DenverInfill Blog

My family certainly makes use of the new Vitamin Cottage that opened up on 15th St. but we would prefer a full service grocery store. I hope a Whole Foods moves in rather than a King Soopers.
 

Finally a full grocery store! It's about time!!!! People may actually be able to live full-time in downtown denver with relative ease.
 

The King Soopers that opens there would most likely be one of their Uber Urban concepts with lots of organic foods et al. I do not want a Whole Paycheck in the CPV. Thanks very much, but we can keep those in the elitist neighborhoods like Cherry Crick!
 

This is great news for everyone in Denver!! It'll be nice to walk a few blocks and stock up on groceries instead of driving to the burbs. I personally can't wait..
 

I'm firmly in the camp for a Whole Foods / Whole Wallet. It fits the downtown market and demographics a whole lot better than a King Soopers or a Safeway. People who want to shop there can stay in the 'burbs.
 

like many many neighborhood markets this will fail unless we continue to increase our density.
 

I love Whole Foods, but it is so expensive! But as anonymous #2 said the Kroger company does have urban concept stores, and are expanding them. They also are introducing more and more organic items and natural choices for people, in order to compete with the likes of Whole Foods. Still if WF were cheaper I'd take that any day of the week!
 

It's amazing that people associate Whole Foods with an urban experience when they are just like King Soopers and Safeway; large chain-store companies that are far more comfortable in the "burbs' than elsewhere. But let's be honest, which companies are the ones that have taken a chance on center-city neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, or Curtis Park? Whole Foods certainly hasn't been the ones dipping their toe in the urban market.

I would prefer to see a King Soopers over a Whole Foods, though I do like both, since King Soopers carries a lot more of the everyday items than does Whole Foods. If not, residents of the CPV are still going to be forced to drive elsewhere for those items such as laundry detergent, prescriptions, hygiene items, etc.
 

A really nice Safeway "Lifestyle" store like the opened in Boulder would be the best...
 

Paul, exactly!! Atleast Wild Oats put stores in smaller urbanesque neighborhoods like Wash Park and Cheesman Park area, etc. I cant believe how many suckers buy into the Whole Foods BS.
 

This is great news.

A Sunflower Market would be a great addition to downtown since its sort of a hybrid of a Vitamin Cottage, WF, and regular grocery store. I shop at all four but prefer first two. Sunflower has great produce at reasonable prices (unlike WF) and a large selection of organics.
 

Wild Oats would have been preferable over Whole Foods, but we can nix that option because of the buyout.

What I'd really love to see is a Trader Joe's. I would think the Denver market would be perfect for them. I don't understand why they haven't targeted this region.
 

Anon - FYI, Wild Oats is now owned by Whole Foods. Whats with all the WF bashing anyway? Been shopping there for years and havent noticed any difference in my average grocery bill vs. Safeway. At least most of the stuff is either organic or local (although the Cherry Creek farmers market is even better and cheaper). Sure you can buy frozen fish from China for $3 less per pound at Safeway but who wants to eat food that has been frozen for 6 months and is loaded with chemicals.
 

Having a grocery store of any type is huge for the CPV and all of downtown Denver. Being able to walk to a grocery store is, for most people, absolute essential in a decision on a place where to live. Those of us in city-center neighborhoods like Jefferson Park and Cheesman Park already have grocery stores within an easy walk, but, except for the new Vitamin Cottage, downtown residents have not been able to do this. This is a huge help.

As for Whole Foods versus King Soopers/Safeway, I think there is room for several grocery stores downtown, including one of each. Up till now, Safeway/King Soopers have shown far more interest in our city center neighborhoods than Whole Foods, so it comes as no surprise to me that they will be the pioneers in opening up a grocery store in the CPV. However, I hope that the success of this grocery store will spark others to come and compete -- there's certainly room for several downtown.
 

The reason there aren't any trader joes in Colorado is because of the liquor laws. Colorado Law doesn't allow liquor store chains. That is one owner can't own more than one liquor store. My father owned a liquor store and at one point he was selling one store and starting another and had to pull some chicanery to get two liquor licenses at one time. That is why only 1 Cost Plus sells wine and only that one Target on Colo Blvd sells booze.
 

I have been to a very urban Whole Foods store, in NW DC, near Thomas Circle. That's a neighborhood in transition and becoming high density, at least for DC (not quite NYC of SF standards). It was busy almost any time I was there at various hours during the day, but right after work, it was more like a zoo. And the Whole Foods at Belmar is a mix of urban/suburban. The store is on top of a garage, with some "surface parking" out front, but that's the top of the underground garage. The rest of Belmar is growing towards it. While it fronts on Wadsworth to attract those drivers, it's also walkable for most in Belmar, or certainly an easy stop on the way home from work or wherever. So don't bash WF too much, although I think for most people a KS or Safeway would be more beneficial and popular downtown. And I have no doubt WF will show up eventually.
 

Anon 4:18PM...FYI, Wild Oats is not yet owned by Whole Foods. And I hope that they don't get approval to buy them either.

I agree that a Sunflower Market might be nice...but how about one of those placed centrally in the business district. It wouldnt have to be huge and it could really help those that live more centrally than on the fringes of the CBD. Currently, those people who live in the CBD may drive their cars to the KS on Speer...let's keep them out of their cars as much as possible!
 

Anon from 6/3, 4:18: actually, the merger hasn't yet taken place--WFM and Wild Oats are still separate companies, until the FTC tells them it's okay to merge.

I'd prefer Whole Foods to any of the conventionals, because right now I have to drive all the way to Belmar to shop there (I live in West Highlands). Cherry Creek is an elitist neighborhood, and I won't shop at that store, but so too is the Central Platte Valley--if the poster who called Cherry Creek "elitist" is referring to the average wealth of its residents.

As for Paul's comment: Whole Foods has a great many urban stores, some with and some without parking for cars--they understand they can't just open a box with a lot out front. Far more than Safeway or Kroger (KS's parent), they understand that central city locations are full of smart people willing to pay a little more for excellent food. They have four stores in Manhattan (including a new one on The Bowery, the largest grocery store in the borough), as well as downtown stores in Austin, San Francisco (SoMa), Seattle (South Lake Union), Portland (Brewery Blocks), Washington DC (P Street), Chicago (Gold Coast), Boston (Sympony and Charles River Place), and Philadelphia (Callowhill). They have stores planned for downtown sites in Miami, Salt Lake City (Trolley Square), and Tempe.

People who want Whole Foods Market downtown can go to their website (wholefoodsmarket.com) and click on stores, or they can simply email newstore.requests@wholefoods.com. (note the lack of "market" on the email address).
 

One thing I left out of the other posting: let's not forget that Nichols Partnership already has a history with Whole Foods--Clayton Lane, where WFM is a tenant, was developed by them.

Also, I certainly agree with the anon poster that it's strange that Trader Joe's hasn't come to Denver. They couldn't afford the rent in this location, though--they tend to find spots near good areas, but where landlords charge slightly less due to poor exposure.
 

> I think it's great that a supermarket has been
> announced behind Union Station, however, this does not
> fill the need of those residents who live in central
> downtown, i.e. above LoDo.
>
> For those of us that live in central downtown, which
> is a lot of folks, it will still be faster to get to
> the King Soopers on Speer.
>
> What we need is a grocery store, as opposed to a
> supermarket, in the central downtown area. We don't
> neet someplace that sells magazines, greeting cards,
> perscription medicines, lawn chairs, etc. We can get
> that stuff at Walgreens or 7-Eleven. It would have
> been nice if Vitamin Cottage had gone in fifteen
> blocks up from where they did. That store is exactly
> what we need. As it is it's a little far to lug a
> couple of bags of groceries up to Arapaho from Platte.
> We'll still go over on Speer but we'll have to drive.
> Cooks' Fresh Market in the 1600 Glenarm building is
> nice but it's expensive and has a limited selection,
> so it doesn't fill the real need.
>
> I'm sure the problem is the squeeze between the very
> small margins of the grocery business and the high
> rents for downtown space. I don't know what it will
> take to overcome that. Perhaps some developer who is
> adding to the downtown population will someday realize
> that they have to eat and provide space in his
> building.
>
> During one of the sessions of the downtown planning
> group it was mentioned during one of the presentations
> that Safeway had put in a small store in downtown
> Vancouver. This shows that it can be done. Let's
> hope someone can get it done here.
 

It appears that many have forgotten or don't appreciate the already downtown King Soopers at 14th & Speer. This store is approximately 7-8 blocks from the 16th St mall (less than one mile), and closer to the CBD of downtown than any store in the CPV. Granted there will be mall ride access within 2-3 blocks of the new store, but it would seem that based on geographical location alone, the masses are disregarding and ignoring this functional (although not asethetically pleasing) King Soopers.
 

That KS on 14th and Speer is awful... you couldnt pay me to shop there. Obviously alot of people agree with me because people want a new one. Not only that trudging groceries home from there to the CPV even on the mall shuttle is a hastle. Especially when you have a 3-4 person household...
 

What about the "unSafeway", or so I've heard it called, in Uptown? With the growth and redevelopment of that neighborhood, I would think that also could hold much more potential to serve a good number of residents in and around NE downtown. Don't a lot of urban grocery stores (like in NYC) deliver, at least I've gotten that impression from TV and the movies!? Maybe that's a key element in serving downtown residents, particularly if the population is dense enough and folks don't have or don't want to their cars and hauling bags of groceries on buses or LRT cars is not an option. One can't always have a grocery store on every corner.
 

Nearly 20 comments comparing grocery receipts?!
 

I live in central downtown and just find it easiest to take the light rail down to Alameda. There's an Albertson's right across the parking lot. Almost as easy as driving, especially with all the new lrt lines increasing the frequency of trains.
 

I wrote to Trader Joe's two months ago asking if and when they planned to open a store in Denver.

Their same day reply said not in the forseeable future.

The reason given is their supply chain does not reach this area. Nothing was mentioned about liquor licenses. They did add that they get lots of requests from Denverites and they wish they had better news for us.
 

Yes its true, liquor store chains are against the law in colorado, hence total bev. vs total bev. with an upside down 'A'... on the other hand places like cost plus sells wine. Marzyks has a liquor store type place outside of the main store to sell alcohol... so I do think the liquor laws has to be a factor.

About unsafeway, there is a rumor they are going to expand like they did at 6th and corona, make a more urban one.

I'm all for more food markets downtown, but really.. many of the city center 'hoods have more people, more density than downtown or cpv.. I can't really get my hopes up with multiple chains/urban markets going in and being able to stay alive.
 

Anon 3:21, King Soopers delivers groceries to any downtown resident. You can go to their website to order online.
 

I believe that people just need to either do some small shopping here and there or get in a car and go get mass shopping done. If this gets built you will have two KS downtown a safeway, vitamin cottage and a Whole foods in Lincoln One. You can only ask for so much.
 

Following on from Joeindt's comment about whether or not an urban grocery store is sustainable given the relatively few residents in the downtown area: To my thinking this shouldn't really be a concern. As long as people work downtown (and many do), then they will quite naturally stop off at an urban grocery store on their way home, even if they don't live in the downtown area. Thus, I would think a grocery store could expect significant business. Furthermore, the site that has been selected here (on 20th street right close to the freeway) should actually facilitate this kind of business.
 

There is clearly a sustainable market for a grocery store downtown, if not two or three of them. Downtown Denver has 9000 residents (not counting city center neighborhoods). That's twice the population of the suburb of Lone Tree, which apparently can support a Safeway and a SuperTarget without too much difficulty. Plus, the population in the daytime explodes by an order of magnitude or more. If anything, the only thing that will limit business at a downtown grocery store will be the crowds of shoppers flocking there.
 

Today's Denver Post and Rocky have the latest update on this new development:
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_6061095
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/real_estate/article/0,1299,DRMN_414_5570823,00.html

Look's like the new store will fit everyone's needs, whether you're a Whole Foods or Safeway/King Soopers fan.
 

For everyone tired of schlepping their groceries around on foot, go get yourself one or two grocery bag bicycle panniers. REI and Performance Bike carry them. With them the world's your oyster!
 

The Rocky had an article on this sourcing this fine site. It mentioned some other KS concept than what was mentioned earlier but what got my attention was talk of an Extended Stay hotel near by. Yuck! Can see the burb style oil stained parking lot surrounded by a cheap fence.
 

Yeah I agree that Whole Foods knows urban! For ten years they're had a store a block off Van Ness Ave. on California St. in San Francisco with underground parking. BUT I think when all is said and done, income demographics will be the deciding factor for downtown Denver which will probably land WFM & a SW or KS. I personally would prefer a Sunflower Farmer's Market because of their motto "serious food at silly prices". Plus their stock is a balanced mix of conventional and organic/healthy at competitive low pricing. I doubt that Sunflower would be interested in the CBD market though since they will be opening a new large store up in the old Elitch's infill land on 44th Ave. & Tennyson St. by July this year. Where did I read that WFM was looking at the Lincoln Place One ground floor?
 

all of these comments are selfish, there are many grocery stores needed around in or dt, where you want to shop is your preference but think about the masses before you whine, none of these neighborhoods around dt are upscale, so do we need a large, major, over exspensive grocery store dt. hell no! the city of denvers population swells to way over a million people in the work hours, im sure the pop. dt is not far off of or close to 100,000 in the day time, with working class citizens.
 

The rumor is that WF may be a part of the next phase of the One Lincoln Park development (not the current phase). But it's just a rumor.
 

I think that is silly to say that WF knows urban more than another chain.
 

I think this KS is nicely incoroporated if you go to cityscape.com link there is a rendering of this drawing.
 

Ken and Rob told me that the rendering at denver-cityscape.com is outdated so they decided not to post it. Let's hope for a new one in the near future...
 

Anon from 8:06 PM. The project will have very little surface parking. The majority of parking is structured. So you wont see oil stained parking lots!
 

No need to wait for a grocery store, located at 2046 Larimer is Market Central. Not a supermarket but a neighborhood market featuring a meat department, produce, dairy, dry goods and a deli. While the inventory is small the room to grow is fantastic and with support from the neighborhood it is sure to be the place to shop. It has a nice feeling and friendly people. They had a nice feature in the web publication The Urban Eye from the Downtown Denver Partnership. Let's support Market Central and not wait for a big grocery store to come in.
 

Whole Foods should put something in the River North neighborhood. Near Denargo or the 40th and 40th station maybe. Even on Brighton Blvd would be a great spot.
 

I like the idea of Market Central on Larimer, but as a single guy, I still think I have more food in my pantry than they do on their shelves. Do the economics not make sense to stock most of the things you could find at a Safeway (though perhaps fewer brands) while offering a few upscale items as well? Obviously, you don't carry a ton of perishable items, but it would be nice if the selection was better. I hope they do well and grow, but until then - I'll shop at the big boys..
 

How will Market Central "do well" if we don't support them through the tough stages of starting out. We can't expect the shelves to fill if we don't support them with our business. We need to remember that the "little guy" doesn't have the capital that the big stores have. While it's true that their shelves could be more robust I have had many great meals from their store and will continue to support them. With each purchase I make I know they are impoving the store. I'm sure Whole Foods didn't start out with fully stocked shelves.
 

I visited Market Central recently and the food was excellent! The owner/chef turned me on to some Pesto and french bread that they had just made and it was fantastic. I heard he used to be the executive chef at The Capital Grill on Larimer, so I'm sure he'll continue to have some excellent food and ideas! I plan to visit regularly, before long they'll be established with more inventory.
 

What about Marczyk Fine Foods, at 17th and Clarkson? They have parking and a wine store.
 

I enjoyed Market Central as well when I went in. They have started making pre made meals. Nice addition to my busy life. I look forward to watching them grow