Redevelopment of former Saks building (Pittsburgh, Wilson: condo, dorms, construction)

[Rocket88]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

What more do you want? There is plenty already there.

I hope plans to get that Movie theater on 6th Street on the former Bally's Sport location come to fruition. I also have heard rumblings of a bowling alley. As for a full scale supermarket, I think that is overblown. It would not be possible to carry eight, ten, twelve bags bag to your flat or hotel room even if you are only a block or two away. Shopping carts would not be allowed to leave the premises and be on Downtown sidewalks. I suppose an East Liberty Target style grocery store with a dedicated parking garage could be built Downtown, but that would require more square footage in a tight Downtown. Although I am sure many in nearby East End neighborhoods may walk to that Target, I doubt that they are doing large scale shopping. They most likely have one or two or three bags. People need their car any way. Suburbanites drive to the grocery store to do major shopping and so do city dwellers. Downtown would be better served to add more specialty stores like Market Street Grocery and other small retail. I could possibly see a Giant Eagle Express built on the fringe of the Golden Triangle, possibly where the Goodyear currently is. This would also give Downtown visitors a place to gas up, which it has not had in nearly twenty years since that gas station closed on Fort Duquesne Blvd. on land now owned by the Cultural Trust.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Rocket88

As for a full scale supermarket, I think that is overblown. It would not be possible to carry eight, ten, twelve bags back to your flat or hotel room even if you are only a block or two away.

I walk to Market District in Shadyside, Whole Foods, and Aldi all the time. I have never bought "eight, ten, twelve bags" at one time. I buy what I can carry, and go back when I need more. I suspect I'd do the same if I lived downtown and there were a supermarket there. And I wouldn't live downtown if there weren't.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I walk to Market District in Shadyside, Whole Foods, and Aldi all the time. I have never bought "eight, ten, twelve bags" at one time. I buy what I can carry, and go back when I need more.

Yeah. I mean, when I lived in DC, I shopped via walking and biking, only using the car for my work commute to the suburbs. I shopped 2-3 times a week, buying only a bag or two of groceries at a time.

It's of course not feasible if you're a family of four, but that isn't who would be living downtown (except in rare circumstances) anyway.

That said, I can't imagine anyone shopping for staples mainly at Market Street grocery. I've been browsing in there since opening, and can never find anything worth buying. IMHO their deli counter needs to be scaled way back, and they need to have more space dedicated to prepared foods and a hot bar.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by Rocket88

I hope plans to get that Movie theater on 6th Street on the former Bally's Sport location come to fruition. I also have heard rumblings of a bowling alley. As for a full scale supermarket, I think that is overblown. It would not be possible to carry eight, ten, twelve bags bag to your flat or hotel room even if you are only a block or two away. Shopping carts would not be allowed to leave the premises and be on Downtown sidewalks. I suppose an East Liberty Target style grocery store with a dedicated parking garage could be built Downtown, but that would require more square footage in a tight Downtown. Although I am sure many in nearby East End neighborhoods may walk to that Target, I doubt that they are doing large scale shopping. They most likely have one or two or three bags. People need their car any way. Suburbanites drive to the grocery store to do major shopping and so do city dwellers. Downtown would be better served to add more specialty stores like Market Street Grocery and other small retail. I could possibly see a Giant Eagle Express built on the fringe of the Golden Triangle, possibly where the Goodyear currently is. This would also give Downtown visitors a place to gas up, which it has not had in nearly twenty years since that gas station closed on Fort Duquesne Blvd. on land now owned by the Cultural Trust.

If there were a real grocery store downtown, residents wouldn't need to be doing a month's worth of shopping in one trip.

Also: ROLSER - Official Website

I don't have a cart anywhere near as nice as those, and can tote two weeks worth of meat, vegetables and sundry from the Strip.

[Port Pitt Ash]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

I'll can assume that you haven't been downtown lately. There are many options in downtown and the immediate area. This summer has been amazing for downtown night life.

I doubt it, but go ahead and tell me of all these nightlife developments that have sprung up downtown recently.

Only thing that comes to mind is that bit between 8th & 10th on Penn and Liberty that I'd call new. Everything else has been there for the most part.

And what of the shopping that's sprung up downtown?

Now nearby is another story, but I've always assumed downtown living was about convenience. Have you tried driving around Pittsburgh?

Also, to the other poster about a regular movie theater going in downtown I'm not sure if that'll happen. There used to be a movie theater downtown, but they always had trouble with kids being rowdy. Would be nice though.

Years ago there was a big bookstore downtown, which would be another thing that it would be nice to see open again.

[Rocket88]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I walk to Market District in Shadyside, Whole Foods, and Aldi all the time. I have never bought "eight, ten, twelve bags" at one time. I buy what I can carry, and go back when I need more. I suspect I'd do the same if I lived downtown and there were a supermarket there. And I wouldn't live downtown if there weren't.

Then the next question is would it be feasible to build a large scale grocery on very expensive urban real estate when the average customer is spending $20.00 as opposed to an amount substantially higher. I guess it all comes down to volume in the end, but there is a lot of shrinkage in the grocery business. Retailers usually look for a certain price point from the average customer. Plus, all of those East End places mentioned have their own parking, which allows more soccer moms to load up the back of the van after dropping $150.00 at Market District to feed hubby, junior and sissy. Customers like that help the bottom line .

Note: I know it is more than "soccer moms" that shop in the East End. This was only an example.

[norcider]

Originally Posted by Port Pitt Ash

I doubt it, but go ahead and tell me of all these nightlife developments that have sprung up downtown recently.

Only thing that comes to mind is that bit between 8th & 10th on Penn and Liberty that I'd call new. Everything else has been there for the most part.

And what of the shopping that's sprung up downtown?

Now nearby is another story, but I've always assumed downtown living was about convenience. Have you tried driving around Pittsburgh?

Also, to the other poster about a regular movie theater going in downtown I'm not sure if that'll happen. There used to be a movie theater downtown, but they always had trouble with kids being rowdy. Would be nice though.

Years ago there was a big bookstore downtown, which would be another thing that it would be nice to see open again.

I'm here to tell you this is indeed the case. Town has had a resurgence of new bars, restaurants and other attractions. I was up on the 9th floor of some hotel's beer garten last Friday and it was packed. Maybe not nightlife as in clubs like the strip's heyday in the late 80's early 90's but the nightlife otherwise in town has increased dramatically. Town needs and will get some sort of market, matter of time.

[Pitt Chick]

Most restaurants had a 90 minute+ wait for walk-ups on Sunday evening. Town was nuts....

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by Rocket88

Then the next question is would it be feasible to build a large scale grocery on very expensive urban real estate when the average customer is spending $20.00 as opposed to an amount substantially higher. I guess it all comes down to volume in the end, but there is a lot of shrinkage in the grocery business. Retailers usually look for a certain price point from the average customer. Plus, all of those East End places mentioned have their own parking, which allows more soccer moms to load up the back of the van after dropping $150.00 at Market District to feed hubby, junior and sissy. Customers like that help the bottom line .

Note: I know it is more than "soccer moms" that shop in the East End. This was only an example.

If it's feasible in The Chicago Loop and Wall Street, I think it's feasible in downtown Pittsburgh.

[UKyank]

I've lived where I've done most of my shopping in an urban grocery store that had no parking & it worked out fine.