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Do IT this week: Layering
City talking to potential grocer to serve Highland Square area. Market study will be launched
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Jul 01, 2009
The city of Akron might have found a grocer for Highland Square.
City officials for several months have been in talks with Cornucopia Inc., a nonprofit corporation with an organic and fresh foods store in Lakewood, about opening a second store in West Akron.
Mayor Don Plusquellic will hold a press conference today to announce that the city will conduct a survey to determine if such a store would meet the needs of Highland Square residents, who have been clamoring for a grocer for several years.
Regardless of the survey's results, the deal is far from done.
The city still would need to work out an agreement with Albrecht Inc., which owns the rights to develop the triangular site where the store would be located at North Portage Path and West Market Street.
Plusquellic, who promised in April to find a grocer for Highland Square, even if the city had to ''do it ourselves,'' thinks a Cornucopia store would be a great fit. The store would serve as a vocational training site for people with disabilities. He called this a ''social enterprise.''
''It isn't Whole Foods or Giant Eagle, but I think it would meet the needs of the community,'' Plusquellic said.
Highland Square residents have been vocal about their desire for a grocery store. Many staged a protest in August 2007 and packed several recent public forums on the topic.
Residents and the city have been frustrated by Albrecht's failure to attract a grocery store. The company's agreement with the city calls for it to use ''commercially reasonable best efforts'' to find a store.
The lack of available store size, parking, profitability and the poor economy have made that difficult. At least 19 prospective grocers have declined to move to the site, despite financial incentives from the city.
City leaders first heard about Cornucopia through Dennis Allen, chief executive officer of Hattie Larlham, which has long served the region's disabled population. Hattie Larlham recently opened several area cafes where people with disabilities work, including one in the basement of Akron City Hall.
Allen has indicated that Hattie Larlham would like to be involved if Cornucopia opens a store in Highland Square.
Adele Roth, Akron's acting economic development director, who was at Nature's Bin — Cornucopia's Lakewood store — Tuesday, said the store is more like Trader Joe's than Whole Foods in terms of pricing.
Roth said the store was selling a half gallon of organic milk for $3 and a gallon of Smith's Dairy milk for $4.19. She found ground flax seed, which she puts on her cereal, for a price comparable to Giant Eagle.
Roth said the store had fresh produce from local growers and prepared meals at reasonable prices.
''They have all the basics there, but they don't have Wonder bread,'' she said.
Cornucopia, which has been in existence for 34 years, opened Nature's Bin in 1991.
A second store the corporation started in Cleveland Heights failed after about 81/2 years, closing in 2004.
Scott Duennes, Cornucopia's executive director, said the store was hurt by other competitors that opened close by, including a Whole Foods less than a mile away.
Duennes said the company is excited about the possibility of expanding its vocational training program to the Akron area. He said company officials want to see survey results before they decide how to proceed.
''This is obviously a serious invitation by the city,'' he said. ''They sought us out. We weren't looking.''
Duennes doesn't think the space for the Highland Square site would be a problem. Nature's Bin has about 6,000 square feet of retail space and another 3,000 square feet that includes back rooms, coolers and upstairs offices.
Roth said the survey, expected to cost $10,000 to $15,000, will be like a crystal ball for Cornucopia.
''We don't want to set anybody up to fail,'' she said.
If the results are positive, Plusquellic said, the city would enter into negotiations with Cornucopia and Albrecht. If city officials are able to work out a deal for a grocery store, the mayor said it would be difficult for Albrecht to refuse.
Many details remain unclear, including what the city's and Albrecht's involvement would be, the cost of the development and who would pay for what.
Steve Albrecht, Albrecht's chairman, whose family also owns the Acme Fresh Markets, recently sent a letter to Plusquellic that suggested making a Cornucopia grocery store part of a retail incubator for area businesses at the Highland Square site.
''We will see if we can't get something going,'' said Albrecht, who has been out of town but will return today and plans to talk to Plusquellic. ''The status quo is unacceptable to us and for the community.''
Still, Albrecht cautioned that the grocery store is part of a larger plan to finish the redevelopment of Highland Square.
''We don't want to get the train in front of the caboose,'' he said.
City officials said it might be impossible to make every Highland Square resident happy.
Roth said the only thing that was clear from the recent public forums was that people couldn't agree on what type of store was needed. She said some wanted the cheapest possible venue, while others argued for the best fruits and vegetables.
Plusquellic thinks the Cornucopia store would make 90 percent of the Highland Square residents happy. After he gave this estimate, he said he might be off by 20 percent.
At least one Highland Square activist who has been pushing for a grocery store is enthusiastic.
''I think the mayor is really making the right decision here,'' said Lisa Bostwick, a board member of the Highland Square Neighborhood Association. ''This is absolutely a good thing.''
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.
com.
The city of Akron might have found a grocer for Highland Square.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:30 AM, 07/01/2009
Is this the promised MAJOR announcement delayed from the recall that Mayor Donny Boy held back? He's doing a study to see what kind of grocery store the people want? Cornucopia will directly compete with West Point Market. They sell the same high end priced groceries. I don't think they will be successful in this very bad closed wallet economy.
akron, oh
Posted 07:42 AM, 07/01/2009
what I want to know is why is the City and eventually the taxpayers of Akron, responsible for obtaining and paying for a grocery store in highland square? just because they want one? Here is my idea to all of you complainers.... why don't you shut up, spend your own money and open a grocery store? Open an IGA or partner with Supervalu. I am sure some bank will finance the venture, and the residents can be on the hook for it. I for one am sick and tired of hereing this story. Put your money where YOUR mouth is, not mine.
akron, oh
Posted 07:45 AM, 07/01/2009
Doesn't Russ Pry live in Highland Square? Interesting.............
Akron, oh
Posted 08:01 AM, 07/01/2009
I suggest a food bank instead of a grocery store. Remember Akron caters to welfare people. Chassing out the middle class from Akron.
Yep if you work hard go to school try to be fair with people there will always be a democrateic parasite politian to take our money away
Posted 08:24 AM, 07/01/2009
@ dduckster,
Agreed. If area businesses viewed Highland Square as a profitable area to locate to, this would be a non-issue. I don't understand either why this is the city's responsibility. If you want these amenities and your neighborhood can't attract them, MOVE!
akron, oh
Posted 08:28 AM, 07/01/2009
Instead of trying to find a grocery store for a very small corner of Akron, HIRE MORE POLICE AND CRACK DOWN ON CRIME.
There is a reason why no grocer exists today in Highland Square. Think about it.
Posted 08:44 AM, 07/01/2009
OMG, thank you. Your opinion from Tallmadge matters at all.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:50 AM, 07/01/2009
Great news!
akron, OH
Posted 08:54 AM, 07/01/2009
This is a specialty store, not a grocery.
akron, oh
Posted 09:00 AM, 07/01/2009
I agree. Perhaps the people who live in this area need to move, out of Akron.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:08 AM, 07/01/2009
Hipsters don't need to eat! They just need Indie music, chai tea, and their painful middle-class childhoods to sustain them.
You people know nothing.
akron, OH
Posted 09:24 AM, 07/01/2009
USA Today article was about how commerical/small businesses are going bankrupt at a tremendous rate of speed. Why would you think that given the grocery competition in this city that it would be a good use of taxpayer money to subsidize this new business and what makes the Highland Square community more special than any other Akron neighborhood? We could use a neighborhood grocery in Firestone Park as well. We used to have a couple on Astor Avenue...they went out of business because they couldn't compete with the grocery stores on Waterloo Road. Get real!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:39 AM, 07/01/2009
And the survey says.....
"The lack of available store size, parking, profitability and the poor economy have made that difficult. At least 19 prospective grocers have declined to move to the site, despite financial incentives from the city."
ddd
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:50 AM, 07/01/2009
''We don't want to get the train in front of the caboose,'' Uh, yes you do. let's hope this wasn't a Freudian slip.
and gene - "what makes the Highland Square community more special than any other Akron neighborhood?"
Some of the people who live in Highland Square think they are special souls and a cut above the rest of humanity.
Posted 09:52 AM, 07/01/2009
avedakevin79 comment was taken off the site - so before anyone starts complaining about what TOJ and domer are talking about lets just say they are correct and the comment was stupid. It should have been left up just so people could see how idiotic it was.
Posted 09:54 AM, 07/01/2009
Folks...if it was economically viable someone would take it on.....PLEASE do not burden the tax payer with another 'forced' private business to meet a perceived need. If the Lakewood operator wants to do this, great! But please do not accept a guarantee from the city to make it work. It will just become another failed empty shell if artificially contrived or supported.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:58 AM, 07/01/2009
Waaaahhh... I dont have a grocery store in my neighborhood Waaaahhhh
akron, oh
Posted 10:05 AM, 07/01/2009
I still want my Cabelas!
Mayor, where's my Cabelas? I have to drive to Michigan. That's too far.
Will the people in Barberton be given a new 'Adult Bookstore' since the fire?
Where is the justice???
Akron, OH
Posted 10:08 AM, 07/01/2009
Rhetoric. Simply more rhetoric. We're no longer impressed.
akron, oh
Posted 10:09 AM, 07/01/2009
I may also add, that rich younger democrats live in highland square, you know, the ones who will keep supporting the city administration!! so of course the Don needs to keep them happy.
I implore city council NOT to spend a dime of taxpayer money to support this. At all. If the residents of Highland Square want this, let them, and them alone pay for it.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:14 AM, 07/01/2009
OK, we have to give kudos to the city hall hero for livin' up to his promise to look for a store. Beyond that, I don't think it's the city's responsibility to pay for a survey to see iff'n the store would be viable in that area.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:21 AM, 07/01/2009
It's evident that some people are just not educated on the growth patterns of a city. Highland Square, and I don't even live there, represents the days gone by where we could walk to places and mingle socially. If you are so profoundly against the notion of a super market here, why don't you move?? This is to better our community, not surrender to the wants or desires of a small community! I've lived in metropolitan areas where the smaller commuities were loved and whatever it took to maintain them was rallied!!! I say let's get a super market in there!!! I for one shop at the Acme and hate it's sometime filth and lack of choices. Not to mention the absolute TERRIBLE service. I only go because it's close. Give me a different market with a different attitude!!! IN Highland Square!!
akron, oh
Posted 10:27 AM, 07/01/2009
http://www.cornucopia-inc.org
Looks like a good fit for Highland Square. I have been hoping Akron could get a Trader Joe's and this might be an eqvivalent.
I hope it will work out.
U, OH
Posted 10:46 AM, 07/01/2009
This grocery sounds like a good idea, especially that the produce will be local & fresh.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:51 AM, 07/01/2009
almkr,
The very basic and undeniable reality is that if there was a huge base of people that would spend their money at a local grocer, someone would have moved in there a long time ago. Money talks, no matter the neighborhood.
Posted 11:04 AM, 07/01/2009
1. The people are clamoring for a grocery store because it was part and parcel of the deal that gave Albrecht the property.
2. Albrecht won't develope it because it would compete with Acme#1.
3. A small, high-end store wouldn't be able to compete with West Point Market.
Conclusion: Assuming all the enviromenatal hazards have been removed, the parcel would make a nice parking lot for the bars in Highland Square.
Akron, oh
Posted 11:15 AM, 07/01/2009
What makes Highland Square special? A bunch of nagging old ladies, to bad that by the time a store opens up there they will all be dead.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:27 AM, 07/01/2009
Are we longer in good hands with avedakevin79?
Posted 11:32 AM, 07/01/2009
There's a Giant Eagle by Fairlawn Towne Center, an Acme on W. Market St., and West Point Market.
Small wonder there's no grocery store that wants to go to Highland Sq.
Umm, HELLO! People of Highland Square, what do you expect?! A grocery store at every corner?!
Akron, OH
Posted 11:34 AM, 07/01/2009
Never thought I would say this but I completely agree with TOJ. If the money is there they will build. Obviously, the money is obviously NOT there, nor never will be there.
Posted 11:51 AM, 07/01/2009
i agree with TOJ too - even the comments that were taken out!
Antioch, Fl
Posted 12:00 PM, 07/01/2009
I read an article last week regarding the last national chain grocery store has moved out of Detroit. There are none left.
I wonder if their Council is snapping up vacant lots to bribe other stores with.
I somehow doubt it.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:26 PM, 07/01/2009
So Don's in Highland Square lookin' for a grocery store. Somebody else was out looking for one there a couple weeks ago. And got mugged.
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 12:41 PM, 07/01/2009
Just because the residents want a grocery store, doesn't necessarily mean that Highland Square needs a grocery store. If grocers really felt that there was enough demand in Highland Square, one would have opened shop already.
The reality is, the Highland Square neighborhood is perfectly well served by the Acme a mile up the road in Walhaven.
Posted 12:54 PM, 07/01/2009
Like somebody else said this is a specialty store not a regular grocer.
$4 for a gallon of milk? Local drug stores chains have been selling milk at discounted prices close to $2 a gallon for several years. And now Giant Eagle (at least the one in Fairlawn Town Center) is selling milk for $1.99 a gallon. If the prices are double what a local area grocer is, how will many in this area on lower income have money for groceries.
I agree with the basic point of others, the city should not be getting so involved in it. The agreement with Albrecht to develop and include a grocery store gave people the idea that one would happen. He hasn't been able to find somebody, either because there is nobody interested, or because he doesn't want to hurt his own family's ACME business.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:10 PM, 07/01/2009
So, being where the City is now and having made a commitment to bring a grocer to the area, I hope the HS residents come through and support the niche grocer and, more importantly, a potential Hattie's Cafe. Hattie's locations are great operations that provide opportunities for individuals to earn a paycheck. While there is a social mission, these are bona fide businesses that earn money for the non-profit.
So HS residents, when the time comes, step it up!
Akron, OH
Posted 01:55 PM, 07/01/2009
@almkr: Regarding Acme #1's "lack of choices" and "absolute TERRIBLE service": care to elaborate?
They actually seem to offer a wide variety. Now, do they have organically-grown, fair-trade produce hand-picked by Tibetan monks? No, but it's much better quality than G.E.'s, for example...
Akron, OH
Posted 01:56 PM, 07/01/2009
...and their microbrew beer selection rivals/surpasses West Point's...
Akron, OH
Posted 02:16 PM, 07/01/2009
@Almkr: care to elaborate on your "lack of choices" and "absolute TERRIBLE service" comments about Acme #1? I find them to be quite helpful and courteous, and their produce (to name an example) is better than G.E.'s. Do they have organically-produced yak milk hand-harvested by Tibetan monks? No, but that's what West Point is for...and Acme's microbrew selection is at least as good, if not better than, West Point's...
Akron, OH
Posted 03:15 PM, 07/01/2009
OK, so what happens when the grocery store that opens in Highland Square fails?
Akron, Oh
Posted 03:29 PM, 07/01/2009
I still want a Trader Joe's!
Akron, OH
Posted 03:35 PM, 07/01/2009
@Karen....
People will blame the Mayor.
Posted 04:24 PM, 07/01/2009
Walgreen's in the area has never been the answer. If you buy anything but medicine, its over priced. But I want to thank the Mayor for building us a food store at somebody else expense (taxes). Figure about $ 800,000 to build the store and get it up and running.
Edna
akron, oh
Posted 04:50 PM, 07/01/2009
All these posts bashing the Mayor and the City use of funds, but not one commenting on the fact that there is a land deal between Albrect and the City involving the land where the new library is?
Please get your facts straight people before you come and bash about things that you obviously know nothing about. I don't make comments about your neighborhood.
akron, oh
Posted 05:54 PM, 07/01/2009
EdnaRomano
Posted 04:24 PM, 07/01/2009 Walgreen's in the area has never been the answer. If you buy anything but medicine, its over priced. But I want to thank the Mayor for building us a food store at somebody else expense (taxes). Figure about $ 800,000 to build the store and get it up and running.
Edna
You have no idea what you are talking about do you? $800,000??? LOL Try around $2m when it is all said and done.
akron, oh
Posted 06:12 PM, 07/01/2009
Is anyone sick and tired of government involvement in E V E R Y aspect of our lives? Where does it end?
Akron, OH
Posted 08:01 AM, 07/02/2009
Trader Joe's would be an excellent choice. Their prices are awesome, and it is really fun to shop there.
There are already enough super-drugstores in Akron, and there is already one in Highland Square.
Please bring me Trader Joe's!!!
Akron, OH
Posted 03:14 PM, 07/09/2009
If Trader Joe's wanted to be in Highland Square, they would already be in Highland Square.
19 stores were asked, and 19 stores said no.
Clinton wanted to know "what is is?". Obviously, someone needs to explain to Plusquellic that "no means no".
