Getting this idea up while its fresh in my head not researched at all and I will revisit soon, but feel free to chime in anyway.
As a downtown resident I wish I didn't need my car as often as I do, while I will always price check and shop where the best deals are one thing that would cut my driving drastically is if we had a small but full service grocery store.
My question is, how many people need to live in and directly surrounding downtown before businesses like Reasors, Food Pyramid, Gateway, or who ever can open say a grocery store in downtown?
Long term I think our goal should be two markets, one high end Petty's like grocery store, and one low/middle end smaller full service grocery like Reasors.
With that said, the population will wan't/need other services, so what services are lacking and how many people need to be living here before we can expect someone can take the risk?
I personally think the numbers are approaching sustainable level already. It is just a matter of convincing grocers that while others have failed in downtown, now might be a good time to take the risk. And it's not just those that live in downtown that will be fueling this need, it's the businesses. I have done a lot of running for the BOK center when bands/shows are in town, and having a grocer downtown would be very handy for this. And with the overspending that goes on with some of these shows, a hefty sum would end up in a local retailers pocket that took advantage of this.
Something of a hybrid between a convenience store and full-service GC would probably work. Perhaps like Aldi with limited selection to keep costs lower, and no custom on-site butchering.
How is Blue Jackalope doing? I have not heard much buzz about them lately.
I would argue that perhaps downtown would be better served by smaller, pocket grocery stores (similar to Blue Jackalope in size). The living population in downtown is currently too spread out to conveniently walk to the grocer.
Quote from: Conan71 on April 29, 2010, 03:48:26 PM
How is Blue Jackalope doing? I have not heard much buzz about them lately.
Still open as of a couple of weeks ago
Downtown will not merit a large format grocery store for years. However a Braum's Market, CVS, or other corner market would do fine.
It also hurts that Petty's and the Reasor's in Cherry Street are both maybe a mile and a half out of downtown. Whole Foods is only three miles away.
In most cases people aren't going to walk to buy groceries, and once you are in a car, there are lots of nearby options.
As someone who grew up within two blocks of a couple neighborhood groceries, Blue Jackalope is not one of them.
The ones in my neighborhood had maybe four rows of groceries half the length of a supermarket aisle. The Blue Jackalope has such a tiny selection it's worthless. Is there anyone who's actually shopped there and finds it useful?
Every time I go I leave disappointed because they don't have any basic stuff. I'm talking about stuff that even QuikTrip would have, like orange juice.
I'll just go to Braum's.
That Braum's on Gilcrease is easy access from downtown for a short bike ride or a long walk down that trail toward Sand Springs. Walmart Neighborhood Market on Peoria is also an easy bike ride mostly down the river trails from downtown, a couple blocks on 41st, then some more neighborhood streets to get there.
I could really go for one of those fruit markets like you see in NYC.
(http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7199/3772152921369073d2a0.jpg)