Milwaukee-based Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. is redeveloping its Pick ‘n Save stores at 6950 W. State St., Wauwatosa, and 605 E. Lyon St., in downtown Milwaukee. The work is expected to be completed later this year. The Wauwatosa Pick ‘n Save is being expanded by about 10,000 square feet and significantly remodeled. Part of the remodeling will be applying Roundy’s standards for new and redeveloped stores, many of which can be seen at the Metro Market, which Roundy’s opened in 2004 in downtown Milwaukee.
However, the remodeled store will not be another Metro Market, said Vivian King, director of public affairs for Roundy’s.
“As we remodel and build new stores, we will use our fresh new look prototype,” King said. “The Metro Market is a one of a kind. We can’t compare (these stores) to it.”
The State Street store is being expanded from about 53,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet. A Walgreen’s store, formerly located in the building, recently moved to a new store at 6600 W. State St. The Pick ‘n Save expansion will include the former Walgreen’s space, where its produce, deli and bakery will move, King said.
Those departments will be greatly expanded in the remodeled store, which King compared to the recently opened Pick ‘n Save store in the Pabst Farms development in Oconomowoc. That store features a large produce department, deli, meat and bakery areas with a look very similar to those at the Metro Market. It also has a small salad bar, and its deli boasts extensive hot and cold prepared foods, similar to the Metro Market. Those features are all part of Roundy’s new standard for new and redeveloped stores, King said.
The Pabst Farms store has a large section with bulk bins filled with rice, dried beans, pasta, candy, spices and coffees. The State Street store will not have bulk bins. However, the Metro Market recently installed a small area with bulk bins.
“(State Street) will be Metro Market-like, but it won’t be Metro Market,” King said. “The Metro Market’s pace and look is more conducive to urban areas. It can’t be exactly the same. But everything will be brand new. It’s going to be a high-end store, very similar to the one at Pabst Farms, which is the closest thing to the Metro Market now.”
Metro Market’s emphasis on freshness is being applied to Roundy’s new stores. That emphasis will be reflected in the large display areas for meats, seafood, bakery and deli, as well as in newly added areas to some stores like the bulk bins and salad bars.
“In the deli, produce, bakery and meats departments, you will see a difference,” King said. “They will be expanded, and they’ll be able to offer a lot of the things that are offered at Metro Market.”
The exterior of the State Street store will also be renovated, along with its parking lot, King said. Although the renovations are extensive, the store is staying open while the work is being done.
Roundy’s Inc. declined to disclose the cost of the renovations to the State or Lyon street stores.
Work at the Lyon Street store, just a few blocks from the Metro Market, is largely cosmetic, King said. By the end of August, the store’s bakery, produce, meats and frozen food departments will be updated.
The store’s freezers will also be changed, King said. The store’s customer service area, currently located near its checkout lanes, will be relocated to the southwest corner of the store.
“The departments are staying the same, but they will have a new face and décor,” King said. “They will have a fresh new look.”
