Creation Gardens to Stop Walk-In Retail Business

We will be moving to a new warehouse in April, 2011. Instead of regular walk-in retail, we will be implementing a new online-only system that will allow you to browse and order our products from home. You can even choose between UPS shipping or will-call pickup at various locations throughout Louisville.

We realize this is a big change, but we must focus on moving our warehouse operations before we look at options for downtown retail. We thank you for your business and look forward to providing you with quality gourmet and produce items for many years to come.

The above was copied from a notice at the check out counter. This is a big loss for us.

We will be moving to a new warehouse in April, 2011. Instead of regular walk-in retail, we will be implementing a new online-only system that will allow you to browse and order our products from home. You can even choose between UPS shipping or will-call pickup at various locations throughout Louisville.

We realize this is a big change, but we must focus on moving our warehouse operations before we look at options for downtown retail. We thank you for your business and look forward to providing you with quality gourmet and produce items for many years to come.

The above was copied from a notice at the check out counter. This is a big loss for us.

I hope this works for them. I think they'll lose a lot of business from us casual, walk-in shoppers. Browsing a website is entirely different than browsing aisles. I go there with a list and end up with double the list simply from seeing something new on the shelf. Then again, I'm sure their business model is not built around me.

It's hard to check the quality of the produce from a website. I hope that once the new building is up and running, they will get back to the old model.
Depending on what I've got going on, for certain things I like being able to select and pull my own stuff from the shelves rather having the order picker just filing my order.
I get a lot of inspiration from just browsing as well.

It's hard to check the quality of the produce from a website.

I'm really surprised they expect anyone to order produce that you haven't first touched or smelled.

I'm really surprised they expect anyone to order produce that you haven't first touched or smelled.

Restaurants do it everyday. Restaurants can also refuse parts of their order if they don't like the produce. I would assume with this new setup, this course of action will be practiced as well.

I agree with TP and Dan, browsing produce on line and having someone else fill the order? No thanks. Too many local farmer's markets and other sources for this to be a realistic option. Too bad too, CG was close to home and an easy stop in for stuff I might need.

Ah well.

After reading this announcement on the counter this past Saturday, I died a little. I suppose that's a little overdramatic. But only a little. We're seriously heartbroken. We know it's something they need to do for their own sake, but it is a really hard pill to swallow.

Wait. I'm confused. Does this mean the store planned for East Market, the one that would become the anchor of NuLu, is on hold? Isn't there prep work going on at that site? And is the move from the current warehouse the result of land being bought for the Spaghetti Junction ORBP madness? Is that building going to be demolished?

I don't know....real bad move if they keep it all online.
Cannot really see the thinking behind this one ?

There's no way to replicate the experience of walking into the store looking at the quality and variety available and deciding that point what you want to purchase. I imagine this move will cut their retail sales by 75% or more! Reading a little into the announcement it sounds like it's just temporary until they get relocated. We drove by the new location the other day and it looks like things are progressing rapidly! Hopefully this will be a short term change in their method of operations.

It is my understanding that what was planned for East Market did not work out from a size standpoint, and the renovations were going to be cost-prohibitive. They are moving their warehouse out to Produce Lane.

Le sigh.

This is very sad news indeed. Although, I have faith that Creation will continue to provide quality products, even through their online system. Unfortunately it doesn't provide for the procrastinators, like myself!

It is my understanding that what was planned for East Market did not work out from a size standpoint, and the renovations were going to be cost-prohibitive. They are moving their warehouse out to Produce Lane.

Le sigh.

You have it right.
The move to Produce Lane.

Oy, and the relocation to Produce Ln. is the final nail in the coffin. CG was handy downtown, and even though the move isn't that dramatic, I'm just rarely travelling in that direction for my personal produce needs, much less for our professional kitchen.

Again, a damn shame really.

Very disappointing to say the least. The downtown location while not convenient was at least near places we went on a regular basis. The new location is nowhere near anyplace we go on a regular basis and I don't see us making very many special trips to visit them. I also wonder how being further away from most of the nicer restaurants will affect them? Obviously not for deliveries but for chefs just stopping in to get ideas.