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By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 05:58 p.m. EDT, Jul 01, 2009
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic sees a grocery store as a basic amenity for a neighborhood.
And, when a neighborhood is without a grocery store, he thinks it's appropriate for the city to work to attract one.
That's what Plusquellic hopes Akron has done for the Highland Square neighborhood, with Cornucopia Inc., a Lakewood-based company.
Plusquellic officially announced Wednesday that the city will do a market study for Cornucopia to see if the company could meet the needs of the diverse West Akron neighborhood. The company has an organic and fresh foods store in Lakewood.
''We are hoping this is the right match for this neighborhood and meets the needs of the majority of people in the area,'' Plusquellic said during a news conference.
This isn't the first time Akron has gotten into the grocery business. Akron helped with the new Dave's Market in East Akron, securing funding to help buy the land and clean up the site and providing a low-interest loan to East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. to develop the plaza. The city also gave a low-interest loan to Henry's Acme off South Hawkins Avenue in West Akron to keep a store in the area.
Highland Square residents have been pushing for a grocery store for years, including staging a protest and holding several recent public forums.
Albrecht Inc., which owns the rights to develop a grocery store in the triangular space at North Portage Path and West Market Street, hasn't been able to find an interested store. The city, which has a development agreement with Albrecht, owns the land where the grocery store would be located.
The Highland Square study is expected to be completed within six to eight weeks. If the results are positive, Plusquellic said he hopes to negotiate deals with Cornucopia and Albrecht.
''I can't guarantee this is the one that works,'' he said.
The city also has been talking to several local residents who were proposing to open a co-op at the Highland Square site. Adele Roth, an economist with the city who has been working on the grocery store deal, hopes those residents will join in with Cornucopia if the company opens a store in the neighborhood.
Nature's Bin, the company's Lakewood store, features fresh produce from local growers, prepared meals, a full-service bakery and specialty foods, including for those who are lactose intolerant or need gluten-free items.
Roth said the prices are comparable to Trader Joe's, and not as high as Whole Foods.
Steve Albrecht, Albrecht's chairman, whose family also owns the Acme Fresh Markets, has said he's open to further discussing the grocery store with city officials.
He suggested in a recent letter to Plusquellic making a Cornucopia store part of a retail incubator at the site.
Plusquellic said he is open to listening to Albrecht's ideas but isn't sure there would be space for both a grocery store and other retail businesses.
''We are committed to a grocery store and we need as large of a footprint as we can get,'' he said.
During Plusquellic's state-of-the-city address in February, he mentioned the possibility of having parking on top of a grocery store in Highland Square to get around the space constraints. He said there are 35 parking spaces at Nature's Bin and he thinks there would be room for 80 to 90 spaces at the Highland Square site — without rooftop parking.
Cornucopia uses Nature's Bin as a vocational training site for people with disabilities and would do the same at the Highland Square store.
Hattie Larlham, which has long served the region's disabled population, hopes to be involved if the Highland Square store becomes a reality by opening in the store a cafe that employs disabled people.
''We feel this is a very good and positive collaboration,'' said Dennis Allen, chief executive officer of Hattie Larlham, which announced plans Wednesday to open a seventh cafe at the Akron Art Museum.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.
com.
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic sees a grocery store as a basic amenity for a neighborhood.
And, when a neighborhood is without a grocery store, he thinks it's appropriate for the city to work to attract one.
That's what Plusquellic hopes Akron has done for the Highland Square neighborhood, with Cornucopia Inc., a Lakewood-based company.
Plusquellic officially announced Wednesday that the city will do a market study for Cornucopia to see if the company could meet the needs of the diverse West Akron neighborhood. The company has an organic and fresh foods store in Lakewood.
''We are hoping this is the right match for this neighborhood and meets the needs of the majority of people in the area,'' Plusquellic said during a news conference.
This isn't the first time Akron has gotten into the grocery business. Akron helped with the new Dave's Market in East Akron, securing funding to help buy the land and clean up the site and providing a low-interest loan to East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. to develop the plaza. The city also gave a low-interest loan to Henry's Acme off South Hawkins Avenue in West Akron to keep a store in the area.
Highland Square residents have been pushing for a grocery store for years, including staging a protest and holding several recent public forums.
Albrecht Inc., which owns the rights to develop a grocery store in the triangular space at North Portage Path and West Market Street, hasn't been able to find an interested store. The city, which has a development agreement with Albrecht, owns the land where the grocery store would be located.
The Highland Square study is expected to be completed within six to eight weeks. If the results are positive, Plusquellic said he hopes to negotiate deals with Cornucopia and Albrecht.
''I can't guarantee this is the one that works,'' he said.
The city also has been talking to several local residents who were proposing to open a co-op at the Highland Square site. Adele Roth, an economist with the city who has been working on the grocery store deal, hopes those residents will join in with Cornucopia if the company opens a store in the neighborhood.
Nature's Bin, the company's Lakewood store, features fresh produce from local growers, prepared meals, a full-service bakery and specialty foods, including for those who are lactose intolerant or need gluten-free items.
Roth said the prices are comparable to Trader Joe's, and not as high as Whole Foods.
Steve Albrecht, Albrecht's chairman, whose family also owns the Acme Fresh Markets, has said he's open to further discussing the grocery store with city officials.
He suggested in a recent letter to Plusquellic making a Cornucopia store part of a retail incubator at the site.
Plusquellic said he is open to listening to Albrecht's ideas but isn't sure there would be space for both a grocery store and other retail businesses.
''We are committed to a grocery store and we need as large of a footprint as we can get,'' he said.
During Plusquellic's state-of-the-city address in February, he mentioned the possibility of having parking on top of a grocery store in Highland Square to get around the space constraints. He said there are 35 parking spaces at Nature's Bin and he thinks there would be room for 80 to 90 spaces at the Highland Square site — without rooftop parking.
Cornucopia uses Nature's Bin as a vocational training site for people with disabilities and would do the same at the Highland Square store.
Hattie Larlham, which has long served the region's disabled population, hopes to be involved if the Highland Square store becomes a reality by opening in the store a cafe that employs disabled people.
''We feel this is a very good and positive collaboration,'' said Dennis Allen, chief executive officer of Hattie Larlham, which announced plans Wednesday to open a seventh cafe at the Akron Art Museum.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.
com.
Comments
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akron, oh
Posted 06:33 PM, 07/01/2009
Sounds good to me. I still think that Steve "I own a chain of grocery stores, but I can't seem to find a grocery store to move into my Highland Square property" Albrecht didn't behave as he should have, but we have to move past that and find a new solution.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:56 PM, 07/01/2009
*Rolls eyes*
akron, oh
Posted 08:10 AM, 07/02/2009
Like I posted yesterday, as far as I am concerned, if this turns out to cost the taxpayers of Akron money, We should file a lawsuit against the city. If these cry babies in highland square want a store, they pay for it yourselves.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:57 AM, 07/02/2009
Hope this works out. I'd much rather shop in Akron for organic foods and locally grown produce than wasting time and gas driving out to Montrose.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:03 AM, 07/02/2009
dduckster - its not like Highland Square is the only part of town receiving special treatment from this City in this way. Did you read the article?
"This isn't the first time Akron has gotten into the grocery business. Akron helped with the new Dave's Market in East Akron, securing funding to help buy the land and clean up the site and providing a low-interest loan to East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. to develop the plaza. The city also gave a low-interest loan to Henry's Acme off South Hawkins Avenue in West Akron to keep a store in the area."
Akron, OH
Posted 09:08 AM, 07/02/2009
Don't you Akron Taxpayers like the way Plusquellic is into the banking business? The City of Akron LOANS money to businesses?
Something doesn't sound right.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:03 AM, 07/02/2009
I don't have a problem with the city helpin' to find a store for that area, but I certainly don't think we should be payin' for a survey.
One would think that iff'n the idea was viable, Albretch could have put a mini-store in there themselves.
We'll have to wait and see what happens here, and how much it will cost the city.
Lookin' at the brightside. This is cheaper than some of the city hall hero's vacations.......er, business trips.
Richfield, OH
Posted 10:23 AM, 07/02/2009
Didn't the people realize there wasn't a store when they moved to that area. Let them drive. I'm sure there is one 10-15 mins away.
Posted 10:28 AM, 07/02/2009
The first question on the survey should ask
Will you pay $4 a gallon for milk (the price quoted from the Lakewood store in the story yesterday). If the answer is NO, they will not open this store.
Can the majority of shoppers in Highland square afford prices like that? Not just the young professionals, but eldery, college students, working class people?
As far as Akron spending money on it, like the story said IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME. I think some readers are just tired of Highland Square residents demanding this store. The whole thing was a problem with the city and the developer. Letting Albrecht whose family owns ACME having control over the project was a bad idea, like the fox guarding the hen house.
Hudson, OH
Posted 10:29 AM, 07/02/2009
There are a lot of neighborhoods on Akron, that don't have a grocery store. What makes Highland Square so special that they "demand" one? Mason Park area didn't have one for years after Acme closed, and you never heard the people there complain like the people in Highland Square. Take the 2 minute drive to the Acme on W. Market, and shut up about it. There are worse problems going on in Akron and the world.
akron, oh
Posted 10:37 AM, 07/02/2009
@reagan,
There was a grocery store there until Albrecht chose to redevelop the area, tearing down an 10,000 s.f. store.
akron, oh
Posted 10:43 AM, 07/02/2009
@RUNTS,
Do you have any idea how a city prospers? You think its all built by liquid cash? Why wouldn't a city want to increase their tax base?
Posted 11:07 AM, 07/02/2009
This is a great idea and bringing a "Trader Joe's"style store to Highland is perfect.
@ RUNUTS
I'm sure Cornucopia will have an appropriate cheese to serve with your whine.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:44 AM, 07/02/2009
"Albrecht Inc., which owns the rights to develop a grocery store ... hasn't been able to find an interested store."
You can change that line to "Albrecht Inc. could not possibly care any less than they do."
Make the world a better place... punch a Steeler fan in the face, .
Posted 12:09 PM, 07/02/2009
Since RUNuts is against this, I now support it. Roll on, subsidized HS grocery store.
Stow, OH
Posted 12:16 PM, 07/02/2009
The grocery in that area will specialize in hotdogs & sausages.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:32 PM, 07/02/2009
TOJason: Bet you support Tony Troppe and all his dirty dealings with Plusquellic also. Can't wait until the Feds investigate Troppe and Plusquellic. Make my day!
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:12 PM, 07/02/2009
Why should the city be concerned with putting a grocery store in the city? Obviously you people know nothing about economic development. I live a just outside Highland Square. I drive to Fairlawn to buy my groceries. I would much rather keep my money within the City but my only option is Acme #1. Acme charges top dollar for organic options. Giant Eagle is a much better deal. If there were a Trader Joe's it would attract a lot of locals from the suburbs too. I know people in Fairlawn and Copley that make the trip up to Woodmere or Westlake to find a Trader Joe's.
And by putting a Grocery in HS it makes the are more attactive to homebuyers. So the City would get tax dollars from both the grocery and homeowners. Win-Win! Cities must be proactive in bringing businesses to their residents. Good businesses are the key to attracting residents.
Barberton, Oh
Posted 03:18 PM, 07/02/2009
Maybe those people are lucky that they don't have an Albrech store there. The one by me, I'm always comming up a buck or two difference than what I figured up. I'm not the only one that sees this from that place. I don't really check it out unless it's more than that.
Posted 03:20 PM, 07/02/2009
@ RUNUTS
Please give it up..no matter the topic you still want to revive and relive your 15 minutes of infamy.
In case you have trouble reading this THE RECALL IS OVER! Move on and stop cluttering every story with your nonesense posts. Even Mendenhall has to be embarassed by your shallowness. BTW, this is the last I will ever respond to any of your worthless and vile posts.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:51 PM, 07/02/2009
IrishLou: But the dirty deals cut between Plusquellic and Tony Troppe are not over. Whichever company opens a store in Highland Square should get the same tax abatements as Tony Troppe, and numerous other Plusquellic cronies. Maybe the new grocery will open, then move out and leave the property vacant and in disrepair, like Tony Troppe does.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:33 PM, 07/02/2009
THE DON is doin' his job. Lookin' out for the peeps, but I am not sure that this type store will fly there. IMO, HS is a small enclave of "Granola" wrapped in a layer of "Thug". That is a tough demographic to establish/sustain a business anywhere. Which is probably why Albrecht never put his store in, but sadly/wisely bought the rights to anyone who comes up with a good fit.
Albrecht is the one who deserves the venom on this whole thing. He could easily open an "Acme-Plus" little inner-city grocery ala Dean and Deluca's, but refuses to.
C'mon, Steve. Your not losing money. Show the good people of Highland Square that you have a pair!
(no rhyme intended!)
:0)
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:15 PM, 07/02/2009
The thugs will shoplift it right out of the neighborhood anyway. Let's dress up and re-build the neighborhoods that destroy themselves with the money of the responsible people!
akron, oh
Posted 12:01 PM, 07/03/2009
RUNUTS,
Do you have any idea what the idea of tax abatements applies to and when they are used? You are making yourself look less informed by the day, ha!
Green, Oh
Posted 09:34 AM, 07/05/2009
We live in Summit County. We must drive 15 min to the closest grocery store
So what?
Highland Square is a bus ride or short walk to Acme 1.
How many homeowners are there in Highland Square? How many renters?
Ever go to a large city? You must walk/bus/or train your way to a store that equals the size of a Trader Joe or Whole Foods. Not every block has that size of a grocery store. Why should Highland Square? You don't have half the population living in your area as larger urban areas.
akron, oh
Posted 12:19 PM, 07/07/2009
@commenting,
Highland Square is the densest area of Akron, no? Why do people feel the need to drive everywhere? Is there a subway system every 15 mins in Akron somewhere that I'm missing? After all, that's what large cities have, right?
