Kids Corner Closed, Not in Acme's Remodeling Plans
The free child care service offered at the grocery store was closed indefinitely March 25.
Kids Corner, the free child care facility inside the Acme Fresh Market on Kent Road, closed today and one full-time and five part-time child care employees are out of a job.
Not only are six employees no longer working at Acme, but parents no longer have the option to have their children cared for while shopping for groceries.
"It's always sad for something to leave, but I hope shoppers are very excited about whats coming," said Acme Executive Vice President Jim Trout about the remodeling happening this spring to the exterior and interior of the store.
He added that all of the employees who no longer have a job through Kids Corner, may apply for a position at the grocery store.
Although the free child care service will no longer be offered, Trout said the store has "things to keep children engaged, we have something called Kids Bucks that we hand out as children shop and we're updating all the kids carts. We want to provide a great shopping experience for parents and children."
Trout called the decision to eliminate the Kids Corner "unfortunate" and said it was "disheartening to people who use it," but the choice was a business decision the company had to make.
"We are focusing all of our effort on providing a great store and great products for our customers," he said, adding Kids Corner isn't in the plans for the remodeling inside of the store.
Kids Corner is closed effective today and construction on the new parking lot and interior will begin just after Easter on April 25. Trout said he expects both the interior and exterior improvements to be finished by September.
According to the store's website, the only other Kids Corner location, out of 17 Northeast Ohio stores, is in North Canton.
Anna
1:10 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
Thanks so much for covering this story Amanda.
It is a very sad day for my kids who loved the Acme Kids Corner and begged me to take them there so they could make crafts and get lots of love from Nora and Philamina! I'm sorry to say this because I like to support local business, but there will be no reason for me to shop at Acme anymore!
Adrienne
1:59 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
I also try to support local businesses when I can, but the Acme in Stow has been deteriorating for years. First they lost the Minute Clinic, now the child care is gone. Giant Eagle gets my business due to the savings from their card, double coupons (a 75-cent coupon yields $1.50 in savings!), Fuel and Food Perks and free antibiotics and diabetes medications. The remodeled Stow-Hudson GE store is amazing. I really don't have any reason to patronize the Acme any more, and judging from the lack of shoppers I have seen during my recent visits, a lot of people must feel the same way.
Adrienne
11:15 am on Saturday, March 26, 2011
Follow up to my previous comment: Just saw in today's Akron Beacon-Journal (Saturday) what Acme's plans are to update and remodel the store interior. Sounds like it will be a much nicer shopping experience. Hopefully it will bring some folks like me back to the store.
Brandon Tidd
8:27 pm on Saturday, March 26, 2011
I've been shopping at ACME for years and I love the experience... though I have to admit I've never tried to do it with kids. Unfortunately, the Kids Corner in North Canton has also closed. At least they still have those themed shopping carts that allow kids to "drive" through the store. I wish they had those when I was a kid. All I had was the folding "seat" in the front of the cart.
Megan
5:55 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2011
Just another bad decision on Acme's part! The Stow Acme has gone down hill since the decision was made to move a very prominent manager who was well known in the community and knew his customers by name. NOW they feel that closing the Kids Corner is yet another good business decision? Who is running this company? I'm sorry but improving the entrance and parking lot will not make up for the huge mistakes that have been made at this store. But best of luck! I too will also be taking my business elsewhere. They will soon understand the importance of the Kids Corner and the many years the employees dedicated to Acme.....when customers take their business right down the road to the Eagle's Nest at Giant Eagle.