Plan in the works for Downtown Omaha Grocery stores

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:15 am

From the Thursday morning W-H:

'That makes at least two grocers considering a downtown or north downtown location. Downtown hasn't had a full-service grocery store since the Central Market at 1608 Harney St. closed in 1969.'..

The link to the W-H piece:

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46& ... nd=5172166

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

loyalomahan · Post by **loyalomahan** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:21 am

Schwartz is working with a Seattle developer who wants to build condos downtown, but the grocer said he has had attractive offers from at least two other condo developers.

That would lend support to the rumor someone gave here regarding Wohlner's possibly going into the former Lerner Dept Store condo development.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:26 am

Among his concerns, Schwartz said, are that convenient surface parking be available and that he have room to quickly unload volumes of merchandise, an arrange- ment that not every downtown building can accommodate.

Do people understand surface lots are not suppose to be in this area. I mean so far InPlay has a surface lot and so does Saddle Creek. Thats 2 out of 2, now possibly another....

Other than that I love the fact that he is working so hard to bring good things to the area. Hopefully that will continue.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:57 am

loyalomahan wrote:
Schwartz is working with a Seattle developer who wants to build condos downtown, but the grocer said he has had attractive offers from at least two other condo developers.
That would lend support to the rumor someone gave here regarding Wohlner's possibly going into the former Lerner Dept Store condo development.

That would be a ..Yep..

..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

jjjjhskr · Post by **jjjjhskr** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:10 am

OmahaDevelopmentMan wrote:
Among his concerns, Schwartz said, are that convenient surface parking be available and that he have room to quickly unload volumes of merchandise, an arrange- ment that not every downtown building can accommodate.
Do people understand surface lots are not suppose to be in this area. I mean so far InPlay has a surface lot and so does Saddle Creek. Thats 2 out of 2, now possibly another....
.

I wonder how all those neighborhood grocery stores in places like New York are able to make it since they have no surface parking and little room to unload merchandise.

Minneapolis Boy · Post by **Minneapolis Boy** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 1:07 pm

JJJhskr, my thoughts exactly. I spent some time in Brooklyn, and everyone WALKS to the grocery story with their own little grcoery cart. In the store, it is folded up and hooked on the front of the shopping cart. Then, after checking out the groceries are put in the personal cart and out the door goes the consumer.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 1:10 pm

That type of grocery would make Omahan's heads explode. That concept of grocery shopping here is way out there. Although I think it would be great in a truly urban environment.

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 1:19 pm

I always walk home carrying my groceries here in Chicago. If I go to the "big" grocery store, it's 13 blocks each way. Most of the large residential buildings downtown do have grocery stores in them. Most of them, including in my building, remind me of the small town grocery stores back home.

Did you know the John Hancock Building has a grocery store on the 44th floor?

jjjjhskr · Post by **jjjjhskr** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 1:38 pm

Ingersoll1978 wrote: Did you know the John Hancock Building has a grocery store on the 44th floor?

You've gotta love that! Nice!

jjjjhskr · Post by **jjjjhskr** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:16 pm

Maybe this should be in another thread but an interesting note was in this paragraph from the article.

"For the block between the Saddle Creek/Bluestone project and a property that he said is being considered for a hotel, Heistand said he would be working to bring a grocer and possibly more residences."

Another hotel in the area would really help get development going.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:44 pm

Maybe the Marriot can put in another bid!

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:25 pm

Adam wrote:Maybe the Marriot can put in another bid!

If only.

I don't really care for how the Wohlner's guy wants a lot either. They need to make things as dense as they can in North DT or they'll run out of space to fast and the area will look lose and unconnected.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:30 pm

Adam wrote:Maybe the Marriot can put in another bid!

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:21 pm

The parking situation doesn't bother me as long as it's implemented as in the case of the Saddlecreek/Bluestone development... which favors pedestrian movement at the street level over auto traffic.

The inPlay portion of the TipTop development is an example of how NOT to do a parking lot... simply placing it behind the building would have been a big improvement.

Of course we also need the city to step up and contribute parking structures to these projects (preferably as part of the development, rather than a standalone structure on their own blocks... absent any street level uses).

FatGuy · Post by **FatGuy** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:07 am

maybe I am being dumb, but if a grocery store was built in North Downtown (uppermarket) today, who is going to walk there?

Other than the 50 tenants at tiptop, a handful of Creighton students, and maybe the ford warehouse and greenhouse tenants, I don't see a lot of walkers. From the Old Market area, 15th and Cuming is quite a hike.

Without lightrail or trolly, a parking lot seems necessary for these projects to make money.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:31 am

jhuston wrote:The parking situation doesn't bother me as long as it's implemented as in the case of the Saddlecreek/Bluestone development... which favors pedestrian movement at the street level over auto traffic.

The inPlay portion of the TipTop development is an example of how NOT to do a parking lot... simply placing it behind the building would have been a big improvement.

Of course we also need the city to step up and contribute parking structures to these projects (preferably as part of the development, rather than a standalone structure on their own blocks... absent any street level uses).

I agree with you about the bluestone/saddlec creek lot. It really is placed in a smart location (right next to railroad tracks and behind the building. Its too bad the In Play/Tip Top put their surface lot where they did. It is basically positioned where it doesn't have the option to be turned into a garage because it will block off the street from In Play. I just hope the city will start to step in. And hopefully they finally discover garages with street level retail.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:48 pm

I'm not getting this at all. Explain to me who is planning to walk to InPlay from their home? From 172nd Street to North Downtwon is what...say a 6 hour walk each way? Who will walk to Slowdown from their home? I'm just picturing a bunch of 20-somethings walk 6 hours each way to see a concert. Who would stay in a hotel in North Downtown and walk to downtown for a meeting? 100 people a day? Who would walk from downtown to North Omaha to shop at a grocery store? Or vise versa, are the residents of the Tip-Top planning to walk to Cubby's in the Old Market to buy groceries? Or walk to Saddle Creek road to buy groceries?

I lived in the Skinner Macaroni apartments for 3 years, and my south and east view was of a number of parking lots for all the suburbanites who drove downtown for some action on a Friday or Saturday night, each lot manned by a guys charging bucks to park for a night of fun before heading back to the hinterland of West Omaha. Paved lots for all the commuters. Not apartment or condo buildings, but parking lots for thew suburban commuters and their SUVs. It's great to want a Chicago, Philadelphia, NYC feel to downtown Omaha, or North Downtown Omaha, but face it, this is a suburban city, not a dense urban city like the big ones. When I lived in Baltimore, I could take the subway 3 stops to my urban home, or I could choose to walk. How many of the downtown workers actually live downtown? Not too many! If all the downtown workers lived downtown, there wouldn't be an Omaha Park I. II. III. IIII, V, VI, VII, and VIII. We wouldn't need 4 lanes each way on I80.

It's easy to criticize InPlay for providing 50 parking spaces, gawd forgid, in front, like anyone actually drives a car in Omaha. And it is great to think that people in the Old Market Lofts will walk to 14th and Cuming to shop for groceries, but it isn't going to happen. This is a car-driven city. It is a suburban city. Sorry if this seems negative, but jeez, have you ever had to lug a week's worth of groceries 20 blocks? Have you ever walked to the Old Market from West Omaha?

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:55 pm

Chef-

The point isn't that they made 50 some odd parking spots. it's the fact that they are making them surface spots immediately off the street.

Additionally, no one expects NYC overnight. We just don't want anyone elliminating that eventual small-scale possibility by shoving the suburbs downtown.

if someone wants to put up a 95-story parking garage that would hold 9500 SUVs per day at $15/day... rock on. Just make sure there is some street level retail.

And a movie theatre.

And yes, you can call the 95 story parking garage the Big E Tower.

-Big E

jjjjhskr · Post by **jjjjhskr** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:40 pm

I'm amazed that no one has posted this yet.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46&u_sid=1449454

Looks like we'll hear something hopefully in the next few weeks. Chef is on a roll (sourdough?).

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:38 pm

Sounds like Wohlner's isn't sold on North Downtown Personally, I think their product mix is more suited to the probable clientele of the upcoming condos downtown. Lerner's or Paxton would be a good fit. I'd vote for The Paxton. More centrally located to both downtown as well as The Old Market. Hopefully Todd H. can convince the "other" grocer to locate in North Downtown. I know he is committed to getting a grocer in North Downtown. Todd nows lives in the Tip-Top, and quite frankly, how much is left in DTO for NuStyle to develop? NuStyle owns 3 of the four blocks across from the Tip-Top so I suspect North Downtown is their new frontier, so to speak. It's good to hear him "officially" speak of the grocery store/apartment building....now I don't have to be secret about it.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:48 am

Yep..I get the same feeling about Wohlner's Chef..

Momentun is building for a full scale grocer(s) DT..I would not be suprised if something is announced before the end of the year..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Blazepaw · Post by **Blazepaw** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:37 pm

By the way are we going to call the new Latin based 24th St area MEXDO?

After we grab them up can we look forward to a ELKDO? May be a MILDO?

How about we use our brains and some of our actual city history to give this emerging area a fresh name that has everything to do with it and not what lies WAY south?

How about the "Love District".

I know at first it sounds a bit much, but if you would ask Philadelphia's citizens if Love Park was a bad idea they would say no it has worked out as a fantastic draw.

It would be named after a prominent citizen, and a minority.

It would always have that. Yet it would have the double meaning as well.

Not a bad one.

Preston Love wrote our cities official song "Omaha Blues"

Like I said "The Love District" sounds hokey at first but North Downtown works better? LOL

Harpoon · Post by **Harpoon** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:39 am

The count is now up to 4 identical postings, Blazepaw.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:56 am

Harpoon wrote:The count is now up to 4 identical postings, Blazepaw.

You know..I noticed the same

..

Blazepaw obviously wanted to get his point across..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:53 pm

So....back to the original post. There was a comment that there was now two grocers considering downtown. We're all aware of Wolhner's (spelling?). Who is the other?

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 11:50 pm

OmahaChef wrote:So....back to the original post. There was a comment that there was now two grocers considering downtown. We're all aware of Wolhner's (spelling?). Who is the other?

Chef..

The article and quote in my first post from 6/16/05 stated that 'at least 2 grocers' are considering a DT or North Downtown location..

See this info in W-H link from my first post FYI..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 4:39 pm

Thanks! I did read the article and I see the quote that "at least two grocers" are considering a downtown location. But the article only ever mentions Wohlner's and it's owner. I was curious if anyone had heard who else might be considering a downtown location.

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:24 pm

The Weird-Harry article mentioned a "small-town grocer", so I'm just speculating here, but I really, really, really wish it's Fareway.

Fareway already has 2 stores in the metro area, one in LaVista and the other at 168th & Harrison. Fareway stores are known for being an old-style grocery store, closed Sundays and holidays.

The best part of these stores is their full-service meat department. No styrofoam platters of steaks here; it's all in display cases here and they'll get you exactly what you want, and it's all top quality.

People drive out of their way to shop at the Harrison and LaVista stores, and a downtown Fareway would definitely pull in grocery shoppers from all over town, especially the folks who work downtown.[/quote]

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:49 pm

Closed on Sundays and holidays is a plus?

I think the Wohlner's will suffice.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:29 am

I would really really like to see a Trader Joe's in Omaha.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:24 am

I'd LOVE to see a Trader Joe's in Omaha. Problem is...they would probably locate at the new retail development at 204th and Center. I could pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. My vote would be Wohlner's downtown, and Fareway for the Tip-Top site project.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:52 am

OmahaChef wrote:I'd LOVE to see a Trader Joe's in Omaha. Problem is...they would probably locate at the new retail development at 204th and Center. I could pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. My vote would be Wohlner's downtown, and Fareway for the Tip-Top site project.

This WOULD be nice!..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:58 pm

What kind of grocery store are you guys hoping for in Downtown Omaha?

A Fareway would be huge in my opinion. In Downtown Chicago, we just got our first full scale grocer downtown (Jewel) a couple years ago with a Dominicks opening soon. I couldn't imagine Bakers, Hy-Vee, etc. opening down there anytime soon.

loyalomahan · Post by **loyalomahan** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:07 pm

Wohlner's is perfect for downtown (and we know already is interested in coming downtown). It is compact, yet has plenty of fresh produce and an excellent meat selection. I wouldn't expect a Fareway either... unless it was on the edge of downtown (North Downtown is a remote possibility). Speaking of Chicago, Cubby's in the Old Market is already characteristic of most of the 'food market' offerings I've seen on the ground floor of Chicago residential buildings. It's not bad.

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:42 pm

Cubby's is similiar to what a lot of grocery stores are like here in Chicago. I'm actually talking more about full scale grocery stores (like Hy-Vee or Bakers).

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:15 pm

I am thinking of my time in San Diego, which granted, is bigger than Omaha. Aside form the spectacular downtown outdoor "mall", there was a full-service Ralph's grocery, much like Hy-Vee or Bakers. There was also a (whatever the name of that organic birkenstock grocer is) store too. I think a Fareway or a cut-down Hy-Vee, etc. would be great for the North Downtown site. Not only could downtown and midtwon folks have another choice, but it would provide another option to North Omaha neighborhoods, which have very few options today. It's even a block from MAT bus service for those who are transportation challenged. And it would sure be a draw for future apartment/condo owners in future apartment/condo projects in North Downtown.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:00 pm

I'd be happy with a Wild Oats. I could get some of the specialty items I will need for the Forte Banquet and Conference Center menu, just by walking across the parking lot. How convenient would that be?!

loyalomahan · Post by **loyalomahan** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:24 pm

Wohlner's provides everything a person could ask for in a grocery store. Wild Oats would be great, but I wouldn't count on it.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:29 am

OmahaChef wrote:I'd LOVE to see a Trader Joe's in Omaha. Problem is...they would probably locate at the new retail development at 204th and Center. I could pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. My vote would be Wohlner's downtown, and Fareway for the Tip-Top site project.

You're probably right. I didn't think about it at the time, but the only Trader Joe's I saw in Chicago was in the suburbs. They do so well here in SF though.