What to do to get a grocery store downtown.

[okctvnewsguy]

I know this is a topic that has been discussed here many times, but I live downtown, I see other people downtown, and there is TONS of new construction downtown. What is the REAL possibility, and how can we get a grocery store interested in moving into downtown okc. I know we have the residential numbers to support it. There are enough people in the midtown and downtown area to support a store. I think it would be a perfect fit in one of the many new Banta developments along tenth, or in any of the new retail areas along walker. It could even be a bodega type store, catering to essentials like Milk, Bread, Eggs, minimal produce.

[Dustbowl]

I know this is a topic that has been discussed here many times, but I live downtown, I see other people downtown, and there is TONS of new construction downtown. What is the REAL possibility, and how can we get a grocery store interested in moving into downtown okc. I know we have the residential numbers to support it. There are enough people in the midtown and downtown area to support a store. I think it would be a perfect fit in one of the many new Banta developments along tenth, or in any of the new retail areas along walker. It could even be a bodega type store, catering to essentials like Milk, Bread, Eggs, minimal produce.

Talk to Drew Braum. A Braum's Fresh Market would probably do well.

[okctvnewsguy]

I think that is exactly what is needed some type of "mart" it would have high appeal as a restaurant, and the grocery side of it would do well for the downtown residents, the ideal location for it could be placed in bricktown to draw the after movie crowds, and the post Earls type crowds. The drive-thru (if they could manage) would appeal to the lunch-ers.

[metro]

I think that is exactly what is needed some type of "mart" it would have high appeal as a restaurant, and the grocery side of it would do well for the downtown residents, the ideal location for it could be placed in bricktown to draw the after movie crowds, and the post Earls type crowds. The drive-thru (if they could manage) would appeal to the lunch-ers.

Downtown OKC Inc., The Chamber, Urban Neighbors and other organizations have been working to get one for years. One will come when the critical mass arrives, even though my opinion says we could probably support one now. Unfortunately businesses like this (especially grocery stores who make very little money, usually 1-2%) don't build based on opinion, but on solid numbers instead. Keep in mind, most of the projects downtown won't be finished until this summer. I imagine we'll hear something by sometime next year.

If you want a say so, join Urban Neighbors, downtown's residents association. Members get voting rights and the organization is a direct conduit to The City of Oklahoma City. Our next meeting is next thursday night and we will have a special session for voting members to vote on a few issues, for more info: Home | Urban Neighbors

[okctvnewsguy]

What do you vote on?

[mecarr]

What do you vote on?

Good Question. I am a member and don't even know what we vote on...Well, actually we are voting on a new set of by-laws coming up. Nevertheless, it's a great organization and a good way to meet some nice and friendly people.

As far as location is concerned, there is a perfect building on 4th and walker. It's completely abandoned but it seems like a perfect size for a small to midsize grocery store. It is right across the street from the Legacy Apartments.

[mecarr]

A downtown grocery store will eventually happen, it's just a matter of when. The Ford vote should provide some renewed interest in the idea. But yes, I desperately want one. Maybe we can start a petition among those who live in downtown\midtown and deliver that petition to some grocery store companies.

[okctvnewsguy]

I'm all about it, when I first moved downtown, everyone said "Oh go to the homeland on classen... no thanks..." I think the time has come to put something in downtown proper, and If we can lure someone that will be an attraction, then all the better, ie Whole Foods (until the liquor laws change that won't happen). Lets do the petition, I may even start a website ) GIVE US OUR FOOD.COM I don't know... KEEPUSFROMDRIVINGSOFARTOSHOP.COM

[Millie]

If we can lure someone that will be an attraction, then all the better, ie Whole Foods (until the liquor laws change that won't happen).

The Whole Foods in Tulsa doesn't appear to be hurting for business. I know there have been threads about this in the past, but are we sure that the wine issue is the whole reason that Whole Foods won't come to OKC?

[flintysooner]

I went to the Sprouts site and requested that they come to Oklahoma City. I received a nice email. They are expanding. We probably won't get one anytime soon but it doesn't hurt to ask them as well as others.

[FritterGirl]

I'm a suburbanite myself, but work downtown. As I was driving up Walker yesterday, I saw a great building (a Banta Midtown property, I believe) on the east side of the street, at about 8th or 9th, just southeast of the hospital and south of the round-about.

In passing it, I thought to myself that it would make a great "small" grocery or convenience-like store for some of the downtown dwellers.

Perfect size, nice location in proximity to downtown, St. Anthony's and Midtown, and lots of windows. I don't remember what kind of parking there was at the location.

Grant it, it's not in the heart of downtown, but it's still not a bad spot, plus it would be using available space.

[okctvnewsguy]

See, I think that will be the key is using existing space, there are some great old building just sitting around downtown, and bricktown that can be retrofitted easily for retail. Some of the recent examples, Irmas in Plaza Court, IHOP in bricktown. There are some great opportunities!

[BDP]

Would you guys who live downtown pay a premium to shop in your neighborhood?

[betts]

Supposedly there will be a small grocery store in the Flatiron Building. At least, that's what _____ Humphries told me is planned (forgot his first name, Grant?).

[onthestrip]

I dont mean to disappoint anyone, but there is pretty much no chance a whole foods would locate in the downtown area. I think they would come to the city but I dont think there has been a good location come available for them, yet. A smaller, boutique type grocery is probably all you can hope for right now, and yes, you will be paying a premium for it. Just my opinion.

[OKCTalker]

Not to rain on the CBD grocery store parade, but there isn't a quality grocery store anywhere in the metro, and I point to Crescent Market as the "quality" option, and the Homeland takover of Albertson's locations as proof. Having made that arguable point, why would an outside grocer come to OKC and pick the CBD over the burbs? The suburbs have quantifiable and long-term histories to analyze in terms of sales and demographics, and a greater percentage of owner-occupied residences versus rental housing than the CBD (a grocer doesn't want to see his customer base suddenly move when the apartment lease expires). I believe that OKC is ripe for the picking, but if it were MY multi-million $ decision to open in OKC, I would pick NW, Edmond or far SW over the CBD.

[mheaton76]

I read recently that the residential population in downtown would have to reach around 4,000 people before a grocery store would be profitable. I believe downtown is getting close to achieving that number....



www.unitedstatesofmichael.com

[Bob&Frank&Ted&Bob&Alice]

I know this is a topic that has been discussed here many times, but I live downtown, I see other people downtown, and there is TONS of new construction downtown. What is the REAL possibility, and how can we get a grocery store interested in moving into downtown okc. I know we have the residential numbers to support it. There are enough people in the midtown and downtown area to support a store. I think it would be a perfect fit in one of the many new Banta developments along tenth, or in any of the new retail areas along walker. It could even be a bodega type store, catering to essentials like Milk, Bread, Eggs, minimal produce.

You could always hold an election and get taxpayers to subsidize it.

[goinhikin]

There are a lot of folks in the Crown Heights and Edgemere Park (where I live) neighborhoods that would shop downtown at a quality grocery store. There is nothing decent close to us. Like Dustbowl mentioned, I shop at Super Target every two weeks and use the Braum's market for my perishables. Not an ideal setup but it works.

[trison]

The rumor is that Braums is purchasing a site in Bricktown. I wish that they would put a new site in the Midtown area that included their fresh market. I really don't see people going down to Bricktown to pick up groceries.

[metro]

Bad idea, why can't these chains have the foresight to put a nice walk-up, zero lot line, streetfront store with NO drive in. Braum's new design is crappy in my opinion although it is better than their old design of stores. The new one does not have any consistency. It's half the old store/half urban looking new store. I wouldn't mind if they had a downtown/Midtown store with all stone (the stone they are using now is very nice) and modular looking, but no pitched roofs, etc.

[CCOKC]

I agree that the new design would not work well in Bricktown but if it is in Upper versus lower that design would not fly there with the board. I always thought a Braum's would be great in Bricktown but that was before Marble Slab and Sonic went in. Does anyone know what side of Bricktown it's supposed to be built?

[mecarr]

A grocery store in Bricktown?! Can you imagine the parking problem? I'd be surprised if this were to happen, especially considering the high rent that the store would have to pay coupled with the low profit margin that most grocery stores receive. I know Braums' is not a real grocery store, so maybe it'd be different. I think something in the Arts District would be a good location.

[lpecan]

Sorry to resurrect the old thread, but I've been poking the idea around for months. Unfortunately, I don't get to go to UN meetings since I go to school at night after work.

People are always asking how we can attract a grocery store, and its always contingent on someone else. What if we opened a co-op grocery? It would require a small investment from people, but it would guarantee that we could open one. It would be not-for-profit, so the tax burden would be lower, so conceivably it could compete with outside big box grocery stores. We could buy local, so we'd fill the niche market of those looking for an independent, and honestly, the store could be whatever the member wanted.

For an example see : Open Harvest : Natural Foods Cooperative Grocery

Also, there are a few groups which help those who want to start such markets:

Welcome to the Food Co-op 500 Web Site


What do you think? Would you be willing to pay $12/month to shop at a local grocery store downtown AND own it?

[The Old Downtown Guy]

. . . What if we opened a co-op grocery? . . .

A couple of other options:

There is already an established food coop . . . Oklahoma Food Cooperative - Local Food, Local Farmers - Farmer's Market, Natural, organic, health, sustainable, locally grown, meat, vegetables, nuts, produce, bread, but it doesn't have a store front. It does now have a permnant warehouse location to handle the sorting of products from around the state brought to OKC for the once monthly order and orders can be picked up there. The warehouse is not right dowtown, but it is not too terribly far away, just west and a few blocks south of the Exchange Avenue Viaduct.

The assortment of food is good and the prices fair. Everything is all Oklahoma grown and raised, either organic, free range, or chemical free.

Another option might be to talk to Native Roots in Norman about opening a location closer to downtown OKC.