What's going on, Albuquerque?

I think downtown needs a grocery store.

I think that any number of suites at the Gold Lofts, on the first floor, that are still empty, could be combined to create a sensibly-sized, premium full-service supermarket. We're talking organic and a meat counter, a pharmacy and an ATM.

A girl can dream, no?

This supermarket would service the now-struggling stream of up-and-comings, hip and/or professionals who bought into the downtown loft appeal when it was presented to us. It would service the daily population that finds themselves downtown for any number of reasons throughout the day (example: my son attends Lew Wallace Elementary school), as well as neighborhoods nearest downtown that can currently turn to Lowe's on Lomas and 12th or Stadium Market on Avenida Cesar Chavez and Broadway. It would be the last convenience stop before people hop on the Rail Runner, and a mercifully close emergency pit stop if one is already on the train and needs a life essential in a pinch. It would be a well-run, clean environment that appeals to the metro-conscious and eco-friendly.

Downtown needs a grocery store. Discuss.

Tags: albuquerque, albuqueruqe, business, downtown, economy, food, future, grocery, rail, runner, More…store

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Permalink Reply by Muskrat Sam Donaldson on September 27, 2009 at 8:59am

Are you one who "bought into the downtown loft appeal"?

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Permalink Reply by Señorita Ruth on September 27, 2009 at 11:04am

Lol no. I live in a sensible apartment right off our dear downtown, but I could throw a rock to the downtown grocery from my place, if I was vandal-minded. That said, I have professional friends that made the move downtown to be closer to work, bars, etc. Funny how the bars supersede food stuffs. Yay bars!

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Permalink Reply by rudolph serrano on September 27, 2009 at 12:37pm

call wallmart they love to put one but the neigbor assosiation will put you in execution squad immidiatly ha

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Permalink Reply by Hunter on September 27, 2009 at 12:57pm

Rudy,

WalMart's already there! They have a new retail model called Marketside that would be perfect for Downtown. But if the WalMart brand isn't the kiss of death, OMG, they sell wine that doesn't cost $40 a bottle. See www.marketside.com.

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Permalink Reply by SteveJ on September 27, 2009 at 12:58pm

That is true. I don't even know if a CVS would fly at Broadway and Central. We are more into the local shops and things. But, we do need our drugs.

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Permalink Reply by Juan on September 27, 2009 at 1:46pm

I wonder if the folks who did the Downtown Lofts had studies that showed them the lofts would work. I also wonder if these are the same projections that are saying that a grocery store downtown won't work?

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Permalink Reply by Mary G on September 27, 2009 at 3:15pm

How about we set up a credit account with some grocery store in the heights, put GPS trackers on a few bicycles, and hire our "street people" (Aren't we supposed to call them People of the Street?) to run a delivery service?