Fareway Corporate Offices to move to Johnston

[ISU3PtLand]

The reasoning is pretty sound, but still a blow to the Boone area. Sounds like the Distribution Center will stay in Boone.

Fareway moving headquarters from Boone to Johnston after 85 years

After 85 years headquartered in Boone, Fareway will move to Polk County, where most of its corporate employees already live

www.desmoinesregister.com

 

[spierceisu]

If the distribution center stays in Boone that helps. I know a lot of locals work there and they pay really well. If it moves too, it would be a huge blow to Boone.

 

[06_CY]

Did an audit at their Boone corp location many moons ago. That place was very 80's in decor.

 

[swiacy]

HyVee did the same move from Chariton several years ago probably for the same reasons. Mixed results in my view.

 

[carvers4math]

HyVee did the same move from Chariton several years ago probably for the same reasons. Mixed results in my view.

At least this one is a member of the founder’s family, and not waiting until the former CEO/family member is in Europe to announce it.

I think the logic with dumping Boone is less as far as attracting talent, it is close to Ames and Des Moines anyway. And I guess with all that talent, Hy-Vee still has to have it’s IT in another continent.

 

[GMackey32]

Fareway has been toying with the idea of putting a second distribution center between Des Moines and Kansas City so they can expand further South. Moving the HQ to the Des Moines area to split the difference between Boone and a 2nd DC makes sense (and because they need the Corporate office space as they had to rent out some office space in downtown Boone to house some people the last few years)

 

[charlie_B]

I wouldn't be surprised if this also played into the decision. The city of Boone has very few amenities compared to the metro.

Boone officials unsure what's next after residents vote down $10 million bond issue for new wellness center

The wellness center would have included a pool, an elevated track and a gymnasium for a variety of recreation, such as pickleball, volleyball and basketball.

www.amestrib.com

 

[CyCoug]

Did an audit at their Boone corp location many moons ago. That place was very 80's in decor.

Was many moons ago February 1990?

 

[wxman1]

There is a certain anti progress Marion citizen that is very outspoken and literally said "Marion should be more like Boone". Thankfully his mayoral candidacy ended in an epic failure.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I wouldn't be surprised if this also played into the decision. The city of Boone has very few amenities compared to the metro.

Boone officials unsure what's next after residents vote down $10 million bond issue for new wellness center

The wellness center would have included a pool, an elevated track and a gymnasium for a variety of recreation, such as pickleball, volleyball and basketball.

www.amestrib.com

They voted down a $10 million rec facility when Fareway offered up a $2 million match.

So the taxpayers were only on the hook for $8 million.

$2 million... free. Boone is not going to stumble into free money like that frequently.

I wonder if some residual frustration over that might be playing a part.

 

[06_CY]

Was many moons ago February 1990?

Man, I'm not that old...
More like late 2000's.

 

[ISUcyclones11]

Reynolds has been really good for Fareway. While it's sad they're leaving their home town, I still can appreciate that company. They know who they are and dont stray too far away from that compared to others.

(i still miss the shield tho)

 

[CyCoug]

Man, I'm not that old...
More like late 2000's.

Thanks. Makes sense if ‘06 was your graduation date and not your retirement date. Still never hurts to check.

 

[dmclone]

This feels a LOT like the Chariton/Hy-Vee move, which happened in the early 90's(30 years ago). They are leaving some things in Boone just like Hy-Vee left some things in Chariton.

 

[StratCY]

Worked in that Boone warehouse for 10 years, mixed feelings about this. If the warehouse stays where it is, it should help. It'll be a plus for the warehouse workers who dont want to deal with the corporate guys any more than they have to.

The job did pay pretty well after topping out (~$19/hr when I had left), but the management was less than desirable (with a few exceptions).

This is an interesting move for Fareway, however not super surprising I guess. They were always expanding when I was there, opening maybe 3-4 stores/year. I could see them going south as well.

 

[Jer]

Boone has been dieing for a long time and almost all the graduates leave. I would assume that plays a factor into looking at certain types of positions they'd need in today's world.

 

[Al_4_State]

Fareway's been opening the meat-only stores in the KC area.

 

[Al_4_State]

Boone has been dieing for a long time and almost all the graduates leave. I would assume that plays a factor into looking at certain types of positions they'd need in today's world.

Boone's population has been almost completely unchanged for 80 years.

Boone, Iowa - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Quite remarkable, really.

 

[JP4CY]

Fareway's been opening the meat-only stores in the KC area.

One in West Ames (Wallabys) is nice.

 

[Jer]

Boone's population has been almost completely unchanged for 80 years.

Boone, Iowa - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Quite remarkable, really.

Wow, that's surprising. Thank you for the correction.

I grew up in Ogden so we went to Boone all the time and my then fiance and I lived there for a couple years around 2001-2003 (she grew up there). Downtown is a bunch of closed or burnt down stores last time I was there (been a few years). There's been some expansion out by the new Walmart and Redekers locations, but otherwise it seems like every business has closed up (or did).