I’ve lived in Indianapolis, in a little village called Broad Ripple, for about 6 years and I absolutely love this area for the unique shopping, small coffee shops, and the great restaurants. Not to mention that I can walk or bike to anything that I need. There is a small Kroger grocery store right in the heart of the village. I’ve gone there many times, but only if I absolutely HAD to! This store has never really had a selection of fresh foods and I’ve even seen dust on canned products. The staff was always less-than-friendly, but my least favorite feature was the funky smell that used to hit you when you walked in. It smelled like an old refrigerator that had not been cleaned, ever. 
So my friends and I referred to this store as the “Moscow Kroger” for obvious reasons.
Recently Kroger has decided to give this store a facelift and what a difference it’s made. They’ve knocked down a few walls, brightened it up, reorganized the shopping experience – volia its a pleasant shopping experience. By making over this location it’s changed the vibe completely. I can easily get my grocery items and I’m not alone – traffic is up! There are more people shopping in there then I can ever remember seeing before the changes. I also dig that instead of the numbers that light up to tell you the
check stand is open they placed 
Monon Trail signs (a popular nearby greenway for walking and biking) that will light up to tell you the checker is open.
Today I went to grab some lunch at Kroger and they had a Jazz Trio playing in the entry way and they were barbequing some chicken outside. When I got back to the office I wanted to see if there was anywhere on the Kroger site or a social media forum for sharing positive thoughts on this location. Although there is no provision for comments about this particular location, there is an area that you can sign up called My Kroger that allows you to register and receive the weekly ads/special coupons for your local area stores. Who could’nt use a discount on food these days, right? So, I went ahead and signed up for the weekly email updates for the ads and discounts.
Given the store facelift. I’ve now affectionately been referring to the store with it’s other moniker – K-Roger – instead of “Moscow Kroger” AND I’ve made sure that my friends and co-workers all know that is the place to shop.
Interesting how a large national corporation hasn’t harnessed the power of community (and specifically the Broad Ripple community) online to drive traffic to its updated store and build relationships with its customers.
-Angela
I’m guessing that the festivities (and the refreshed interior) may have had something to do with the new Fresh Market that opened at College and 54th today. I just visited and blogged about the new store, and it’s a good idea that Kroger stepped up their game.
Not that both of them being lovely isn’t a good thing.
You’re right though, social media seems to go largely un-utilized by most food-sellers. And that’s pretty surprising, given the way that food bloggers and many mine-line food publications are basically promoting their products through new media & web 2.0 (argh, I hate that expression) outlets.
Comment by Kirsten on June 25, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I am so digging our new Kroger! Love your post. On the weekends, they have some outside grillin’ up burgers, and tables and chairs where you can hang out.
It is amazing how my attitude about the old Moscow Kroger has changed, and it’s just in time to save my diesel fuel by driving to Trader Joe’s less often.
The look (and smell!) is VERY different, but I also think the people who work there have a different attitude because they now have something to be proud of. It’s the same people…but they’ve suddenly become friendly.
Comment by AndreaJ on July 4, 2008 at 6:33 pm