United is a family

Bridget Bese

January 06, 2008 10:13 am

— The rumor mill has been running so fast sparks are flying. Everyone wants to know: Did Homeland buy United Supermarkets?
As a journalist (a person people either love or hate, depending on the situation) I have received no answers from the corporate headquarters of either company. To me, in this situation, the vow of silence may as well be a resounding, “Yes!”
Jumping to conclusions, I have inferred that United Supermarkets of Oklahoma has indeed been sold to another grocery store chain. Namely, Homeland.
But before the citizens of fair Woodward jump on their soapbox, claiming love or disdain for Homeland, I think the first thing which should be considered is the people of United.
I had the experience of working for United Supermarkets for seven years and my first thought when I heard the rumor was, “Oh no! It’s the end of a wonderful, family store!”
But is it?
I spent some time today talking to my old boss (who also would not give me any answers on the rumors) and the phone call didn’t end when he declined comment on the issue.
In a way, it was like I was talking to someone who could still be a mentor in some ways, someone who helped mold me into the professional I am today.
I realized United Supermarkets wasn’t a ice block of corporate relationships, but a family of sorts.
In my years at United I made lifelong friends and, more importantly, learned lifelong lessons. I believe it is probably that way at most any job.
But the crux of my ramblings today is: It is not the owner who makes the store, it is the employees.
In Woodward many people love United for its friendly service and welcoming atmosphere. Many who have regular shopping routines or regular requests are known to the United employees by name and met with a smile.
The people who work at United will be the same and treat their customers the same, no matter who is sitting in the fancy chair in the corporate office.
Teens will still earn their first paycheck in those stores. They will learn customer service. Some will even stay for several years, learning from the best how to handle management situations, how to properly deal with unreasonable customers, and the satisfaction of a job well done. Some of those teens will even stay at those stores for the rest of their working lives.
This message isn’t about corporate policy or in support of any particular business. I write this piece in support of community. The people of Woodward seem to have a history of strong, friendly connections and support each other through (at the risk of cliché) thick and thin.
News will be news and gossip will be gossip but at the end of the day, no matter where we work, we are all citizens of Woodward who support one another and stand behind our town.
Change of ownership in a large corporate chain should not affect that.

Bridget Bese is a staff writer for the Woodward News