Kroger is one example. Most other stores in Texas had the same depressed skeleton crew feel, except for higher end options that cost 3x normal groceries.

Same thing for Bucee’s compared to normal gas stations.

Bucee’s popularity exploded by asking “what if we paid someone to clean the bathrooms at a gas station” and following the logical chain of thought from there.

People like spending money at businesses that aren’t depressing or gross to be in.

Kroger can and does run nice stores. Kroger Signature, Harris Teeter are two I've been in relatively recently.

You're also only going to find those in the same kinds of places you'd find a Trader Joe's or Costco - only in the nicest parts of town unless it's very densely populated or a small but rich enclave.

Perhaps interesting, my Publix experiences are almost always… not great. The staff seems aged (don’t hate me, I’m also aged!) - but they seem more on the apathetic and miserable side of the spectrum. I always heard how well they treat their employees so I assume it is some kind of retail trap where the job is too good to give up but never good enough to be truly good?