Bruce Lucia, President of Kroger Georgia (bruce.lucia@kroger.com), it doesn’t have to be articulate or long winded – “Please support the Brookhaven Community better” is sufficient.

Let Weingarten know your feelings: Lori Walker, Property Manager(LWalker@Weingarten.com)

Either stop shopping at Kroger or reduce your shopping at Kroger. Publix at Town Brookhaven is pleasant and caring. A good alternative.

Join you neighbors peacefully picketing along Peachtree – currently being planned, dates to be provided.

Simply put… be heard… even if you disagree with the viewpoints expressed here.