What to do to get a grocery store downtown.

[dismayed]

Central Market. Man I wish we had one of those here somewhere.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

While we wait for a new downtown grocery store to open, may I suggest shopping at the one we already have . . . Homeland . . . located between Western and Classen on NW 18th.

Over the past year or so, they have upgraded their dairy offerings by adding a complete selection of organic products including milk, cottage cheese etc. along with an assortment of organic salad greens and other specialty products like imported cheese, canned goods and beverages.

It sure isn't Whole Foods, but perhaps if we encourage them a little by shopping there and letting them know what other items we would like to see in their store, we will have a better place to shop while we wait for our dream store. BTW . . . I just can't seem to get through to them that low fat varieties of Hagan Daz and Ben & Jerry's would be well received, so if you stop in there, please add your voice to mine.

Actually, this proven location is a very good one; right on Classen Blvd. in Mesta Park and close to Heritage Hills, Edgemere, Jeff Park, Paseo and Midtown. And, a portion of the over-sized and under-utilized parking lot could be used to expand the size of the store for a new specialty grocery operator like Trader Joes whose stores tend to be a little smaller than Whole Foods.

[OKCMallen]

While we wait for a new downtown grocery store to open, may I suggest shopping at the one we already have . . . Homeland . . . located between Western and Classen on NW 18th.

Over the past year or so, they have upgraded their dairy offerings by adding a complete selection of organic products including milk, cottage cheese etc. along with an assortment of organic salad greens and other specialty products like imported cheese, canned goods and beverages.

It sure isn't Whole Foods, but perhaps if we encourage them a little by shopping there and letting them know what other items we would like to see in their store, we will have a better place to shop while we wait for our dream store. BTW . . . I just can't seem to get through to them that low fat varieties of Hagan Daz and Ben & Jerry's would be well received, so if you stop in there, please add your voice to mine.

Actually, this proven location is a very good one; right on Classen Blvd. in Mesta Park and close to Heritage Hills, Edgemere, Jeff Park, Paseo and Midtown. And, a portion of the over-sized and under-utilized parking lot could be used to expand the size of the store for a new specialty grocery operator like Trader Joes whose stores tend to be a little smaller than Whole Foods.

Stop making so much sense!!!

[mmonroe]

I don't like the area west of homeland. It scares me.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

I don't like the area west of homeland. It scares me.

According to your profile, you're only 21 years old and your interest is urban renewal. . . . . you should be fearless. One's own mortality is a concept that seldom crosses most 21 year olds minds.

[bornhere]

I'm in that area all the time. If that scares you, you should move to the 'burbs.

[soonerguru]

don't like the area west of homeland. It scares me

Wow! Not to pick on you, but that area is rapidly gentrifying. Dicey? A bit. That's life in the city.

[metro]

No kidding. Lots of that area is nice in the "Plaza District". Are their some sketchy properties in there, sure. It has an eclectic mix of lifestyles and examples of new urbanism as well though. Heck, Wayne Coyne lead singer of the Flaming Lips lives in this neighborhood and he has the money to live anywhere in the world if he wanted to.

[jbrown84]

I don't like the area west of homeland. It scares me.

Seriously? I mean I wouldn't take a leisurely walk there in the middle of the night, but that fact that it scares you away from shopping at that grocery store is silly. I tried it once and the selection was just too poor.

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?

I haven't actually been to a Whole Foods, but I adore Central Market. They are very nice and even have an outdoor cafe area with live music (or at least the one in Ft. Worth does).

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

Dear lord, I hope not!! One of these things is not like the other...

[The Old Downtown Guy]

. . . . Heck, Wayne Coyne lead singer of the Flaming Lips lives in this neighborhood and he has the money to live anywhere in the world if he wanted to.

Good point metro. Actually Coyne and Company own about six adjacent houses in that area. He and his family live there along with some staff. Brian Fitzsimons is doing an extensive remodel of his "compound in the hood." They are just rehabbing most of the buildings, doing an addition here and there and adding a few contemporary touches, mostly back yard areas not visible from the street . . . but not doing anything like his house on Francis.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

Seriously? . . I tried it once and the selection was just too poor. . .

Check it out again Jbrown . . . they've added a lot of nice produce and dairy items to their selection.

[jbrown84]

I will. thanks

[metro]

I may have a slight (emphasize slight) ray of hope on the downtown grocery front. I visited Forward Foods Forward Foods and Native Roots Market Native Roots Market - Home in downtown Norman this weekend. Both are nice unique boutique grocers. I spoke with owners/employees of both stores and suggested to open a downtown or urban OKC location. Both stores seemed interested and suggested they have looked into it as well as other locations, but definitely an OKC location. They mentioned it may be 1-1.5 years out. If you frequent these stores (or email them) to encourage them to open a downtown OKC location.

[ISayGoPokes]

I received this in an email Friday:

I learned today that Sprouts Farmers Market is going to open 3 locations in central Oklahoma - Norman , Edmond and 63rd and May (Comp USA space). No leases signed yet. They are a scaled down version of Whole Foods grocery store - really big into the natural, organic, health food market. 25,000 sf. Currently have stores in TX. CA. AZ. CO.
Several locations in Dallas suburbs so I guess they can compete with the City Market and Whole Foods.

www.sprouts.com

[taylor83]

I've never been to a Sprouts, but their website looks pretty good. (That link is broken btw, it's www.sprouts.com.) Also, someone mentioned the building for sale on Walker across from St. Anthony's. I totally agree with you! I drive by there almost everyday and I think that would be a great place for a little market downtown. As far as Central Market goes, I think they're great but I doubt they will open up on here since they're only located in major metro areas of Texas. But we can always hope!

[foodiefan]

interesting that they are going in so close to Akins.

[metro]

I hope this is true, it will be interesting to see how it does across the street from the severely outdated Akins. I looked on their website and they don't mention Oklahoma as coming soon locations and so far they have them up to Summer 2009. Hopefully this is true and we will be added soon.

[jbrown84]

interesting that they are going in so close to Akins.

I thought the same.

As far as Central Market goes, I think they're great but I doubt they will open up on here since they're only located in major metro areas of Texas. But we can always hope!

They are in Ft. Worth. We're just as much a major city as Ft. Worth.

[foodiefan]

I [B]love[B] Central Market! Anyone know if all of their Texas locations are in "wet" counties?? If so, the ability to sell liquor/wine might be more of a corporate issue than with Whole Foods. But I'd GLADLY welcome either or both (dream on. . .)

[progressiveboy]

I [B]love[B] Central Market! Anyone know if all of their Texas locations are in "wet" counties?? If so, the ability to sell liquor/wine might be more of a corporate issue than with Whole Foods. But I'd GLADLY welcome either or both (dream on. . .)

I live in Dallas and the Central Market on Greenville and Lovers Lane is a wet area. The CM in Plano off of Coit and George Bush is also a wet area. There is a CM that just opened in "Southlake" in Tarrant County and I do believe that it is also a wet area. It seems the "demographics" for a CM store is being located in/or around an affluent area.

[amaesquire]

Oh, to only have a Trader Joe's...

[taylor83]

Just got an email from H-E-B/Central Market.

"...we have no plans to expand outside Texas at this time".

Boo!

[OKC4me]

I think a Walgreens would be great.

[Chicken In The Rough]

I expected to hear that Central Market had no plans to expand in this market now. As part of HEB, they have the extensive logistics support throughout Texas needed to operate a chain of stores. Central Market piggy-backs off this system. In order for them to operate efficiently in OKC, they'll need to open several stores; perhaps 5 or 6. They'll also have to beef up their distribution facilities in Dallas to serve this area. We're too far away from the central core of their business. Lastly, I wouldn't expect to see more than one Central Market for the entire metro. They require a relatively large population base when compared to conventional grocery stores.

Whole Foods is somewhat more likely to locate here. They already have a store in Tulsa, and their business model is such that single stores can operate more independently.

My dream would be to have a local store establish a significant, Whole Foods-like store in the downtown area. Crescent Market is my choice. But I also think Health Food Center, Native Roots, or others could do it. Perhaps someone with local money could get behind one of these stores to create a truly unique grocery store to serve our downtown area?

[HSC-Sooner]

A number of students that I talk to around the OU-HSC complex would like to see a grocery store that is downtown. It would save the pain of driving.