We are now to the point were there are lots of good alternatives to the Walmart / Sam's stranglehold:

1. Uptown Market in Edmond, N. OKC, future NE OKC and Midtown
2. Sprouts expanding and doing fantastic business
3. Whole Foods
4. Trader Joe's coming soon
5. Aldi
6. Natural Grocers
7. Crest's newer stores are a step up
8. Winco should start construction on all 4 sites this summer (just learned this)


Those are all pretty darn good options, all within the last couple of years.

Aldi has been in OKC for more than just the last couple of years. I know for a fact that the one time I visited one in OKC had to be at least 6 or 7 years ago and they opened stores in the metro as early as 2003.

Went by there again today and the parking lot was pretty full but it's such a big place it didn't seem crowded and they had a ton of checkers; so many I walked right up without waiting. How often does that happen in most grocery stores?

This place is simply awesome. I have the feeling I'll go frequently even though I live nowhere near.

Have to agree that this store is a step up. My wife and I went last Saturday. Wide aisles, bright and airy everywhere, and lots of helpful staff. And the have Red Leicester cheese in the deli!!!!

Have to agree that this store is a step up. My wife and I went last Saturday. Wide aisles, bright and airy everywhere, and lots of helpful staff. And the have Red Leicester cheese in the deli!!!!

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for the OKC grocery scene.

Went by there again today and the parking lot was pretty full but it's such a big place it didn't seem crowded and they had a ton of checkers; so many I walked right up without waiting. How often does that happen in most grocery stores?

This place is simply awesome. I have the feeling I'll go frequently even though I live nowhere near.

I've been in about 7 or 8 times since opening, and I have yet to stand in line at a checker. I'm sure they're overstaffing for the opening, but it's still nice.

I stopped by on Thursday. Not sure what to say other than it reminded me of a Whole Foods with the food line, but with white lighting and reasonable pricing.

However, I did buy some steak there at 11.49/lb cause I thought I wouldn't go anywhere else. Went to Sam's and they were having a sale on the same cut for 7.99/lb, and there was more of it.

I went here on Saturday before doing my normal shopping at the Homeland to see if I could pick up something good from the prepared foods to go with what I'm going to cook for myself for next week. The fried okra looked good so I filled up a container of that. OMG, the price was $9.00 for a modest container of fried okra. I won't be doing that again.

Aren't their prepared foods priced by the pound just like whole foods?

Aren't their prepared foods priced by the pound just like whole foods?

Yes, and didn't really pay attention to the weight until I realized I got a bit of white rice and one piece of grilled salmon for $11. Food was at least good.

Went yesterday after church to shop, was disappointed in the selection of some items (the only basil they had was four leaves for $5) but the deli food looked good. Place was a zoo though, navigated through the produce section was a nightmare.

I went today for the first time. The building itself is very nice and had a very good, bright atmosphere. For what I typically get at Whole Foods (veggies and meat) the prices were very similar and i think the selection at WF is much better. I would go back here for other dry items, but with it being so far away for me this won't make it on my regular rotation.

Yes, and didn't really pay attention to the weight until I realized I got a bit of white rice and one piece of grilled salmon for $11. Food was at least good.

Went yesterday after church to shop, was disappointed in the selection of some items (the only basil they had was four leaves for $5) but the deli food looked good. Place was a zoo though, navigated through the produce section was a nightmare.

Paying by weight surprised me as the Edmond location let's you get a fairly good meal for a set price. Granted the Whole Foods weight design probably provides better profits, but I definitely would prefer getting an entree and two sides for $8.99 over $13 for my similar attempt by weight (mashed potatoes are heavy!)

Also, did anyone notice the guy near the rotisserie? Apparently he'll grill you any meat purchased in store. I'm totally going to try a steak just to see how well it works out.

My $9.00 container of fried okra looked great but it was tough, so no more of that for me.

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Here's an aerial view from the southeast.

My $9.00 container of fried okra looked great but it was tough, so no more of that for me.

. . .wonder if it might have been dehydrated okra?? Can't imagine buying fried okra to eat later in the week. . . imho, it really doesn't reheat well (kind of like fried anything. . .). Plus, the price sounds about right for a container of dehydrated okra. . .and that IS and amazing snack food!!

Yes, and didn't really pay attention to the weight until I realized I got a bit of white rice and one piece of grilled salmon for $11. Food was at least good.

Wow, I wonder if the food from the self-serve stations is more expensive than it is in the deli, because I got two good sized filets of their Teriyaki Salmon and a 16 oz container of roasted potatoes for $12.

. . .wonder if it might have been dehydrated okra?? Can't imagine buying fried okra to eat later in the week. . . imho, it really doesn't reheat well (kind of like fried anything. . .). Plus, the price sounds about right for a container of dehydrated okra. . .and that IS and amazing snack food!!
Whatever it is, I won't be buying it again.

We went for the first time yesterday afternoon. I'll second what others have said about how nice, clean and bright it is. For us, the appeal of this store over Whole Foods is that, in addition to the great produce, meat and prepared foods, you get the core of the store with all the "regular" everyday-brand stuff. Glad it's open, just wish it was closer. I think I'll do the Pete model and go there early in the morning on weekdays right after I've dropped off the kiddo at school.

We went for the first time yesterday afternoon. I'll second what others have said about how nice, clean and bright it is. For us, the appeal of this store over Whole Foods is that, in addition to the great produce, meat and prepared foods, you get the core of the store with all the "regular" everyday-brand stuff. Glad it's open, just wish it was closer. I think I'll do the Pete model and go there early in the morning on weekdays right after I've dropped off the kiddo at school.

As a single guy, I love grocery stores with prepared foods. It's still cheaper than eating out and you get a well-balanced meal. When I wish for a quality grocery store in central OKC, prepared foods is a big part of that.

^^^^^

Yes, it's very, very handy. Everything looked fresh, and there was a good variety, too. We'll probably utilize it once a week or so.

Don't forget that Ingrid's built a central bakery quite literally across the street from sprouts. Excellent baked goods and you can just walk across the street when you visit sprouts. Which has decent bread. But it's so much nicer to get a loaf that was baked that morning from ingrids. They do hot & cold sandwiches too.

Don't forget that Ingrid's built a central bakery quite literally across the street from sprouts. Excellent baked goods and you can just walk across the street when you visit sprouts. Which has decent bread. But it's so much nicer to get a loaf that was baked that morning from ingrids. They do hot & cold sandwiches too.

Walk across the street? Have you been to 63rd and May lately? Not pedestrian friendly - BAD intersection.

Don't forget that Ingrid's built a central bakery quite literally across the street from sprouts. Excellent baked goods and you can just walk across the street when you visit sprouts. Which has decent bread. But it's so much nicer to get a loaf that was baked that morning from ingrids. They do hot & cold sandwiches too.

Actually, that bakery existed prior to Sprouts for quite a while, believe it was called Sweet(e?) Memories, owned or run by the Saturn Grill folks (which is why their desserts used to be wonderful). Then they sold to Ingrid's a couple of years back and I stopped getting dessert at Saturn Grill. And yeah, walking across May to there from Sprouts would be unpleasant (but do-able as long as you can run :) ).

It's a great addition to the neighborhood, it will be VERY popular I think. I did go opening weekend to shop. I don't like it though, I hate the colors, not a fan of the layout. The deli is nice, good cheese selection, but not too much else to get excited about. The nice Homeland at Britton and May is much better IMHO, it's where I go when I need things Whole Foods doesn't have, Sprouts is gross and I won't shop there.

As a single guy, I love grocery stores with prepared foods. It's still cheaper than eating out and you get a well-balanced meal. When I wish for a quality grocery store in central OKC, prepared foods is a big part of that.

Good point BChris. Downtown would definitely need a grocer (or more) to specialize in prepared meals.

On that note, how does Native Roots fair? Given they're in the heart of Deep Deuce, the state's most dense area likely with mostly singles, I was assuming they had the specialty prepared meal thing covered but that it was everyday things downtowners were looking for. Is there opportunity for NR here?

^

Native Roots has great fresh and flavorful soups and sandwiches and other prepared items.

They really do a great job in that store and I hope they can hang in there even when they are no longer the only game downtown.

I also hope that the singles are remembering NR then when they're looking for prepared meals from a grocer. Perhaps NR should do some creative advertising to market themselves since there are a significant amount of new arrivals downtown AND there's more residential further from NR than there ever has been in the past.

I think the market is there and it's a little concerning that BChris didn't mention NR as an option to fill his needs.

We went there today, and all I can say is "Screw Crest, we're done with you!". Selection was so much better than Crest (10 each of 8 different kinds of Inglehoffer mustard vs. Crest's 100 each of 2 kinds, for example), they have less quantity of more items than Crest, better items than Crest, just better in pretty much every single way than Crest, other than *maybe* price (some things were cheaper than Crest, some more expensive). Crest does have a very few things that they don't, but we can get those elsewhere (sweet soy sauce, 5 oz Dixie cups, just a few odds'n'ends). Cheese selection is OK, but not nearly as good as WF for the more exotic kinds, bakery's better, but they had a brand of meat we haven't heard of that they slice at the deli counter, can't remember the name offhand, but it wasn't Wilson or Boar's Head, so hopefully it's a good brand, nice little seating area and coffee/juice counter, and their soups look *really* good, as well as the olive bar. Oh, and the produce - OMG, there *is* good produce in OKC! Crest's was so pathetic, there were times I literally could not find a single decent yellow onion (or green pepper, or head of cabbage, or ...), and they didn't put their asparagus in water (a lot of places don't do that in OKC, but Uptown is one of the few that does). More traffic and further than Crest, but it'll be worth it to shop at a decent store again!

I also hope that the singles are remembering NR then when they're looking for prepared meals from a grocer. Perhaps NR should do some creative advertising to market themselves since there are a significant amount of new arrivals downtown AND there's more residential further from NR than there ever has been in the past.

I think the market is there and it's a little concerning that BChris didn't mention NR as an option to fill his needs.

Speaking to NR advertising, they sent out a discount ($x off if you spend $x amount) recently to my building, and I assume most others living in the area.

We went there today, and all I can say is "Screw Crest, we're done with you!". Selection was so much better than Crest (10 each of 8 different kinds of Inglehoffer mustard vs. Crest's 100 each of 2 kinds, for example), they have less quantity of more items than Crest, better items than Crest, just better in pretty much every single way than Crest, other than *maybe* price (some things were cheaper than Crest, some more expensive). Crest does have a very few things that they don't, but we can get those elsewhere (sweet soy sauce, 5 oz Dixie cups, just a few odds'n'ends). Cheese selection is OK, but not nearly as good as WF for the more exotic kinds, bakery's better, but they had a brand of meat we haven't heard of that they slice at the deli counter, can't remember the name offhand, but it wasn't Wilson or Boar's Head, so hopefully it's a good brand, nice little seating area and coffee/juice counter, and their soups look *really* good, as well as the olive bar. Oh, and the produce - OMG, there *is* good produce in OKC! Crest's was so pathetic, there were times I literally could not find a single decent yellow onion (or green pepper, or head of cabbage, or ...), and they didn't put their asparagus in water (a lot of places don't do that in OKC, but Uptown is one of the few that does). More traffic and further than Crest, but it'll be worth it to shop at a decent store again!

Probably cause they were out of season, but before Uptown Grocery was open I was looking for plums and peaches. Ended up having to go to wal mart for it =(

nice to see, sooner. Simple loyalty and coupon advertising to the local community like that can enhance the market and 'remind' people that OKC does have a downtown grocer that could fill their needs.

Pub is now open from 11 AM - 2 PM and 4 PM - 8 PM. Drink list attached, sorry it's so big, lazy and didn't resize it. Nice local selection of beers, wines look decent too, but weird to have a drink or two, then go grocery shopping (or vice versa)...

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^

Thanks!

And ooh, a handful of nice local brew options.

Just a quick driving tip for anyone who travels to Uptown Grocery Co. using the Lake Hefner Parkway. The signal at May Ave. & Britton Rd. is notoriously long in duration and not enough time given to people turning left. When exiting onto Britton Rd. from the Lake Hefner Parkway, turn in at the side street that is located between the Freemason Lodge and Kim Wah. This shortcut will allow you to snake back to the parking lot of Uptown Grocery Co. while avoiding the signal and wait at May & Britton.

I ate here the other week. I think I might have ordered wrong.

Sidebar: It isn't necessarily clear that there's a machine between the bakery and the entrance where you can input the order.

Back to the main story. Ordered a buffalo chicken and bleu cheese panini, and a pear smoothie of sorts. The chicken was dry, and the smoothie was frothy/watery. I plan on ordering from the hot bar next time I go there.

Finally visited today, and man does that store blow the Edmond location out of the water!

Finally visited today, and man does that store blow the Edmond location out of the water!

In what ways?

In what ways?

For me it was a combination of the following (I still like the Edmond store a lot, I realized that I might have given the impression that I don't):

1) The hot food line is self serve: It's quicker than having to wait on someone to fix your plate after they, and you, try to figure out whose turn it is to be served. It also makes it easier to get whatever size serving you want.
2) The dining area is nicer and bigger.
3) They have a bar!
4) More quick food options: pizza & calzones, the make-your-own plate Mongolian BBQ, sushi bar, smoothies.
5) In general, it just seems bigger for all the other departments (meat) and more self-serve areas (like the bakery where you can get cookies and breads yourself instead of having to wait on staff).

I always thought of the Edmond location as having the meat/bakery/produce/deli section of a Whole Foods attached to a traditional grocery store. The lighting and layout of the "traditional" section felt and looked more like a traditional grocery store to me. I don't know if the new location has a bigger selection, but it feels like they extended the design of the meat/bakery/deli section to the rest of the store. I don't know if that makes any sense the way I'm describing it.

I don't think that the Edmond store is suddenly worse than what it was before, but I feel that they managed to take all the great stuff from the original Edmond location and improve on that and make it even better.

For me it was a combination of the following (I still like the Edmond store a lot, I realized that I might have given the impression that I don't):

1) The hot food line is self serve: It's quicker than having to wait on someone to fix your plate after they, and you, try to figure out whose turn it is to be served. It also makes it easier to get whatever size serving you want.
2) The dining area is nicer and bigger.
3) They have a bar!
4) More quick food options: pizza & calzones, the make-your-own plate Mongolian BBQ, sushi bar, smoothies.
5) In general, it just seems bigger for all the other departments (meat) and more self-serve areas (like the bakery where you can get cookies and breads yourself instead of having to wait on staff).

I always thought of the Edmond location as having the meat/bakery/produce/deli section of a Whole Foods attached to a traditional grocery store. The lighting and layout of the "traditional" section felt and looked more like a traditional grocery store to me. I don't know if the new location has a bigger selection, but it feels like they extended the design of the meat/bakery/deli section to the rest of the store. I don't know if that makes any sense the way I'm describing it.

I don't think that the Edmond store is suddenly worse than what it was before, but I feel that they managed to take all the great stuff from the original Edmond location and improve on that and make it even better.

3) They have a bar? Like where you sit and drink alcohol?
4) How are the calzones?

I've gone upstairs to the bar a few times and have yet to see an employee up there. We went last night, bought a wok-prepared meal and went upstairs to eat, but there wasn't anyone up there to sell us a beer.

3) They have a bar? Like where you sit and drink alcohol?

Yep. It's pretty cool. Upstairs, overlooking the rest of the store.

I've gone upstairs to the bar a few times and have yet to see an employee up there. We went last night, bought a wok-prepared meal and went upstairs to eat, but there wasn't anyone up there to sell us a beer.

The hours are a bit odd, from 11-2 and 4-8, I believe, and there has been someone up there whenever we've been there, but that's always been during the daytime.

3) They have a bar? Like where you sit and drink alcohol?
4) How are the calzones?

Dunno about the calzones, but the paninis aren't great - good taste and good bread, but the insides don't get hot enough on their press.

And yes, alcohol is served (wine and beer only), check a few posts up for their drink menu that I posted a while back.

The hours are a bit odd, from 11-2 and 4-8, I believe, and there has been someone up there whenever we've been there, but that's always been during the daytime.

Hmm. We were there right close to 730pm, but they may have shut it down early. I'll keep checking. I like the idea of grabbing a bite downstairs and bringing it upstairs to eat with an adult beverage.

I wonder how about other new add building in Uptown Grocery to the Midwest City/ Del City? As you know how far going up there in The Village and Edmond that long way to get there and return to Midwest City/Del City. We went there last few month ago at the Village it's very nice store. We can't image how wonderful looking so great! I wish bring down to set up a new building here in Midwest City/Del City in the future someday who know. But I know how far we drove there from at Midwest City/Del City to The Village or Edmond take for about approximate 15 miles or 30 miles roundtrips.

The Village looks for growth despite lack of space

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record April 21, 2017

THE VILLAGE – Carl Edwards gave the city some harsh news.

Edwards and his business partners have owned the Casady Square shopping center off W. Britton Road since the 1980s. He said they wanted to invest in the property because it was near Casady School and it wasn’t far from Nichols Hills.

While the center is about 80 percent occupied and does well, it’s not a huge sales-tax generator.

“It’s going to be very difficult for a center like Casady Square to attract a large tenant,” he said. “It’s the big tenants that generate the most sales tax.”

And like other cities in Oklahoma, The Village is trying to figure out how to generate more sales tax, which can come with more retailers. But The Village is nearly out of room. The city measures 2.6 square miles, with only one undeveloped corner remaining.

Securing Uptown Grocery Co. at 9515 N. May Ave. showed the city had potential to get more shoppers, said Sonny Wilkinson, city councilman. The grocery store was built in the city’s tax increment finance district.

“Uptown showed what was possible,” he said.

With space dwindling but development interest rising, Wilkinson and the council wanted to look at how the city could be more strategic in locating new businesses.

In February, the council approved hiring the Center for Economic Development Law to create a strategic plan regarding the city’s development.

“We’re not creating a land-use plan,” said Leslie Batchelor, an attorney with the center. “We’re creating an action plan with immediate steps and long-term steps. We’re looking at ideas such as commercial zoned space and if it brings in sales tax. At the same time, retail is changing. People’s shopping habits are changing. By creating a more sense of place, they’ll see The Village as a destination. We can create a whole experience and a pleasant place to be.”

The center is looking at four areas: the TIF area that includes Uptown, the W. Britton Road corridor, the N. May Avenue corridor, and the W. Hefner Road corridor.

“We want to give The Village an identity,” he said. “Some corridors you don’t even know when you’re entering The Village.”

The city is asking residents for their insight with a meeting on April 27 at 4:30 p.m. at The Village Library. City leaders have also reached out to Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores to see how the company’s open spaces can be used by city residents.

City Manager Bruce Stone said it’s crucial for the city to have a strategic plan.

“To do the things we want to do, we have to have more sales tax,” he said. “To have sales tax, we need more retail.”

well then maybe they need to be more selective of what they allow to build... like the fact that an oil change place is being built on the southeast corner of May and Britton... prime real estate wasted...

well then maybe they need to be more selective of what they allow to build... like the fact that an oil change place is being built on the southeast corner of May and Britton... prime real estate wasted...

EXACTLY! There are a number of planning resources available that could help them create denser mixed-use development that could help solve some of their retail space challenges. But these strip mall, better than crappy, sprawling patterns that are so pervasive in central OK development aren't helping anyone, particularly the Village.

well then maybe they need to be more selective of what they allow to build... like the fact that an oil change place is being built on the southeast corner of May and Britton... prime real estate wasted...

That is acutally in OKC. But your point isn't lost.

That is acutally in OKC. But your point isn't lost.
. . how much leeway do they have if it is zoned commercial. . .enough to say no to an oil change place, but yes to . . . . .??????

So a couple weeks ago a buddy and I wanted to have happy hour at the bar upstairs, but we're disappointed to find that concept had been scrapped. When did that happen?

So a couple weeks ago a buddy and I wanted to have happy hour at the bar upstairs, but we're disappointed to find that concept had been scrapped. When did that happen?

They don't serve beer at all anymore up there? That's too bad. I don't think it got a lot of traffic.

https://gizmodo.com/oklahoma-to-host-fleet-of-udelv-autonomous-delivery-veh-1829048177

I have serious doubts about autonomous vehicles working well in OKC, since I believe they rely partly (not sure what percentage) on painted lane markings and OKC is absolutely pathetic in that respect on an enormous amount of lane-miles. I could be wrong, though, and everything will be just peachy-keen.

The article quotes the CEO as saying this WRT their sensors being the same as the ones used by the Uber that killed someone in Tempe: "Ours are purpose built to carry deliveries, not people. This means they don’t need to go as fast as public transport vehicles, can handle situations differently and will always prioritize human safety."

Not sure what he means by "public transport vehicle" (maybe a small van/bus?) and not sure why their vans don't need to go as fast as them (don't all vehicles pretty much have to adhere to min/max speed limits, so their vans shouldn't be going 20 MPH on May Ave, for example, they should be going 40, which all other cars, trucks, semis, "public transport vehicles", etc. are going).

...since I believe they rely partly (not sure what percentage) on painted lane markings and OKC is absolutely pathetic in that respect on an enormous amount of lane-miles.
Boy, you are not kidding! The painted lane markings in this city are worse than anywhere else I've ever been.

Boy, you are not kidding! The painted lane markings in this city are worse than anywhere else I've ever been.

I'm not sure what paint we use here, but it is 100% useless if the road is wet, especially at night. I have never experienced this phenomena of stripes disappearing in other cities.

https://gizmodo.com/oklahoma-to-host-fleet-of-udelv-autonomous-delivery-veh-1829048177
Not sure what he means by "public transport vehicle" (maybe a small van/bus?) and not sure why their vans don't need to go as fast as them (don't all vehicles pretty much have to adhere to min/max speed limits, so their vans shouldn't be going 20 MPH on May Ave, for example, they should be going 40, which all other cars, trucks, semis, "public transport vehicles", etc. are going).

I don’t believe minimum speeds apply to surface streets. Only to highways/interstates. You can drive 20 mph on May Ave all you want, and it may tick a lot people off, but it’s not illegal.

As far as lane markings go, motorists in this town seem to have a lot of difficulty maintaining their lanes. It’s no surprise to me that lines are worn off, but the quality of the striping materials used is no doubt as cheap as you can get.

^^^^^^^^^^
If a person wants to be mad about lane markings or other infrastructure their frustration should begin and end with planning decisions this city made for generations. The amount of money a city has to spend on such things as lane striping or pavement per mile is a direct result of how many lane miles they have to care for, vs tax monies collected. We probably have one of the highest ratios of lane miles per citizen in the United States.

So - for instance - we get asphalt on streets that should be concrete. You can get more road surfaced for less that way, but you are just kicking the cost down the road (literally), as you’ll have to resurface many times more often, asphalt shifts with heat and use, and lane markings disappear. Oh, and you can’t repaint each lane mile as often. This is just one tiny aspect of how being too sprawled makes a city poor, and creates a physical environment that is difficult to sustain at all, much less to a high standard.

If we compare our streets to those of a city with more wealth and fewer square miles, we will always come up short. The solution isn’t to use better paint for lane markings; it’s to create more wealth, to attract and retain sales tax dollars, and to create density.

City officials aren’t inept. The are performing a Sisyphean task.

Sis·y·phe·an
ˌsisəˈfēən
adjective
(of a task) such that it can never be completed.

Posted as a public service :cool:

I'm not sure what paint we use here, but it is 100% useless if the road is wet, especially at night. I have never experienced this phenomena of stripes disappearing in other cities.

I have noticed this too, particularly on the interstates. The lane markings on I-35 and I-235, among others, just disappear when the road is wet and light is low. I don't know what lane marking technology ODOT is using, but it doesn't appear to be very effective at all.

And the lack of lighting in most just compounds the issue.

Back on topic of the grocery store itself, they've been redoing the shelves today on the backsode of the beer coolers so I imagine that is where the wine will be.