PENN TRAFFIC TO BUILD BIG BEAR SUPERCENTERS

JOEL ELSON

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Penn Traffic Co., Syracuse, N.Y., is building three 110,000-square-foot Big Bear Plus supercenter prototypes that will offer expanded nonfood variety.

The new stores will emphasize a wider variety of home decor items, including ready-to-assemble furniture, housewares, domestics, family hosiery and socks. Expanded cosmetics also will be included.

The first unit is slated to open in November in Parkersburg, W.Va., and another will open here in the spring. A third facility will also be located in Parkersburg, though construction plans have not been finalized.

Penn Traffic operates 17 Harts general merchandise stores and 65 Big Bear supermarkets. The supercenters will be a new version of Big Bear Plus stores, said Gary D. Hirsch, chairman. Hirsch said that while Penn Traffic has "had Big Bear Plus stores for a number of years, it's taking a fresh look at the layout of the stores in the new prototype approach." The prototype will "make a stronger nonfood statement to capture volume from other retailers and allow us to be more competitive in our Big Bear Plus store locations," said Karen Bennett, director of consumer affairs at Big Bear Stores based here.

Cosmetics will be expanded with new professional nail care lines in Kiss, Sally Hansen and Cosmar, according to a local observer who did not want to be identified.

"The new prototype will have new body and bath sets arranged by cosmetics with products in body gels and soaps. There will be a large variety of loofahs, a

sponge-like skin cleaning product made from dried cucumber seeds, in a 4-foot set," said the observer.

While existing Big Bear Plus stores carry body and bath items, the offerings aren't extensive, said the observer.

"In the new prototype they are actually going with some of the body and bath gondolas that you'd see in a Drug Emporium," the observer added. The new stores will continue to position greeting card centers, stationery, health and beauty care, cosmetics and pharmacy departments as the transition between the food and nonfood sides, according to Bennett.

The 12 current 100,000 to 135,000-square-foot Big Bear Plus supercenters "offer everything under one roof with common checkouts. Nonfood is grouped in complete departments rather than integrated into grocery aisles for easier shopping flow. Clothing, hardware, automotive, electronics and furniture are merchandised on the right side of the store," Bennett explained. For example, rather than offering kitchen gadgets in the middle of a grocery aisle, there is a complete housewares department near the center of the store with a broad assortment of merchandise in pots and pans, small appliances and other items that you'd find in a discount store or Kmart," said Bennett.

Meanwhile, Marvin Traub, former chairman of Bloomingdale's and now a retail consultant, is lending his merchandising expertise to Big Bear.

Also, Michael Del Viscio was named to the newly created position of vice president of nonfood buying and merchandising at Big Bear Stores. He reports to Ron Flowers, vice president of nonfood. Del Viscio was previously vice president of merchandising at Montgomery Ward and general merchandise manager at B. Altman stores.