Mid-Sized to Large US Cities That Are Without High Quality Grocers Downtown (place, population)
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What cities come to mind that are very much in need of high quality, nicer chain or local upscale grocery stores in their downtown neighborhoods?
I know of a couple off the top of my head, that I have been to and could not find a large full-service grocery store downtown--at least as of 2020.
Richmond, VA
Louisville, KY
Pittsburgh, PA (although a Target is opening downtown in the old Macy's by summer's end 2022)
Many inner cities have become "food deserts" for many locals and it's a shame to see. I know a lot of downtowns have been growing and adding nicer grocery stores for residents.
Memphis recently opened a locally-owned, full service grocery store called "South Point Grocers" downtown, which is great to see https://www.southpointgrocery.com/ .
Which city is in dire need of a downtown full service grocery store?
Rochester had a fairy large independent grocery store in the mid 2010s, but it failed. Now there is only a Family Dollar, Dollar General and corner stores for basic food items despite the growing downtown population.
What cities come to mind that are very much in need of high quality, nicer chain or local upscale grocery stores in their downtown neighborhoods?
I know of a couple off the top of my head, that I have been to and could not find a large full-service grocery store downtown--at least as of 2020.
Richmond, VA
Louisville, KY
Pittsburgh, PA (although a Target is opening downtown in the old Macy's by summer's end 2022)
Many inner cities have become "food deserts" for many locals and it's a shame to see. I know a lot of downtowns have been growing and adding nicer grocery stores for residents.
Memphis recently opened a locally-owned, full service grocery store called "South Point Grocers" downtown, which is great to see https://www.southpointgrocery.com/ .
Which city is in dire need of a downtown full service grocery store?
Unfortunately that Target in Pittsburgh, which will be opening in about two weeks, is only going to be like 22,000 square feet, so it will be more like a glorified CVS.
Unfortunately that Target in Pittsburgh, which will be opening in about two weeks, is only going to be like 22,000 square feet, so it will be more like a glorified CVS.
Rochester had a fairy large independent grocery store in the mid 2010s, but it failed. Now there is only a Family Dollar, Dollar General and corner stores for basic food items despite the growing downtown population.
Which is crazy considering that Wegmans is based in the area. There is a co-op market just south of Downtown in South Wedge, but you would think that Wegmans would consider a Downtown store in its own area.
Unfortunately that Target in Pittsburgh, which will be opening in about two weeks, is only going to be like 22,000 square feet, so it will be more like a glorified CVS.
There will be a heavy emphasis on grocery items at this urban Target.
Which is crazy considering that Wegmans is based in the area. There is a co-op market just south of Downtown in South Wedge, but you would think that Wegmans would consider a Downtown store in its own area.
Right! Sadly after Wegmans shut down their Midtown Plaza store in the early-90s, the company spent the next couple decades pulling out of the City of Rochester and reinventing their business model to only serve affluent suburban areas mostly outside of large cities.
However there may be a possibility of Wegmans returning to Downtown Rochester in the future. After the success of the Chestnut Hill and Brooklyn stores, Wegmans committed to opening smaller urban stores in Manhattan, Washington DC (opening next week) and Alexandria, VA. To be fair these are still wealthy gentrified areas, but each are going into mixed use buildings rather than the superstores of old. If Rochester can extend the success of the Inner Loop redevelopment, I could see Wegmans investing in their home market within a decade.
Rochester had a fairy large independent grocery store in the mid 2010s, but it failed. Now there is only a Family Dollar, Dollar General and corner stores for basic food items despite the growing downtown population.
Oh interesting--didn't realize this! Yeah as a couple other have mentioned, it's surprising that Wegman's does not have a downtown Rochester presence, considering they are headquartered in Rochester.
I have read that many business folks consider a downtown population of at least 20k, to be in place, in order to "sustain" a grocery store. Granted, if there are more tourists in the region, that can help with a grocery store's bottom line in the downtown area.
There's a Wholefoods on Broad now in Richmond. Also a farm fresh on Main has been in Shockoe since before 2020. Not a grocer, per se, but they have opened the Hatch Local food hall in Manchester. Aldie in Scotts addition.
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