What to do to get a grocery store downtown.

[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.

[soonerguru]

I have been told by an absolutely unimpeachable source that OKC is getting Whole Foods, that it will NOT be in Edmond, that it will NOT be at the intersection of 235 and 36th, and that it will be in or near downtown.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

I have been told by an absolutely unimpeachable source that OKC is getting Whole Foods, that it will NOT be in Edmond, that it will NOT be at the intersection of 235 and 36th, and that it will be in or near downtown.

I hope you are right . . . because if you're not . . . you will be tracked down and large organic vegetables will be inserted into every orifice of your body.

[betts]

I have been told by an absolutely unimpeachable source that OKC is getting Whole Foods, that it will NOT be in Edmond, that it will NOT be at the intersection of 235 and 36th, and that it will be in or near downtown.

I was just told the same thing within the last week, but now I cannot remember whether my source was unimpeachable or not. I do remember thinking said person was a pretty reliable source, but for the life of me I cannot remember who it was.

[lpecan]

Did this individual hint as to when such an announcement might be made, because if waterboarding is somehow OK I think the organic vegetable solution is legal as well.

Thanks so much for the info. I really hope you're right!

[GWB]

Found this on another forum. Not sure how this person knows, but if it's true, I can't wait for it to happen. My wife and I go there every time we're in Dallas and we love it!
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happytown
Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wind comes sweeping down the...
972 posts, read 303,021 times
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There is a Whole Foods in Tulsa and OKC will be getting one soon on Western and Dtown.
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[dismayed]

Rumor has it that the store is going into University North Park in Norman, but of course nothing says that they have to build only one store in the metro.

[lpecan]

Found this on another forum. Not sure how this person knows, but if it's true, I can't wait for it to happen. My wife and I go there every time we're in Dallas and we love it!
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happytown
Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wind comes sweeping down the...
972 posts, read 303,021 times
Reputation: 339


There is a Whole Foods in Tulsa and OKC will be getting one soon on Western and Dtown.
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i saw that too, but that post was from january

[gmwise]

Hi, isn't the old Fox Collison site up for sale, its real close to the Bricktown IHOP.
I think that would fit, but I was told its already spoken for.
Any thoughts?

[mmonroe]

I emailed Crest Foods awhile back, but no reply.

[Chicken In The Rough]

Personally, I have mixed feeling about Whole Foods. They have beautiful stores and great products. They are well managed and are often listed as great places to work.

My biggest complaint is that they are insensitive to local producers. Whole Foods will come into OKC and jeopardize the fragile local economy that has begun to emerge around the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. Whole Foods advertises that they support local farmers and producers, but my experience with them has demonstrated otherwise. They are just another multi-billion dollar company, and their long-term affect on OKC will not be positive.

They certainly know how to build a pretty store, though.

[Jeopardude]

Personally, I have mixed feeling about Whole Foods. They have beautiful stores and great products. They are well managed and are often listed as great places to work.

My biggest complaint is that they are insensitive to local producers. Whole Foods will come into OKC and jeopardize the fragile local economy that has begun to emerge around the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. Whole Foods advertises that they support local farmers and producers, but my experience with them has demonstrated otherwise. They are just another multi-billion dollar company, and their long-term affect on OKC will not be positive.

They certainly know how to build a pretty store, though.

Those halogen lights and polished concrete floors do impress. Also, NOT ALL THEIR PRODUCE IS ORGANIC. Last Whole Foods I went in (Dallas Greenville) not even half of the produce was organic. People just assume it all is.

[Millie]

Hi, isn't the old Fox Collison site up for sale, its real close to the Bricktown IHOP.
I think that would fit, but I was told its already spoken for.
Any thoughts?

I thought another body shop was going to move in there- Body Works or something.

[Pete]

I really hope Whole Foods goes in or near downtown but be forewarned... It's an expensive place to shop.

However, that might not be such a big deal for OKC because other than the market in NH Plaza, I don't think there is another upscale concept in the entire Metro.

And of course, if they do well then others are sure to follow.


I have to say that the downtown/Midtown housing market will likely go nuts once a legitimate market goes in down there.

[soonerguru]

For those of you lucky enough to live in a major city, what are some of the other concepts besides Whole Foods? It is expensive in my experience.

What about Trader Joe's? Central Market? Are there other upscale / organic markets better than Whole Foods?

[Millie]

I'd much, much, much rather see a Central Market than a Whole Foods- much better produce selection, imo, and Whole Foods can't even compete with the meat counter at Central Market. Or the cheese selection, or the deli, or... well, anything.

I've only been in a Trader Joe's once and I wasn't too impressed- I may have just been at a bad/small location, though. Everything just seemed too expensive for what it was.

[oneforone]

I smell a sales tax around the corner. I can see it now, "Help your downtown neighbors get a grocery store vote yes on Tuesday. Voting No will starve the citizens downtown it's bad enoough they pay $1000 for rent. Even though they chose to live downtown, they a right to have a neighborhood grocery store." Low tone announcer voice: Paid for by Citizens for Selling Their Souls and The Friends For Selling Out For A Better City.

[edcrunk]

I hope you are right . . . because if you're not . . . you will be tracked down and large organic vegetables will be inserted into every orifice of your body.

ya know ODG... i have multiple friends that would not consider that a punishment.

[edcrunk]

I'd much, much, much rather see a Central Market than a Whole Foods- much better produce selection, imo, and Whole Foods can't even compete with the meat counter at Central Market. Or the cheese selection, or the deli, or... well, anything.

i would kill for HEB to put a CENTRAL MARKET in OKC! i miss the beer and wine selection. (btw, our outdated liquor laws are so flippin retarded! aaarrrgh)
anyways, i totally agree... i would much rather have a CM than a WHOLE FOODS. but don't get wrong... a whole foods is better than nothing.
has anyone ever shopped/eaten at EATZI'S? i miss that place.

but back to the main topic... i read a study from okc.gov that said we needed at least 6,000 units to support a DT grocery store.



Central Market
Whole Foods Market
Welcome to Trader Joe's - Your Neighborhood Grocery Store
Welcome to Publix Super Markets, Inc.
https://eatzis.catertrax.com/

[Chicken In The Rough]

I think OKC would also stand a much better chance of landing a Market Street rather than a Whole Foods or Central Market. Market Street is an upscale division of United Supermarkets (based in Lubbock), and they have a number of stores in the Dallas area. They have a similar product mix as Central Market, but also mix in a lot more mainstream grocery items.

On the other hand, Whole Foods' store in Tulsa must be difficult to support logistically. They need another store in this region to help spread the cost of shipping.

What can we do to get Crest, Health Food Center, Akins, or someone else local (or semi-local) to build what we want downtown? Maybe Chesapeake can help Crescent find a new location in the downtown area like they've done with other relocated businesses.

Whatever happens, we've got to get past the mentality of bringing in an outside company. They do not have our best interests in mind, and they add little or nothing to our uniqueness as a city.

If tax incentives are offered, an equal incentive should be offered to locals. I really don't want a city filled with Bass Pros, Starbucks, and Wal Mart Super Centers. I can get that anywhere. However, a shiny new Crescent Market with an in-house cafe, flower shop, bakery, etc. locate in the St. Anthony area would be a dream come true.

By the way, Crescent Market doesn't get enough publicity for the good they do in the local community. They are one of the only grocery stores in town to actively support local food producers.

[Pete]

My personal favorite is Trader Joe's.

It's not as large as others and it takes a bit longer to warm to, but they have fantastic prices and a wide array of interesting products you can generally only find there.

In fact, there was a Whole Foods less than a mile from my house and I went in several times but never bought anything. Then, they moved down the road to a much larger space and TJ's moved into their old spot... And I now shop in that Trader Joe's at least once a week.

Still, I think Whole Foods would do very well in that market. If I was them, I'd find a place in Midtown or between there and downtown.

[alan]

(btw, our outdated liquor laws are so flippin retarded! aaarrrgh)

completely agree.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

. . . . Maybe Chesapeake can help Crescent find a new location in the downtown area like they've done with other relocated businesses. . .

I shop at Cresent from time to time for selected items, but I don't think they could make a go of it away from Nichols Hills and its attendant disposable income. I am from time to time amazed by some of the prices they get for individual items . . . often 50% more than the same item at other stores.

Cresent does pormote locally produced products and I appreciate that. As does Bill Kamps Meat Market located on North Western Avenue.