Downtown Grocery Store

[bchris02]

One of the things many people who live downtown or support downtown's growth want to see is a full-service grocery store. Native Roots is a start, but most people desire something larger. The thing is, we have to be careful what we wish for. Wal-Mart could easily put in a SuperCenter downtown which would be detrimental to developing the type of urban environment most want downtown to become. Steve mentioned a SuperTarget which could work if done right like this one in Charlotte.



Another option would be something like a 2-story Crest Fresh Market, creating a lower overall footprint for the store but still enough square footage to have a full store. Something like that would also attract people from outside the downtown area being that people drive all the way from NW OKC to shop at Crest at 104th and S May.

Whatever ends up coming, somebody needs to get there before Wal-Mart does.

Does anybody think downtown is ready today for a grocery store and is anything possibly in the works?

[Mississippi Blues]

I have no idea where OKC stands on being able to support one or if one is already in the works, but I think Target's CityTarget concept would be a great addition here. Even an urban Wal-Mart/Wal-Mart Express wouldn't be devilish, although I'd prefer a Target.

[BDP]

Personally, I would not like to have anything of the "super" variety. For me the appeal of urban areas is the varitety of small shops in a walkable environment. I certainly wouldn't be outspoken against a super mart, as long as it didn't involve demolition or the creation of a vast parking lot that interrupts the urban landscape. But something more along the lines of a 10-20k square foot full service grocery would be more appealing. However just not sure how much interest the industry has in those type of stores. The best would be a collection of specialty markets and I like that those seem to be what we're seeing so far. If they can gain footing before a mega store comes in, then I think we can create a real urban option for people in Oklahoma City.

[bchris02]

I have no idea where OKC stands on being able to support one or if one is already in the works, but I think Target's CityTarget concept would be a great addition here. Even an urban Wal-Mart/Wal-Mart Express wouldn't be devilish, although I'd prefer a Target.

The problem with Wal-Mart is anything they build is always suburban in nature and given the track record in places like Bricktown, I doubt the city would force them to change their design. Plus, fair or not, Wal-Mart has a stigma.

[CaptDave]

A local alternative would be for Buy 4 Less to take their Uptown Grocery concept from Edmond to ... well, to town. The basic building design of the Edmond store would work very well in many locations but I think somewhere in Midtown would be great. Maybe on one of those huge open areas north of 10th?

[bchris02]

A local alternative would be for Buy 4 Less to take their Uptown Grocery concept from Edmond to ... well, to town. The basic building design of the Edmond store would work very well in many locations but I think somewhere in Midtown would be great. Maybe on one of those huge open areas north of 10th?

I didn't think about this, but it would be perfect.

[Just the facts]

One of the biggest problems with the CityTarget concept is Wall Street. The concept was launched in early 2012 and by mid-2012 the Wall Street analyst were already calling it a failure and of course, we know what happens to companies who don't increase their stock value every quarter. Outside a few cities in the US urban living hasn't existed in any meaningful way for 50 years - and 6 months into rebuilding it one of the corporate pioneers is already taking the arrows.

[warreng88]

I am curious what is the hold up on Braum's putting in one of their Fresh Market concepts in OKC around the DT/Midtown area. Their farm is in Tuttle and I would think a basic selection of bread, milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fruits, vegetables, not to mention ice cream and all the other stuff they offer would be a slam dunk.

[BoulderSooner]

i think that they have a plan to replace their 16th and classen store

[Pete]

i think that they have a plan to replace their 16th and classen store

Yes, they purchased land to the west of that site and will at some point rebuild with their new concept. And I'm sure they feel they are serving downtown and Midtown through that location.

Same can be said of the Safeway at 18th & Classen. That IS an urban grocery store and while not great, people tend to dismiss it.

[Plutonic Panda]

A local alternative would be for Buy 4 Less to take their Uptown Grocery concept from Edmond to ... well, to town. The basic building design of the Edmond store would work very well in many locations but I think somewhere in Midtown would be great. Maybe on one of those huge open areas north of 10th?

Don't you take my store away from meh now!!! lol, I think Up(Down)town grocery would be a huge success downtown no doubt though

[Buffalo Bill]

Yes, they purchased land to the west of that site and will at some point rebuild with their new concept. And I'm sure they feel they are serving downtown and Midtown through that location.

Same can be said of the Safeway at 18th & Classen. That IS an urban grocery store and while not great, people tend to dismiss it.

Pete, you're showing your age.

I swear, it took me 5 years to stop calling that place Safeway.

[adaniel]

Yes, they purchased land to the west of that site and will at some point rebuild with their new concept. And I'm sure they feel they are serving downtown and Midtown through that location.

Same can be said of the Safeway at 18th & Classen. That IS an urban grocery store and while not great, people tend to dismiss it.

The Homeland (formerly Safeway) could really be a decent store. Why they chose to not fix it up is beyond me. It can be borderline depressing to go there sometimes.

Its going to be a while before there are enough rooftops to support any sort of full scale grocery store downtown, which is usually about 10K households. At last check, we were slightly more than halfway there when including Heritage Hills and Mesta Park.

Until then, I am really trying to support Native Roots. Its not practical for basic everyday needs, but its very good for meats and veggies.

[GaryOKC6]

The Homeland (formerly Safeway) could really be a decent store. Why they chose to not fix it up is beyond me. It can be borderline depressing to go there sometimes.

Its going to be a while before there are enough rooftops to support any sort of full scale grocery store downtown, which is usually about 10K households. At last check, we were slightly more than halfway there when including Heritage Hills and Mesta Park.

Until then, I am really trying to support Native Roots. Its not practical for basic everyday needs, but its very good for meats and veggies.

Homeland simply will not put any money into their stores. They have some nice stores but they are former Albertsons stores that were already nice when they bought them. I used to sell equipment to homeland and they were always looking for used stuff.

[bchris02]

Homeland simply will not put any money into their stores. They have some nice stores but they are former Albertsons stores that were already nice when they bought them. I used to sell equipment to homeland and they were always looking for used stuff.

I am not sure that is completely the case. They are just very selective on the stores the put money into and they neglect the rest of them. Both Edmond locations are pretty nice. One was a former Albertson's and the other was not. I sometimes wish though a larger chain would buy up Homeland and actually put money into the currently neglected stores.

[metro]

Target has a new "Citi" concept, I emailed them the other day to get OKC on the list. Not very likely I'm sure, but at least it gets OKC's name out there for interest.

[OKCisOK4me]

Pete, you're showing your age.

I swear, it took me 5 years to stop calling that place Safeway.

Safeway's still exist out west...

[Pete]

Yes, sorry for the old Safeway reference!

Actually, Safeway only spun off the Oklahoma stores and remains the 2nd largest grocery chain in the U.S. with over 1,600 stores.

[HangryHippo]

Yes, sorry for the old Safeway reference!

Actually, Safeway only spun off the Oklahoma stores and remains the 2nd largest grocery chain in the U.S. with over 1,600 stores.

That's a damn shame we were the only ones spun off. We might have seen some investment in this store.

[Pete]

I'm amazed the Kroger chain hasn't ventured into Oklahoma.

The markets in OK are generally sub-standard and Kroger does a great job and offers excellent prices.

They operate out here in Cali as Ralph's and they are my go-to regular grocery store, supplemented by Costco and Trader Joe's.

[soonerguru]

One of the biggest problems with the CityTarget concept is Wall Street. The concept was launched in early 2012 and by mid-2012 the Wall Street analyst were already calling it a failure and of course, we know what happens to companies who don't increase their stock value every quarter. Outside a few cities in the US urban living hasn't existed in any meaningful way for 50 years - and 6 months into rebuilding it one of the corporate pioneers is already taking the arrows.

Who gives an F what these flipping vampires think?

[Plutonic Panda]

Target has a new "Citi" concept, I emailed them the other day to get OKC on the list. Not very likely I'm sure, but at least it gets OKC's name out there for interest.

I'll email them as well. Do they have a specific email to reach at for the Citi stores or just whatever I find?

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm amazed the Kroger chain hasn't ventured into Oklahoma.

The markets in OK are generally sub-standard and Kroger does a great job and offers excellent prices.

They operate out here in Cali as Ralph's and they are my go-to regular grocery store, supplemented by Costco and Trader Joe's.

Kroger and Tom Thumb both. I was recently in Dallas and had a manager from Tom Thumb tell me that OKC is being looked at, but he said nothing more. Same story for almost everything it seems like. :/

[bluedogok]

Safeway's still exist out west...

We have them in Denver. Kroger is operated under the King Soupers brand here, we rarely go to Safeway. Wal Mart Neighborhood Markets have opened up in the last year here as well.

Yes, sorry for the old Safeway reference!

Actually, Safeway only spun off the Oklahoma stores and remains the 2nd largest grocery chain in the U.S. with over 1,600 stores.

They were also spun off in Texas because of the Milken junk bond scandal, in the Austin area they were called Apple Tree. My wife said the store by our house in South Austin was originally a Safeway, then was an Apple Tree, she isn't sure if they were bought out or closed up shop. A Hobby Lobby moved in there until they moved to Southpark Meadows and then a Sunflower opened up in there. Safeway now owns the Randall's/Tom Thumb chain in Texas.

[soonergooner]

I am not sure that is completely the case. They are just very selective on the stores the put money into and they neglect the rest of them. Both Edmond locations are pretty nice. One was a former Albertson's and the other was not. I sometimes wish though a larger chain would buy up Homeland and actually put money into the currently neglected stores.

I have worked all three stores and while the former Albertsons are relatively nice, I can't portray 208 as anything but a dead store awaiting closing papers. Edmond Homelands are suffering from terminal lack of volume, the lifeblood of any grocery store. 208 is as nasty a place as I have been, but is probably more healthy than the other two as the lease expense difference so it may outlast the others. They are currently suffering from the pissing contest to see who shares Edmonds' grocery future . There are actually three Edmond homelands, Bryant, Broadway n 208. Broadway was also a former Albersons, former corp homeland office, that rocked many moons ago. It has since contracted the same disease as the other two and I believe is the most likely be the first to fall.