I know I'm late to the party, but Dolls?????

I have to agree with Mark on this one. I always enjoyed shopping at Doll's when I lived in St. Matthews and still say they have the best beef in town. But, I also always said, best beef but rudest cashiers. Kroger runs a close second on cashiers. Now, with the exception of the extremely cranky people in the bakery, I've had great service at Whole Foods.

Also, good service both in the store and at the cash register when I'm at Burgers.

I'm with Mark on this. I tried over the years to support them and always came away wanting and going to other stores to complete my grocery list. The cashiers would barely acknowledge your standing in front of them.

I am very sorry to see them close though, especially if it means chain central in its place.

I'm in Mark R.'s, Robin F.'s and David R. Pierce's corner.

Okay, I don't understand it, because this reminds me a little of the AP Crafters discussion, Mark. I've always found the staff at Doll's to be quite neighborly and helpful, and far more ready to help than at Kroger, for example, or even Whole Foods.

I've found that some of their staff is pretty good while others are certainly not. I'm certainly not saying that the staff at Kroger, Fresh Market or any of the others is any better but I also don't think it's any worse. That's why I said that for a place like Dolls to thrive the customer experience has to be above the others, something I just haven't found in my visits there.

I'm in Mark R.'s, Robin F.'s and David R. Pierce's corner.

Top of the 2nd...One out...Forumytes 4...Food Dad 1...Food Dad at the plate...Lots of strikes but no balls.

I'm in Mark R.'s, Robin F.'s and David R. Pierce's corner.

Top of the 2nd...One out...Forumytes 4...Food Dad 1...Food Dad at the plate...Lots of strikes but no balls.

Add a base hit for team Food Dad - I've never received bad service there, in fact I always found it very hospitable and some of the people that work there probably helped open the place long ago. Beautiful characters. I loved Dolls like no other, and I'm really sad about this.

I'm in Mark R.'s, Robin F.'s and David R. Pierce's corner.

Top of the 2nd...One out...Forumytes 4...Food Dad 1...Food Dad at the plate...Lots of strikes but no balls.

Add a base hit for team Food Dad - I've never received bad service there, in fact I always found it very hospitable and some of the people that work there probably helped open the place long ago. Beautiful characters. I loved Dolls like no other, and I'm really sad about this.

Jackie,

Just takin' a little "poke" at the Food Dad...

Actually, I'm really sorry to hear about this closing for those of you who will miss the place. Doll's was a little too far inside the Watterson to be practical for those of us out here in the hinterlands but I'm sure they will be missed by many.

Jackie,

Just takin' a little "poke" at the Food Dad...

Actually, I'm really sorry to hear about this closing for those of you who will miss the place. Doll's was a little too far inside the Watterson to be practical for those of us out here in the hinterlands but I'm sure they will be missed by many.

St. Eve., I didn't take it as a swing - just wanted to play along. But I speak from the heart here. I've probably been through the check out lane at Doll's around a thousand times. In the years that I lived closer by, I would go an average of 4 times a week. Even further away, I still have to get my fix on the regular. Favorite grocer ever.

Jackie,

Just takin' a little "poke" at the Food Dad...

Actually, I'm really sorry to hear about this closing for those of you who will miss the place. Doll's was a little too far inside the Watterson to be practical for those of us out here in the hinterlands but I'm sure they will be missed by many.

St. Eve., I didn't take it as a swing - just wanted to play along. But I speak from the heart here. I've probably been through the check out lane at Doll's around a thousand times. In the years that I lived closer by, I would go an average of 4 times a week. Even further away, I still have to get my fix on the regular. Favorite grocer ever.

Have you been there much this year?

I'll try this again. First post did not go through. As I was saying, I do not think that Fresh Market is the reason for Doll's demise. Every time I go in the Market there are very few people, and I don't think they are doing anything close to the business they thought they would.( They might do better now) I am under the impression that the Doll family owns the real estate and most of the strip shopping center next to them, and I would not be surprised if some other venture is in the works. That said, I will miss them. They reminded much of the old Roppels Market I was chef at years ago. They had a personal relationship with most of their customers and that is hard to duplicate at the big chain stores. As to the chicken salad, we grill our chicken breasts every morning and have some killer chicken salad, so come on up the road and give us a try. I agree with the expansion redesign problems, and of course the price issues that come with smaller competitors having to charge more, but we were afraid of the big bad wolf Panera Bread, and they only have made us stronger and more visible. We retained our core customers and are beginning to get a new generation of younger foodies. It will be interesting to see what goes down with the Doll's space and I bet it won't be pretty. I could be wrong, but that is one bad ass piece of real estate worth millions.
Bill
Shady Lane Cafe

Jackie,

Just takin' a little "poke" at the Food Dad...

Actually, I'm really sorry to hear about this closing for those of you who will miss the place. Doll's was a little too far inside the Watterson to be practical for those of us out here in the hinterlands but I'm sure they will be missed by many.

St. Eve., I didn't take it as a swing - just wanted to play along. But I speak from the heart here. I've probably been through the check out lane at Doll's around a thousand times. In the years that I lived closer by, I would go an average of 4 times a week. Even further away, I still have to get my fix on the regular. Favorite grocer ever.

Have you been there much this year?

Not nearly as much as the past yrs when I was right down the road, but I will say that my favorite Valu Mkt cashier jumped ship to there in the past year and she told me how happy she was about the move. Sweetest little lady, very gentle, and I thought it was a perfect fit. I'll not waver, customer service has been sublime from day one til day none. The only disturbing thing I've noticed in the past couple of years has been a thinly lined parking lot. I don't at all "get" the negatives expressed here.

***edited to really reply to "have you been there much in the past year?". Honestly, yes. Not four times a week, but more than most people would guess for someone that doesn't live right down the street. No joke - they're my fave.

I averaged once a week - often twice. Never had a service issue. I deal with the meat cutters all the time and they know me on sight.

In my opinion, Dolls just couldn't compete in terms of price with the big dogs and in a tight economy this matters....a lot. They really weren't competing with Whole Foods, Burgers, or Lotsa Pasta - they were taking Kroger head on. I've personally seen items priced drastically apart with Dolls being way too high. That might work on a few low priced sundries - but I looked at a fresh turkey at Dolls and Kroger some time last year and Dolls price was twice Krogers. That won't fly for long when the customer base as a whole is financially pressured. It's just a darn shame.

Too bad...I'll miss them. While I will admit that our big weekly shopping trip is to Kroger, I always stop at Doll's when I need just one or two items, even items that I know are less expensive at Kroger. And some of their specialty items are things that I have trouble finding at other stores.

As for the service, I have no complaints. I will greatly miss the older gentleman who seems to live in the produce department - he is always there, no matter what time of day it is.

That is prime real estate. I've got my fingers crossed as to what ends up there. I still grit my teeth every time I pass the nail salon on Frankfort Avenue.

I've personally seen items priced drastically apart with Dolls being way too high. That might work on a few low priced sundries - but I looked at a fresh turkey at Dolls and Kroger some time last year and Dolls price was twice Krogers. That won't fly for long when the customer base as a whole is financially pressured. It's just a darn shame.

This. While I didn't frequent Doll's often, my sister-in-law lives very close and I would often pick up supplies at Doll's when cooking dinner at her house. I enjoyed shopping there, but always came away shocked at the tab.

I will say this, their chicken salad was weighed out in illicit drug prices, but then again it was the only thing that fixed my withdrawals

I know I live out in the boonies of Bullitt County but even I loved going to dolls whenever I was in the area. Will miss them.....Reminds me I need to stop in to Burgers more often.