Grocery downtown

[metro]

What about the large building on the East side of Walker between NW 7th and 8th streets?

Could this be a good spot for a grocery store? Parking, near homes, large building that doesn't appear to need much work. In fact, it kinda looks like a grocery store.

I mentioned this same idea in the original thread on this topic. Other posters think it's not big enough.

[Steve]

It's amazing how much the no-grocery-store-downtown issue comes up. Downtown Dallas doesn't have a grocery store. I live in midtown and live closer to a grocery store than I ever have in my entire life (10 residences).

Downtown Dallas does have a grocery - but it didn't happen without public incentives. http://www.urbanmarketdallas.com/

[dankrutka]

Downtown Dallas does have a grocery - but it didn't happen without public incentives. http://www.urbanmarketdallas.com/

I stand corrected. I guess my main point is still that a downtown grocery store would be nice, but it seems like it's low on the priority list for me...

[MikeOKC]

Agree. I'd be delighted to have one, but its absence never entered my consciousness when I was thinking about whether to move downtown. The Homeland at 16th and Classen is fine and no further away than the Homeland was from my previous residence.

I can understand that, betts. But, I think I hear the younger people say they are wanting a true urban atmosphere - and I can understand that. Living downtown (in most cities) usually means being able to get by without a car and walking to something as basic as a grocery store. I don't think that's unreasonable. Needing a box of cereal and living in an urban atmosphere shouldn't mean having to get in your car and driving to a suburban style supermarket.

[Spartan]

I mentioned this same idea in the original thread on this topic. Other posters think it's not big enough.

More than 10,000 sf is probably big enough. Less than 10,000 sf would be questionable. Keep in mind they're currently around 22,000 sf I believe. They could squeeze that store into 12,000 maybe but it would be tight..Crescent Market loooves their wide aisles and red carpets, and that seems important to the owners.

The grocer in LEVEL is going to be tiny compared to Crescent Market.

[okclee]

I posted this in the Midtown thread;

The north west corner of 14th and Broadway could be something for Crescent to look at. Nice size free standing building close to 10K sf, but easily expandable or could be new build to suit, decent sized parking lot too.

This location could be good, close to downtown, midtown, uptown, mesta park, heritage hills, deep deuce, etc. All these areas could use another option for closer grocery shopping. This location could also be along the future streetcar route, how cool would that be?

[Rover]

Maybe something like the Stiles Farmers Market at 42nd St. and 9th Ave. in Manhattan would work downtown. It is low overhead and pretty cool. Surely in OKC we could keep it supplied.

[OKCTalker]

Crescent Market loooves their wide aisles and red carpets, and that seems important to the owners.

I don't think the store has been renovated - or the carpets replaced - since the Johnson administration (that would be LYNDON Johnson 1963-1969, not ANDREW Johnson 1865-1869).

[betts]

I posted this in the Midtown thread;

The north west corner of 14th and Broadway could be something for Crescent to look at. Nice size free standing building close to 10K sf, but easily expandable or could be new build to suit, decent sized parking lot too.

This location could be good, close to downtown, midtown, uptown, mesta park, heritage hills, deep deuce, etc. All these areas could use another option for closer grocery shopping. This location could also be along the future streetcar route, how cool would that be?

I either posted the same idea somewhere or told someone because I thought the same thing. It's a pretty rundown building, but may be far enough out on Broadway that the rent would be low enough to offset the renovation costs. It's a decent sized building with parking, close to Heritage Hills and yet, since it's on Broadway, it can be considered an urban grocery store, I believe.

[bluedogok]

I still think a Chelsea Market concept would be a good addition for both shoppers and local business owners. Here is an article about upscale grocery.

The Architect's Newspaper - Golden Age of Groceries

[soonerguru]

I'm glad I sold my CHK when I did. I'm getting to really dislike this company. If you watch CNBC, they are becoming the company everyone loves to hate - for far too many reasons. I still say what many won't - Aubrey wouldn't still be there if he wasn't in the Hefner bloodline. Hiking the rent on Crescent sounds about right. They need to decide what business they're in. Did I mention how glad I am that sold my CHK stock? Ugh.

He's not in the Hefner bloodline. He's in the Kerr family if I'm not mistaken. He's no R.S. Kerr though, that's for sure. Every person I've ever known who has been around him says he is a major league prick of the highest order.

[soonerguru]

Agree. I'd be delighted to have one, but its absence never entered my consciousness when I was thinking about whether to move downtown. The Homeland at 16th and Classen is fine and no further away than the Homeland was from my previous residence.

Perhaps you're being charitable, but the Homeland on Classen is not "fine" in any context.

[betts]

Perhaps you're being charitable, but the Homeland on Classen is not "fine" in any context.

Ya know, if you compare it to some of the neighborhood grocery stores in NYC, it's deluxe. I agree, it's not Crescent Market, it's not Whole Foods and it's not even comparable to the Homeland on May and Britton Road. But, I can buy most of what I need there. I've wangled my husband into doing most of the staple shopping, as I really don't like grocery shopping anywhere, and that's where he goes. Of course, he grew up in New York so his perception may be skewed. I must confess that I stop by Crescent about once a week, since I take my dogs to doggie daycare near there one day a week. I will be delighted if Crescent Market moves downtown, and that is where I will shop, no doubt. But, I'm not really a foodie and so, as I said, I wasn't thinking grocery store when I moved. I do not lament the current grocery store situation, except as it affects other people thinking about moving downtown.

[BoulderSooner]

He's not in the Hefner bloodline. He's in the Kerr family if I'm not mistaken. He's no R.S. Kerr though, that's for sure. Every person I've ever known who has been around him says he is a major league prick of the highest order.

i could not disagree more, to me he seems like a very down to earth normal guy... well as much as he could be

[soonerguru]

i could not disagree more, to me he seems like a very down to earth normal guy... well as much as he could be

If you consider imperious people down to earth, i guess we'll have to disagree.

[okclee]

"The Rush to Build Walkable Urban Grocery Stores"

http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/20...NewbergGrocery

[okclee]

http://sustainablecitiescollective.c...28all+posts%29

Sizing down the next generation of urban grocery stores

We know cities are cool again, and as a result supermarkets now think so too. We also know auto-oriented suburban supermarkets with vast parking lots in urban area won’t fly. So how are the next generation of urban supermarkets fitting in? By getting smaller....

Under 5000 s.f. corner stores, micro grocery stores: These not-so-big neighborhood grocery stores under 2000 s.f. have always fit in just fine, just don’t call them Mom & Pops anymore (an image search will show you why not). Why? Because they’re human-scaled, walkable, potentially ubiquitous and require no parking. In other words, timeless. Examples: The 2000 s.f. Local D’Lish in Minneapolis, MN and 550 s.f. Mayberry Foodstuffs in Cincinnati, OH. Also, check out the Healthy Corner Stores Network supporting underserved communities with healthy food options.

5000 - 15,000 s.f. cafe supermarkets, neighborhood supermarkets, co-ops, food halls: This is that sweet spot in size where the average urban dweller can do most of their shopping, and where it becomes so difficult to compete with economies of scale that these stores are typically regional chains, unless it’s a co-op, an extraordinary community asset when it exists. One local approach is focus on not more than a handful of locations (some say anything over five stores that aren’t all in the same city constitutes a chain), or host a local cafe. The New Seasons Market in Portland, Oregon provides 90 bicycle parking spaces, almost three times the number of car parking spaces. On the chain side of thing, Trader Joe’s and Fresh & Easy Market at least create their own brands, emphasizing affordability, healthy eating and a friendly atmosphere.

20,000 - 40,000 s.f. destination supermarkets This is the maximum size a neighborhood supermarket should be in natural cultural districts, and even mega-chains like Wal-Mart understand this, though yes, it’s still Wal-Mart. At this size, there’s an opportunity to not only provide a full-sized cafe and specialty food stations (like at Urban Fare in Vancouver, Canada, pictured above), but even reorganize the entire store as a food hall a fast-growing trend.

50,000 and up In those increasingly rarer instances when national chains won’t size down their 50,000 to 60,000 supermarkets, they can be located in corporate retail districts, which should be distinct and separate from natural cultural districts. On the positive end for pedestrians, auto parking is completely hidden underground, to the side or above.

Read more in the Urban Land article, “The Rush to Build Walkable Urban Grocery Stores“http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/20...NewbergGrocery.

[okclee]

I noticed that the LEVEL apartments in Deep Deuce has a sign out front advertising....Grocery Store space For Lease, and a number to call.