Remke Markets bigg's
Encyclopedia
Remke Markets bigg's is a chain of supermarkets in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Beginning in 1897 as a meat market in Covington, KY by William Remke, the supermarket has grown since then and now has 14 locations.
The supermarket merged with the struggling bigg's division of SuperValu
in 2010, with both brands becoming "Remke Markets bigg's" after the merger.
Bigg's (branded as bigg's) was a chain of hypermarket
s in the Cincinnati, Ohio
and Northern Kentucky
area.
As a hypermarket
, it had more than groceries, it had things like clothing, general merchandise, lumber, shoes, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics, toys, lumber, garden supplies, and housewares.
It was founded by Hyper Shoppes Inc., a firm owned by three French companies and SuperValu, which bought the entirety of the company in 1994. They used to operate over 13 Bigg's stores, but later pared it down to eleven.
In 1984, Bigg's opened their first store in the Eastgate mall
area of Union Township
, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio
.
Bigg's attempted an expansion into the Western United States
in 1989 with a 250000 sq ft (23,225.8 m²) location in the Denver, Colorado
suburb of Thornton
. Initially it was successful and popular, and was an anchor of the Thornton Town Center. Plans for further Denver Metro area locations (and ultimately the western U.S.) were discussed but never realized. Over time the Thornton location became less popular and shrank in size, and ultimately ceased operation in 2003. After its demise, it was demolished as part of a redevelopment of the Center, and a 200000 sq ft (18,580.6 m²) Walmart Supercenter was built on its former site.
In 1994, Bigg's, with seven locations, was acquired by SuperValu.
In 2006, the company closed its Clarksville, Indiana
location, which was also the company's only Indiana location. The Clarksville store, unlike the typical bigg's, was a grocery only store. The company has been facing financial losses due to increasing competition with other brands such as Walmart, Meijer
, and Kroger
.
In 2006, SuperValu appointed Steve "KAZ" Kaczynski President of bigg's. Since CEO Kaczynski has taken over 5 stores have been remodeled to their new Premium, Fresh & Healthy formats, that have proved to be highly successful & profitable.
In 2008, the Bigg's at Cincinnati Mills
(now Cincinnati Mall) shut down citing declining sales.
In 2009, "KAZ" left, and in March 29, 2010, SuperValu announced that it will be selling six Bigg's locations to Remke Markets and would close the remaining five.
Later on April 8, Remke announced it would be buying a seventh store in Harrison
that has been scheduled to close.
Remke said those stores it purchases would retain the Bigg's brand immediately after the transfer, but may make changes in the future.
The stores not purchased were closed in June 2010. The Bigg's in Eastgate shut down, and became a second location of Jungle Jim's International Market
. The remaining Bigg's were renovated to remove the general merchandise (in the stores that had them) and renamed Remke Markets bigg's.
The supermarket merged with the struggling bigg's division of SuperValu
Supervalu (United States)
SuperValu Inc. is a United States grocery retailer and distributor. The corporation, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has been in business for over a century. It is the third-largest food retailing company in the United States , and ranks #51 on the Fortune 100 list.On June 2, 2006,...
in 2010, with both brands becoming "Remke Markets bigg's" after the merger.
bigg's
Hypermarket
In commerce, a hypermarket is a superstore combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including full groceries lines and general merchandise...
s in the Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
and Northern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
area.
As a hypermarket
Hypermarket
In commerce, a hypermarket is a superstore combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including full groceries lines and general merchandise...
, it had more than groceries, it had things like clothing, general merchandise, lumber, shoes, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics, toys, lumber, garden supplies, and housewares.
It was founded by Hyper Shoppes Inc., a firm owned by three French companies and SuperValu, which bought the entirety of the company in 1994. They used to operate over 13 Bigg's stores, but later pared it down to eleven.
In 1984, Bigg's opened their first store in the Eastgate mall
Eastgate Mall (Cincinnati)
Eastgate Mall is a shopping mall located in Glen Este, Ohio, in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. The mall contains over 90 stores, with Dillard's, JCPenney, Kohl's, and Sears serving as anchor stores. CBL & Associates Properties owns and manages the mall....
area of Union Township
Union Township, Clermont County, Ohio
Union Township is one of the fourteen townships of Clermont County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 42,332 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:*Miami Township - north...
, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
.
Bigg's attempted an expansion into the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
in 1989 with a 250000 sq ft (23,225.8 m²) location in the Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
suburb of Thornton
Thornton, Colorado
The city of Thornton is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado and a suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thornton is northeast of the state's capital, Denver. The United States Census Bureau that the city population...
. Initially it was successful and popular, and was an anchor of the Thornton Town Center. Plans for further Denver Metro area locations (and ultimately the western U.S.) were discussed but never realized. Over time the Thornton location became less popular and shrank in size, and ultimately ceased operation in 2003. After its demise, it was demolished as part of a redevelopment of the Center, and a 200000 sq ft (18,580.6 m²) Walmart Supercenter was built on its former site.
In 1994, Bigg's, with seven locations, was acquired by SuperValu.
In 2006, the company closed its Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River as a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town, once a home site to George Rogers Clark, was founded in 1783 and is the oldest American town in the Northwest...
location, which was also the company's only Indiana location. The Clarksville store, unlike the typical bigg's, was a grocery only store. The company has been facing financial losses due to increasing competition with other brands such as Walmart, Meijer
Meijer
Meijer, Inc. is a regional American hypermarket chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept in 1962. About half of the company's 196 stores are located in Michigan, with additional locations in...
, and Kroger
Kroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
.
In 2006, SuperValu appointed Steve "KAZ" Kaczynski President of bigg's. Since CEO Kaczynski has taken over 5 stores have been remodeled to their new Premium, Fresh & Healthy formats, that have proved to be highly successful & profitable.
In 2008, the Bigg's at Cincinnati Mills
Cincinnati Mills
Cincinnati Mall is a shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, at the junction of Interstate 275 and Gilmore Road...
(now Cincinnati Mall) shut down citing declining sales.
In 2009, "KAZ" left, and in March 29, 2010, SuperValu announced that it will be selling six Bigg's locations to Remke Markets and would close the remaining five.
Later on April 8, Remke announced it would be buying a seventh store in Harrison
Harrison, Ohio
Harrison is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The city is located in the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. The population was 7,487 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
that has been scheduled to close.
Remke said those stores it purchases would retain the Bigg's brand immediately after the transfer, but may make changes in the future.
The stores not purchased were closed in June 2010. The Bigg's in Eastgate shut down, and became a second location of Jungle Jim's International Market
Jungle Jim's International Market
Jungle Jim's International Market, formerly Jungle Jim's Farmer's Market, is a large supermarket in Fairfield, Ohio, near Cincinnati. It has been described as a theme park of food...
. The remaining Bigg's were renovated to remove the general merchandise (in the stores that had them) and renamed Remke Markets bigg's.