The Road to Shanghai

The one we didn't go to yet is called Lotus in English. I'm not sure of the Chinese name or what the corporate nationality is. The one we did go to is the German-owned Metro (Mai De Lang in Chinese). I am sure it is a sign of things to come in mid-sized urban China. The store is all on one floor, like Wal-Mart in the U.S., rather than having speciality shops on the ground floor, sundry goods on the second level, and groceries on the third, like most Chinese supermarkets and the leading-market-share foreign supermarket, France's Carrefour.

The most striking thing is that there is a large, U.S.-shopping-center-style parking lot in front. So far, it is 80% unused. There are dozens of motorcyles parked along the side, and a few bicycles. There is only one bus, from the city center. This contrasts with the Da Run Fa, a Chinese-owned supermarket where we usually shop. The latter is at city center and is accessible by half a dozen bus routes. Plus, taxis and both the motorized and unmotorized 3-wheel taxis hover in front, awaiting passengers. (Not to mention beggars, shoe shine ladies, and unsavory guys offering rides on the backs of their motorcycles.) At Metro, the polite staff will call a taxi for you when you have completed your day's shopping. The Metro is located at the outskirts of the city, next to a huge lot that, according to the large signs on site, will eventually spawn a very large complex of upscale office and apartment buildings.

The inside of the Metro is full of goods, but not people. From the latest fancy appliances to daily necessities to an assortment of imported liquor and food items on a par with Shanghai supermarkets, the shelves are full. But customers barely outnumber the staff. I cannot imagine how this store can make a profit during its first five years. I assume, though, that the German owners have a long-term business strategy of locking in the loyalty of the burgeoning business and professional classes.

We walked to the store, which takes only about 40 minutes, since we live on the near west side of the city and Metro is toward the western edge. We returned by taxi, which costs only 10rmb, or a little more than a dollar. The only inconvenience is that the store doesn't supply the little handled plastic bags that everyone in China is accustomed to getting. There we were, having paid for our goods an pushed our cart past the cashier, and we realized that our groceries hadn't been bagged. An inquiry resulted in the opportunity to purchase a pair of duffle-bag-sized heavy plastic reusable bags. Oh, another very convenient amenity is local bank ATM machines inside the store.

Terry and I will probaby end up going to the Metro about once a month, to buy specialties like gnochi and olive oil. For routine shopping, though, we prefer the urban walk to the Da Run Fa.

-- Norty