Merger News

Kroger-Albertsons merger would sell staple Memorial-area grocery store

The merger will affect a Randalls in the Energy Corridor.

Randalls/Facebook

A proposed merger between two supermarket chains would affect two stores across the Greater Houston area: The two chains are Kroger and Albertsons, who are attempting to merge into one company in order to compete with big guns like Walmart and Amazon.

The merger has been challenged by federal regulators, prompting two chains to create a plan in which they would sell off nearly 600 locations.

UPDATE 6-26-2024: Albertsons and Kroger have agreed to pause the acquisition until the outcome of a trial in the state of Colorado which begins September 30, according to BoiseDev.com. It could challenge an October 9 deadline that the two companies agreed upon; if the deal is not complete by then, either can walk away, and Albertsons would get a $600-million fee.
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Kroger, which is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has 2,750 stores in 35 states, which includes brands like Ralphs, Smith’s, and Harris Teeter. Albertsons, which is based in Boise, Idaho, has operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco, and Shaw’s.

The two companies proposed the merger in 2022 in order to help them compete against mega-chains like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco. According to the Associated Press, if Kroger and Albertsons were combined, that would give them control of 13 percent of the grocery market versus Walmart's 22 percent.

In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit to block the merger, stating that it would eliminate competition and lead to higher prices. Inflation has already raised grocery prices by 11.4 percent in 2022 and another 5 percent in 2023.

A hearing has been set for July 31.

To prove that the merger would not result in a monopoly, Kroger and Albertsons have agreed to sell 579 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a supplier based in New Hampshire that operates a total of 23 supermarkets including 11 Grand Union stores in New York as well as owning the Piggly Wiggly brand.

In a statement, C&S said that it was "committed to ensuring zero stores will close as a result of the merger, all frontline associates will remain employed, all existing collective bargaining agreements will continue, and associates will continue to receive industry-leading benefits alongside bargained-for wages."

The two chains originally proposed selling 413 stores in locations where their operations overlap, but have added another 166 stores for a total of 579 in Washington (124), Arizona (101), Colorado (91), California (63), Oregon (62), Illinois (35), Texas (28), Nevada (16), and Alaska (18).

Store brands affected would include Tom Thumb, Randalls, Market Street, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, QFC, Mariano's, Carrs, Harris Teeter, and Haggen.

Industry publication Supermarket News has the full list of stores across the U.S.

Of the stores in Texas that are affected, the Houston location is a Randalls that has been at the corner of Memorial Drive and Dairy Ashford Road for many years. Another Randalls is located in Galveston. The other 26 are in North Texas.

The Texas stores impacted include:

Randalls — 14610 Memorial Dr, Houston
Randalls — 2931 Central City Blvd, Galveston
Market Street — 985 W Bethany Dr, Allen
Albertsons — 6220 U S Hwy 287, Arlington
Albertsons — 301 SW Plaza Shopping Ctr, Arlington
Tom Thumb — 1701 W Randol Mill Rd, Arlington
Tom Thumb — 2755 N Collins, Arlington
Tom Thumb — 6333 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas
Albertsons — 2321 W University Dr, Denton
Albertsons — 1155 N Main St, Euless
Market Street — 3800 Long Prairie Rd, Flower Mound
Tom Thumb — 4301 Cross Timbers Rd, Flower Mound
Market Street — 11999 Dallas Pkwy, Frisco
Market Street — 4268 Legacy Dr, Frisco
Tom Thumb — 4848 Preston Rd, Frisco
Tom Thumb — 5550 Fm 423, Frisco
Tom Thumb — 612 Grapevine Hwy, Hurst
Tom Thumb — 1000 Keller Pkwy, Keller
Market Street — 3145 E Broad St, Mansfield
Market Street — 6100 W Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney
Tom Thumb — 6800 W Virginia Pkwy, McKinney
Tom Thumb — 1501 Pioneer Rd, Mesquite
Tom Thumb — 3945 Legacy Dr, Plano
Tom Thumb — 1380 W Campbell Rd, Richardson
Tom Thumb — 3070 N Goliad, Rockwall
Tom Thumb — 551 Laurence Dr, Rockwall
Albertsons — 1201 N Saginaw Blvd, Saginaw
Tom Thumb — 101 Trophy Lake Dr, Trophy Club

randalls galveston randalls houston

washed out

Houston DJs remember pioneering music store that's closing after 50 years

Photo by Craig D. Lindsey

Soundswaves announced its imminent closure on Saturday, April 25.

The parking lot of the Soundwaves on 3509 Montrose was well-populated on Saturday, April 25. Earlier in the day, the record/skate/surf shop announced on Instagram that the store would be closing soon and all the merchandise was 50 percent off. Of course, people showed up to grab as many items – LPs, T-shirts, skate shoes – as they could, waiting in line as longtime owner Jeff Spargo rang up customers one-by-one.

Soundwaves was once Houston’s mightiest independent record-store chain, with locations all over the city (its South Main location was frequented by hip-hop heads like the late DJ Screw and famed producer/ex-employee DJ Premier). It all started in 1970 when a then-19-year-old Jeff Spargo opened the Inland Surf Shop in Westbury. Seven years later, he would open up his first Soundwaves near Hobby Airport. He would later merge surfing and sounds when he launched the Montrose location in 1997. An official closing date has yet to be announced, and CultureMap was unable to reach Spargo for comment.

As the new millennium introduced streaming-music platforms that made physical media almost obsolete, record chains like Soundwaves were on the decline. The Montrose store – once a prime destination for local and visiting DJs, with its overwhelming, eclectic selection of vinyl and CDs – would eventually become the last one standing.

We asked a few of the city’s finest spinners if they have memories of stocking up at that location and/or other Soundwaves spots:

Emdee “DJ Kool Emdee” Anderson: “I used to frequent it very often. I remember when DJ Premier used to work at the original Main St. location. And when No More Mr. Nice Guy [from his hip-hop group Gang Starr] was released, he put copies of the album in the front of every record slot. I joke with him about that when I see him.

“That location was a hangout spot for DJs and producers. I got a number of gigs by helping others with music suggestions.”

Kris Stivers: “I have tons of memories (and spent tons of money on records). I was there all the time – practically every location. I introduced my sister to a buddy of mine who worked there and, now, he’s my brother-in-law. My sister then got a job at the Montrose location. She called me once from the store and put Questlove on the phone. I met Little Brother and other artists there. I miss those days.”

GrandfatherCLOC: “I met Blind Rob and Devin The Dude at the one on Gessner & 59. I still have a Soundbombing II T-shirt from when The ARE was working at South Main.

“The most memorable was meeting DJ Theory from [KTRU radio show] 12" Sub, a few years after it was off the air, at the one on Montrose. I heard one of the employees speaking and was like, that's Theory's voice!”

Jason “Flash Gordon Parks” Woods: “I went to all the locations. One of my fondest memories was finding Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s Starbooty and feeling like Steel in Juice.”

Jason “DJ Burb” Rodgers: “I only went to the one on Main. I used to go there every Tuesday after getting out of class at UH-D to listen to some new releases in the listening booths.”

Jason Graeber: “I remember all the great music lovers who worked there. Chris and Brandon always knew about the new EDM artists that were coming out. Bucky was great at introducing people to new rock and underground music. Before you had online influencers, the kids at the record stores drove what people listened to. I remember walking in and checking the end caps from my favorite employees to see what new music they were recommending. I feel that this is something that is missing and why it is harder for great bands to get traction.”

closings music soundwaves