Kroger to close 15th Street store (supermarkets, retailers, grocery)

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

Hmm I wonder what that means. I seem to remember 5 years or so ago there were talks about a Walmart Neighborhood Market going into that location but that seemed to have faded away. It would be hard to believe that a grocery would not be part of their masterplan but we will have to wait and see. Seems like they would want to make an announcement that a replacement grocery store is in the works,, I can understand why they would not want to name who that is but atleast reassure people that downtown and medical district will not remain a food desert for long.. but this vague response of just "potential tenants" is not exactly reassuring.. especially when the city is trying to market foundry place to young professionals.. that is going to be hindered with the question of a grocery store being left up in the air

Walmart is tight on opening new stores. It closed many stores and eliminated Walmart Express in 2016. It has delayed construction or cancelled plans for additional Walmart Supercenter and Walmart Neighborhood Market stores.

If Kroger can be wooed back for a Kroger Marketplace store with a parking deck involved, more power to everyone.

I would like to see Publix move in with a 29m (29,000 square feet) or 38m (38,000 square feet) store.

[AUGnative]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

The foundation wants a grocery store to be the cornerstone of this project and they want an upscale grocer. While I don't think the current demographics of the area can support such a store, with all the projects planned maybe soon it will be able too. I think a retailer like Lucky's Market, Lidl or even a small Publix store would do well in the area.

The Whole Foods incident should inform them that upscale grocery probably wont work there but certainly something nicer than the old retro 15th Kroger. I think an Aldi, Lidl or a WalMart Neighborhood Market would do well there. Hopefully it wont be too long before there is a replacement grocery store for the residents of that area... because the Kroger was all they had and there are many people who cannot drive out to West Augusta or North Augusta

[PJA]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

The Whole Foods incident should inform them that upscale grocery probably wont work there but certainly something nicer than the old retro 15th Kroger. I think an Aldi, Lidl or a WalMart Neighborhood Market would do well there. Hopefully it wont be too long before there is a replacement grocery store for the residents of that area... because the Kroger was all they had and there are many people who cannot drive out to West Augusta or North Augusta

Using that logic a fresh market would work there since its working In West Augusta.

Seriously though I do agree that that area needs a regular grocery not an upscale one.

[Pu239]

Sounds like a good location for a Stars and Strikes.....

[AUGnative]

Actually I do not think A Fresh Market would work on 15th st. lidl and Aldi would do very well downtown. Their prices are simply unbeatable and cheaper than Wal-Mart. That would be a big help for cash strapped residents of the inner city but these German discount grocers have cross appeal among a spectrum of income levels. This may be why they are rapidly expanding in the US. I shop mostly at Aldi.. I can afford to shop at more expensive places but why pay more for the same thing? Also I can get in and out of an Aldi in half the time it takes to navigate a traditional grocery store. To me it would be the perfect replacement for the 15st Kroger

[amlovingit]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

Actually I do not think A Fresh Market would work on 15th st. lidl and Aldi would do very well downtown. Their prices are simply unbeatable and cheaper than Wal-Mart. That would be a big help for cash strapped residents of the inner city but these German discount grocers have cross appeal among a spectrum of income levels. This may be why they are rapidly expanding in the US. I shop mostly at Aldi.. I can afford to shop at more expensive places but why pay more for the same thing? Also I can get in and out of an Aldi in half the time it takes to navigate a traditional grocery store. To me it would be the perfect replacement for the 15st Kroger

Downtown shouldn't have just one grocery store. If the inner city residents need a traditional store give them that but if the more wealth residents has the cash to shop at a more expensive store they shouldn't be limited by who don't have. To solve the problem put a upscale store n less expensive store in the same area to validate both sides. Just because you choose to do your shopping at Aldi and you choose to say it the same dont mean someone else feel the same way. Food is different from electronic devices you can go to cheaper stores and find the same exact thing. But not when it come to quality of food. Just because Aldi starting to sale more organic food dont it the same as WF.

[AUGnative]

Originally Posted by amlovingit

Downtown shouldn't have just one grocery store. If the inner city residents need a traditional store give them that but if the more wealth residents has the cash to shop at a more expensive store they shouldn't be limited by who don't have. To solve the problem put a upscale store n less expensive store in the same area to validate both sides. Just because you choose to do your shopping at Aldi and you choose to say it the same dont mean someone else feel the same way. Food is different from electronic devices you can go to cheaper stores and find the same exact thing. But not when it come to quality of food. Just because Aldi starting to sale more organic food dont it the same as WF.

What I am saying is is that the prices Aldi offers is more in line with what the vast majority of inner city residents can afford. If Publix, Whole Foods, Kroger, et al felt like they could make money downtown, they would be there. The 15th Street Kroger was kept on life support for years because they there lease was frozen at 1980s levels. The market is simply not there for an upscale grocery store.. but something like an Aldi could easily make it there.. and that is much better than nothing at all.. which is the current state.. NO grocery store within a 2 mile radius of downtown. If Whole Foods can't make it in West Augusta then how would they make it downtown which is much much poorer.

[amlovingit]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

What I am saying is is that the prices Aldi offers is more in line with what the vast majority of inner city residents can afford. If Publix, Whole Foods, Kroger, et al felt like they could make money downtown, they would be there. The 15th Street Kroger was kept on life support for years because they there lease was frozen at 1980s levels. The market is simply not there for an upscale grocery store.. but something like an Aldi could easily make it there.. and that is much better than nothing at all.. which is the current state.. NO grocery store within a 2 mile radius of downtown. If Whole Foods can't make it in West Augusta then how would they make it downtown which is much much poorer.

You haven't been to Augusta in quite sometimes

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

f Publix, Whole Foods, Kroger, et al felt like they could make money downtown, they would be there.

If there are available locations downtown where grocery retailers can open stores and make money, they would be there already.

[AUGnative]

My point exactly.. The 15th Kroger was subsidised by having their lease frozen at 1980s rates and it still could not make it. I am guessing to attract one of the larger grocery chains to that area the city will have to offer some sizable tax incentives and possibly Tax increment financing.