Disco Kroger is the Kroger on Euclid
As Legend has it (meaning it might or might not be true), Kroger on Euclid was the first Kroger in Lexington to be open 24 hours, circa 1970s, making it an after-hours mecca for Cruising when bars like the Bungalow closed for the night. Hence: Disco Kroger. That’s the story, as told to Ace, circa 1980s.
Writing about local mainstays like this inevitably provoke the most engaged Reader Response. In a 1990s Best of Lex issue, we wrote about Umbrella Guy – and we got dozens of stories from the readers – some contradictory (his predilection for Ramen noodles which he supposedly bought in bulk from Disco Kroger; his theoretical skin condition; his alleged foreign travel to Japan, accounting for his prolonged disappearances from Lex streets).
Then there was Shouting, Pointing Guy who mostly sticks close to the Kenwick area around Richmond Road (the one without the shirt, who looked a little like Pauly Shore… as opposed to the one with the shirt, who you typically see downtown?)
We will re-visit more “Where are they now?” stories during our 20th anniversary.
Updates since this Post in 08.
Ace Readers have banded together in a process of consensus building, and reached general agreement as to how to identify most area Krogers. Some are still up for debate. Feel free to weigh in.
Kroger on Euclid: (as aforementioned) Disco Kroger
Kroger on Romany: aka Krandalls (for the former Randalls, managed by Walt Barbour) and kRolex (for the Rolex-wearing shoppers). It remains “boutique” size.
Chinoe Kroger: League Kroger.
Beaumont Kroger: formerly known as Stepford Kroger. Now known as DeathStar Kroger (for size, scope, ability to buy furniture and jewelry there).
Nicholasville Road Kroger: aka Wax Kroger (so named by Professor Kakie for the salon nearby where you can get a brow wax and then shop in peace with redface where no one knows you); also known as Dexter Kroger, for the guy there who looks like Showtime’s Dexter.
Richmond Road Kroger: aka Webb KrogRe (always under construction).
Tates Creek Kroger: no consensus. Nominations include “Last Ditch Kroger” and “Sidewalk Ends Kroger.”
Hartland Kroger: no consensus. Krogurbia has been nominated.
Kroger on Alexandria: Metal Kroger (run by Matt, of Matt’s Metal Mortuary fame—and also “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”) Honorable mention goes to Krogeria, so named by a westside Reader for the many wonderful taquerias in the neighborhood (La Favorita, across Alexandria Drive, was voted Best Taqueria in the 2008 Ace Best of Lex Readers’ Poll).
This is a democratic process and nominations are welcome.
Many of these Local Lore discussions occur on Facebook (you can click from the main Ace site to “become a fan,” which seems more geared to Britney Spears than newspapers, but who are we to argue with Facebook. It took three lawyers just to vet that sentence.)
Another ongoing series is: “You Know You’re From Lexington when…” and those are hash-tagged on Ace’s Twitter Page.
Eventually, they end up on the site. And sometimes in print (like this week’s Funnel Cake edition).
