Editing Pueblo Supermarkets (section)

==History==
The brainchild of brothers [[Harold Toppel]] and [[George Toppel]], sons of Russian immigrant parents, Pueblo began as a single store operation on Roosevelt Avenue in the [[Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico|Puerto Nuevo]] section of [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]].{{fact|date=January 2020}} The success of the first store led the Toppels to open 43 other Pueblo Supermarkets around the Island and, by 1960, to convert the enterprise into a public company that began trading on the [[New York Stock Exchange]].{{fact|date=January 2020}}

In 1963, Pueblo expanded beyond [[Puerto Rico]]'s shores to the [[US Virgin Islands]]. Pueblo opened stores in [[Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]] and [[Saint Croix|St. Croix]]{{fact|date=January 2020}}.

The company also introduced the trademark ''Pueblo'' which included items from paper towels to rice.

In 1983, Pueblo launched the ''Xtra Super Food Centers'' concept, a discount warehouse supermarket which allowed the customer to shop for groceries in a larger store format featuring lower prices with stores located in Puerto Rico and the state of Florida.  The lower prices were made possible by the elimination of some services, such as baggers. In 1989, Pueblo acquired the franchise rights to develop [[Blockbuster Video]] Stores in Puerto Rico and the [[US Virgin Islands]]. The first [[Blockbuster Video]] store opened in Puerto Rico in June 27, 1990 at Campo Rico Avenue in [[Carolina, Puerto Rico|Carolina]],{{fact|date=January 2020}} next to the Administration Office and Distribution Center.

===Bankruptcy===
In 2003, Pueblo faced financial troubles and there were rumors of a potential buyer from [[Venezuela]].{{cn|date=March 2021}}
In 2007, Pueblo faced serious financial difficulties again, as many locations were sold to other competitors. Some were acquired and taken over by rival supermarkets [[Econo]], [[Grande (supermarket)|Grande]], [[COOP (Puerto Rico)|COOP]] and [[Supermax (supermarket)|Supermax]].{{cn|date=March 2021}}

=== Bidding and Pueblo, Inc. (f/k/a as PS Acquisition)===
[[Image:El Monte Mall (2).jpg|thumb|275px|Monte Mall Pueblo]]
The entire chain was auctioned in September 2007 as part of the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy process, where a bid by Ramón Calderón president of [[Holsum Bread|Holsum]] of Puerto Rico (a baker goods company) for $139 million succeeded in taking over the rest of its operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/supermercadospuebloyalepertenecenaempresarioboricua-123980/|title = Supermercados Pueblo ya le pertenecen a empresario boricua|date = November 2007}}</ref> The Bankruptcy Court in Delaware approved the transaction. The new company expected to restructure Pueblo in an effort to revive the brand.

In September, 2009 Pueblo, Inc. sold its flagship store in Campo Rico Avenue, [[Carolina, Puerto Rico|Carolina]] (next to their Corporate Headquarters and Distribution Center) to [[Supermercados Econo|Econo Supermarkets]].

In April 2012, Pueblo acquired two former [[Supermercados Selectos]] stores in Southeast Puerto Rico and converted them into Pueblo, in [[Arroyo, Puerto Rico|Arroyo]] and [[Guayama, Puerto Rico|Guayama]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/banca-finanzas/notas/pueblo-expande-la-cadena/|title=Pueblo expande la cadena|date=April 24, 2012|website=El Nuevo Día}}</ref>
 
In February, 2014, Pueblo opened a new store in Ciudadela, [[Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Santurce]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/consumo/notas/pueblo-abrira-en-ciudadela-en-santurce/|title=Pueblo abrirá en Ciudadela en Santurce|date=February 4, 2014|website=El Nuevo Día}}</ref>

In May, 2016, Pueblo relocated their Monte Mall store in [[Hato Rey, Puerto Rico|Hato Rey]] from the first level of the Mall to the second one facing Luis Muñoz Rivera Ave. on a bigger space of 34,000 sq. feet incorporating the Village concept.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/consumo/notas/pueblo-reinaugura-en-monte-mall/|title=Pueblo reinaugura en Monte Mall|date=May 26, 2016|website=El Nuevo Día}}</ref>

===Pueblo Supermarkets acquisition of Amigo Supermarkets===

In June 2022, Pueblo Supermarkets announced that it would be buying the 11 [[Amigo Supermarkets]] from Walmart, the name would stay and the 1,100 employees would keep their jobs. On August 26, 2022, the transition from Amigo to Pueblo supermarkets began.{{fact|date=April 2023}}