A Grocery in Park Plaza South?
Dan Voelpel’s column this weekend gave us a little update on the Park Plaza South project. His big news? A grocery store. The leasing agent has “engaged in conversations with an unidentified grocer” about the space. The vision would be that the parking garage turned mixed-use building parking garage could be a downtown destination with a grocery store, drug store, and restaurant. Do we like the building? Yes. Are there decent lease incentives? It sounds like it. Are they negotiating? No.
We’re just a bit skeptical that a grocery would locate someplace as a car focused destination in an urban core with no foot traffic. But hey, who wouldn’t want a grocery store downtown?
Is it 2006 again?
Link to The News Tribune
Filed under: tacoma-business, dowtown-tacoma
47 comments
F Frizzlebee May 4, 2009
This would be a great thing for downtown. Having a grocery store in the downtown area is going to help fill the empty condos… I hope.
Granted, Stadium Thriftway, Metropolitan Market, and Albertsons aren’t too far away, but having a major grocery store (assuming that the space is large enough for a full store) within walking distance of several condo/apartment buildings will more than have it’s fair share of faithful shoppers. And, parking right above? Perfect.
My only regret would be the negative effect it would have on Thea’s Market.
E Ed Murrieta May 4, 2009
Whole Foods is not coming to Tacoma. My bet is Red Apple Market.
R reenerb May 4, 2009
I would love a grocery store within walking distance to where I live! Somewhere to buy chocolate chips, flour, etc. for those last-minute cookie cravings! Even another Thriftway would be neat! [Like the one in Stadium.]
K Kara May 4, 2009
I too would love a downtown grocery store. But who is close to this location other than the Perkins Building and Cliff Street? Will people seriously drive downtown to do their grocery shopping? Especially if it’s a Red Apple Market or something similar?
N Nick May 4, 2009
I could see Safeway considering a move from its current hilltop location here. It could serve the same general area while increasing its footprint substantially.
I know the reason that hilltop Safeway hasn’t been renovated is because the property it sits on isn’t large enough to make a remodel worthwhile. Knowing Safeway, they would probably spring for a larger lot on hilltop somewhere before shelling out to locate downtown, but who knows?
R reenerb May 4, 2009
Theas Landing is not that far of a walk from there. I do that walk all the time.
T Thorax O'Tool May 4, 2009
Here is how my shopping breaks down:
70% Fred Meyer
15% Grocery Outlet/Save-A-Lot/WinCo
10% Tacoma Boys
5% Stadium Thriftway
I’m under a mile from the Thriftway, but due to their much higher prices, I tend to only get stuff I’d rather not drive across town for (cat food, milk, etc).
If they put something either cheaper than Thriftway or dramatically different (like an organic store or something), I would totally go there.
I I'm for Change (for tacoma) May 4, 2009
That would be a great spot not just for those living downtown, but those working downtown who then commute home to the ‘burbs. If carrying their groceries back to their cars is too much trouble, they can drive to Park Place South and park.
C Chris K. May 4, 2009
I guess we’ll take what we can get, if it actually happens. Wish it were closer to a LINK stop though.
D dolly varden May 4, 2009
Voelpel’s column says Trader Joe’s isn’t considering moving in there, but they should. I think they would draw more people downtown — and be more successful — than a Safeway or Red Apple.
C crenshaw sepulveda May 4, 2009
Trader Joe’s is a draw no matter where they locate. I think they are pretty much in the driver’s seat. I don’t think they’d locate in downtown Tacoma just to help us out. I’d seriously question them locating in downtown Tacoma if we gave them a free building ready to go. Trader Joe’s does not like to fail.
F Frizzlebee May 4, 2009
Eventually the store’s customers would include The Espalande, along with the Harmon Lofts, Thea’s Landing, Cliff Street Lofts, Perkin Lofts, and 3 or 4 more buildings that I can never remember the name of. Plus, if it is a less pricier store than Stadium, I could see a lot of others making the downtown grocer their home.
T TacomptonAroma May 4, 2009
Whole Foods is a draw no matter where they locate. I think they are pretty much in the driver’s seat. I don’t think they’d locate in downtown Tacoma just to help us out. I’d seriously question them locating in downtown Tacoma if we gave them a free building ready to go. Whole Foods does not like to fail.
D dale rush May 4, 2009
It answers a ton of issues for all of us downtown and the guests at #1320 will be “very pleased” that they can walk a block !
Thank you Mr. Putnam-the vision is shared by many-trust me on that;
J Jesse May 4, 2009
Dan’s column said it’s a “destination grocery”. I seriously doubt it’s a Red Apple, Thriftway, or Safeway. The article also suggested it wasn’t Trader Joe’s. That leaves Whole Foods, Tacoma Boys, something from the Harbor Greens people (Gig Harbor), or maybe a Metropolitan Market.
T Thorax O'Tool May 5, 2009
What exactly is “destination grocery”?
Just because the Trader Joe people weren’t talking to Neil Walter, we can’t rule anything out yet… including a possibility of an out-of-state chain looking for a chance to get a foot into the Puget Sound region.
I think the catch is to have a grocery store different enough to be “special” but normal enough so people actually shop there… regularly.
J Jesse May 5, 2009
A “destination grocery” is a grocery that draws people because it’s unique in some way or is intricate. It’s usually higher cost with high end stuff like Whole Foods or unique like that asian market in Fed Way —-HH Market??? of r something.
I mean, that’s what I’d think a destination store was. Basically, it’s a store that deserves a special trip because of it’s unique-ness.
D David Koch May 5, 2009
Maybe the Tacoma Food Co-op exceeded their fund-raising expectations and celebrated by choosing a downtown market location!!!
S Squid May 5, 2009
How about a PCC market?
Me, I am still holding out for DeLaurentis.
T The Fish May 5, 2009
A PCC would be fantastic, one can dream. I live in the North Slope neighborhood and use Stadium Thriftway for little one-off shopping. But I work Downtown and would use a grocery store at that location often before I headed home for dinner items…think fresh garlic bread on spaghetti nights!
D dolly varden May 5, 2009
Maybe the city could give the Tacoma Food Co-op startup loan. Good food is a much more pressing need for the city’s residents than a car museum, for instance.
C crenshaw sepulveda May 5, 2009
Amen on the Food Co-op, it certainly could provide an anchor for downtown, the so called destination store. What a great idea, why doesn’t the city throw a Co-op a bone vis some start up money.
D David Koch May 5, 2009
Well, the city of Tacoma won’t throw anyone a bone unless someone asks for it. Anyone want to help put something together? Or should we assume the TFC will do it and we can just sit back to do nothing? Call me if you want to do something (address the city council perhaps?) about it. 215-435-5578. I don’t expect any calls, but if someone does, I’ll be there 100%.
C Carla A. Gramlich May 5, 2009
There is another grocery store going in on the corner of S.25 and Yakima. I live right next to the construction and works nights and sleep (try to sleep) during the day.
We don’t know the store yet. Also, being told a pizza store and coffee shop.
It will take about a year.
A altered Chords May 5, 2009
Been hearing for 2 years that Tacoma needs a grocery store downtown. Now we might get 2. Me – I buy everything from Costco 2 minutes from home or Safeway 20 seconds from home.
Last insider I spoke w/ at Trader Joes 2 yrs ago said they were considering Olympia but Tacoma was NOT on their radar screen. It really only does take 10 minutes to get from downtown to the UP trader Joes.
C crenshaw sepulveda May 6, 2009
I think what the TFC needs to do is to let us know it is thinking about moving out of downtown because it needs more space. Next thing you know we’ll have hundreds of millions of dollars available for an International Co-op District. Utilities will be buried, parking will be erected, waste will be cleaned up, taxes will be reduced, and abatements will abound.
N NSHDscott May 6, 2009
My bet’s on PCC.
C crenshaw sepulveda May 6, 2009
David@23,
I know lots of people that have been boned by the City of Tacoma without asking for it.
C c.rae May 6, 2009
Tacoma Boys!!! : )
Y You're Welcome May 6, 2009
2 grocery stores, a car museum, a new local coffee shop, and a pizza place! Tacoma needs them all and I hope we get them.
1 little request: could the pizza store be a “pizza by the slice” style place that stays open 24 hours. Or at least 3am. OK, 2:30am. That would be heaven.
D David Koch May 6, 2009
@30: Seriously, I’ve been dying for a 24 hour pizza by the slice joint. Many nights I’ve wandered the city looking for a decent snack and having to settle for something other than pizza. !
T Thorax O'Tool May 6, 2009
It’s not by the slice, but I’ve seen PSP open past 1am many times. I also regularly see the Rock over by UWT open till like 2 or so on Friday and Saturday nights before.
So if “Pizza Buy The Slice” is so wanted, why hasn’t one gone in yet in downtown?
Y You're Welcome May 6, 2009
“Pizza by the slice” downtown in the center of the bars, after last call. That would be perfect.
I’ve also thought next to the 24-hour Bertolino’s, near Target would work. That place is packed late at night and a little snack would be a big bonus.
T Thorax O'Tool May 6, 2009
24 hr Pizza by the Slice… I can think of a ton of empty places to put one.
So how do we go about getting some venture capital? Stimulus money? Sweet talk our Fearless Leaders? A pizza co-op? Anyone?
I drove by 25th & Yakima today. Sure enough, something certainly grocery store sized is going in, that large lot is being leveled and they have earthmover equipment out there working. No signage on the fence, and since I was driving I couldn’t read the yellow permit info sign.
Jake, that’s your hood. Got any info?
D drizell May 7, 2009
25th and Yak—that’s the site where Metropolitan Real Estate Development had planned a grocery store, coffee shop, and about six stories of apartments. It would be the first true new mixed use building in the predominantly residential area of the 1999 downtown comprehensive plan.
MetroRED also was working on the project to build a grocery store and seven stories of apartments along St. Helens between 4th and 6th. They were talking with an Arizona-based grocer then. There are a couple really good grocery stores down here in Tucson, like Sunflower Market, which is like a Whole Foods except larger and less expensive. Unfortunately, it’s been hard to get updates from MetroRED since their website has been “down for maintenance” for over a year now…
Anyone have pics of the 25th and Yak site? It would make my day!
J Jake May 7, 2009
The 25th and Yakima site is pretty much flat ground and a big slope of dirt. They just have permits for the grading of the site and soil nails to go in under the street/sidewalk. The actual building permits are still being worked on. The city won’t release info until the permits are actually given.
A friend went and talked to someone over there a few weeks ago and they told him it was going to be low-income apartments. Not sure if it just came from a construction worker who might not know the real plans or the developer. MRED wouldn’t respond to my emails. I asked Dan V and he said another TNT reporter had the same problem, MRED not getting back to them. Dan is going to try to get a hold of them.
I am hoping for market rate apartments. There aren’t any in the neighborhood.
Last I heard the 6th and St Helens project is a no go for now.
D drizell May 7, 2009
When the project was first announced, MRED said they were going to target the student population at nearby UWT. Maybe that’s the explanation behind the “low income housing” reference.
C crenshaw sepulveda May 7, 2009
Pizza by the slice can be had at the Broadway Quick Stop and Deli, located at 924 Broadway. I do not know how long they stay open but you can get a slice there. Pizza by the slice in downtown Tacoma has been available for quite some time.
D David Boe May 7, 2009
The challenge for locating a grocery store downtown is the delivery conundrum. Grocery stores need pretty convenient loading and unloading facilities (think the NW corner of MMM in Proctor). So if the grocery store is on Pacific, then there is a loading dock on Pacific? Or is the loading and unloading done in the street? – which would block a lane of traffic as the parrallel parking was removed as part of this project. If the grocery store is on Commerce – will anybody find it? And if the store is on Pacific but uses the loading dock on Commerce, the additional handling of the stock just added 15% to your bag of Cheetos. I wish the developers well on cracking this nut.
R RR Anderson May 7, 2009
groceries are unloaded at the convention center tractor trailer loading dock and delivered via pneumatic tube through the deep-bore Chinese tunnels to the south parking plaza thingy.
either that or air dropped from c-130’s to the roof top of the parking garage.
C CA May 7, 2009
Anyone know how Theas Market is doing down on Dockstreet? The few times I’ve walked by it looked pretty dead.
Y You're Welcome May 7, 2009
There’s a Theas Market on Dock Street?
T Thorax O'Tool May 7, 2009
As for Thea’s market, I went in for the first time on Monday.
It’s nice and all, but it’s also dead. The whole time I was there, I didn’t see anyone come in, walk by or even drive by. They have some fancier stuff, but I’m sad to say that a 7-11 has better selection.
T Thorax O'Tool May 7, 2009
@ Dave Boe…
I thought about that too, and I think we can pull an example from the QFC on Broadway in Seattle. Even though their dock is on a moderately busy side street, the whole dock area is recessed back far enough that the semi can back in and not be in the street at all.
M Mofo from the Hood May 8, 2009
People, you all need to take the horse blinders off.
A semi-truck loading dock area and highly desirable Pac Ave grocery store is NOT the right fit for Park Plaza South.
Clue: Huge dirt parking lot and historically significant leaning skyscraper.
I’m talkin’ about…
• LUZON PACIFIC COSMOPOLITAN MARKET •
D David Koch May 9, 2009
Screw the blinders! Gimme some of that LUZON PACIFIC COSMOPOLITAN MARKET !!!
R ronda May 13, 2009
I would love to get a PCC or Wholefoods downtown. Tacoma needs some healthy options. I shop at Top but would love to have something new downtown.