My letter to Mayor Julian Castro on the lack of a grocery store downtown

[dvlpr]

Originally Posted by wCat

I have to go back to what dvlpr said and agree that the demand has to be there first. It's there, just not demanding enough. I also think that a lot of the people that are buying luxury condos and lofts spend a lot of time dining out, so stocking up on a weeks worth of groceries probably consists of milk, coffee and staples. A trip up to the Olmos HEB or Central Market would be no biggie for that kind of lifestyle....so I don't think that will increase the demand.

My question to the OP is where do people downtown shop now?

Good point. Ultimately, I think there will be adequate demand. But until then, there are lots of options (which is why I've always found the complaint about the lack of a grocery store downtown a little over-the-top).

The best grocery store in town (Central Market) is 3.5 miles from the middle of downtown (about a 15 minute bus ride). It's just 2 miles from Pearl (an easy bike ride). And it's only 4.5 miles from the farthest edge of King William (though admittedly the bus option is a little trickier from this spot). There are also small neighborhood groceries downtown to augment bigger shopping excursions. Plus, the HEB at Nogalitos and the Micoachana on N. Flores are both close (for the Southtown and Tobin Hill/Five Points neighborhoods, respectively) for staple-type things.

My point is not to say a grocery downtown wouldn't be great - it would be. But when I lived downtown, it was hardly a source of consternation.

[voyager674]

there is a great HEB just 1.7 miles from that old k-mart store. near zarzamora on commerce

[deek102]

Originally Posted by voyager674

there is a great HEB just 1.7 miles from that old k-mart store. near zarzamora on commerce

My opinion here... but the type of people who want to live downtown don't want to go to that HEB