Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

Grocery Store Needed in Downtown--Cooperative?

I have been living in downtown for a while now, and really like it. But man, that grocery store needs to come. I keep hearing that the profit margin on a small grocery store is too small to make it worthwhile to open one up. Maybe a cooperative is the way to go. From my understanding, the way a cooperative works is that people who want to achieve a common purpose band together to make it happen. I am not necessarily talking about having the COOP open a store in downtown. That could work. But, it could also be a new cooperative initiative. Anyways, anybody have experience doing this?

Tags: cooperative, downtown, grocery

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by FitzerMan on January 7, 2009 at 8:52am: I really think that La Montaninta is missing a tremendous opportunity here. But, I would also be very interested in an *actual* cooperative. Lowe's just isn't doing it for me.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat O. on January 11, 2009 at 6:36pm: Lowe's is good enough for a small grocery store. You're not going to get a real supermarket Downtown until there's a cheap lot somewhere that a supermarket can be built on. Ghetto Smith's at Coal and Yale is what Downtown might get, if Kroger or whoever can find land that's cheap enough.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SteveJ on January 7, 2009 at 9:47am: Well, I do think people downtown would be willing to pay a bit more for the convenience of a downtown market. I think putting money into a Co-op that provides the right mix of goods could work. Not totally sure though.

I really like your last idea about the small vendors in a downtown market place. I wonder if the city would subsidize such a location. There is a great parcel just East of Edith on Central. I am envisioning something where people could get all the basic goods, , maybe in bulk, and a few specialty goods. Kind of like an open air market you might find in Europe.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Two Armed Man on January 7, 2009 at 2:58pm: I'm growing tired of the downtown grocery store debate and I'd like to defend the local stores we already have within our reach. I've been downtown for 15 years and here's are some of my experiences

Lowe's Market is a decent store and we buy 80% of our needs there. It doesn't have a the huge selection, but how many kinds of toothpaste are really necessary. Plus, my friend owns the French restaurant La Crepe Michel in Old Town and I've seen her at Lowe's shopping for items she may need that day if you're worried about quality of their limited offerings.

John Brooks at 12th and Candelaria is open Thanksgiving morning! I was on line last year and I overheard one cashier tell another she hadn't seen so many men shopping in the store at once.

Ghetto Smiths feels incredibly efficient during the 5-6pm dinner shopping rush with quick cashiers and all of their lines open for service.

I don't know much about Manuel's on Edith, but it has been there forever.

Country Club Market is a good spot for chipwich's on the way home from the zoo or Tingley Beach. We live close so its a good spot for bread, milk, and other staples in a pinch.

Stadium Market used to be halfway from work to home for me and it was convenient and had great specials.

Ranch's Pro Market is awesome in its bounty and a fiesta shopping experience. Try it Sunday morning when church lets out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SteveJ on January 7, 2009 at 4:07pm: I'd like to walk to a grocery store. In any modern city center, I should be able to be accomplish this easily. By easily, I mean the walk should be less than 20 minutes each way. Really, I think there should be two grocery stores downtown (east and west sides).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jeff on January 7, 2009 at 4:26pm: problem is, downtown abq isn't a modern city center by any stretch.
in fact, abq has no center.
it has many small center-like attractors, they're not quite powerful/dense enough yet to pull some real basic services though.

a mid-size like a tesco or certainly trader joe's would be ideal though.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly Vickers on January 11, 2009 at 5:48am: The mayor's hoping to put in a sports arena in the middle of downtown---for a fraction of that cost the city could front the cost of a Trader Joe's downtown and let it run tax free for the first year. That would do more to create an interest in downtown than an arena that will only pull people that way one night a week.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SteveJ on January 10, 2009 at 11:08pm: Well, here are the steps for creating a coop. Anybody in?

Steps for Starting a Grocery COOP; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Yikes! on January 11, 2009 at 2:24am: I've got issues with Lowes. Hate 'em. I miss Landmark every time I go by. Now, that was a great neighborhood store. I like John Brooks. They're actually nice to you, like they appreciate you spending your money there. Co-ops are pricey, I agree. I would kill for a Trader Joe's down here. It would also be nice not to have to travel miles and miles to get to a Smith's. How many times did Debbie O'Malley promise a grocery downtown? Maybe now that she's running for mayor...nah.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wade Patterson on February 18, 2009 at 2:12pm: I was wondering if anyone was intending to put in a market on 12th and Menaul on the land across from the IPCC. The southern portion of that parcel has been developed as apartments and office, but the north is still in process. Anyone know what the plans are for that area?

Personally, I have a hard time seeing any super market going in much closer in to downtown. Land value is only part of the equation. Another is population density. Downtown Albuquerque still lacks a large enough population to justify a store location for most every chain, even when you factor in those that come down for work. One of the reasons I see that the 12th Street location could work is it links to several additional areas. Yes, its still a drive-in location, but again, I have a hard time seeing anyone squirreling anything much closer in.

La Montanita already has the North Valley location and I am not sure downtown is far enough from that store to justify a new one.

I agree that the Lowe's serves a fine purpose for what it carries. I like not having too many choices for most items and I can walk from my house. But we still travel out for a big shop every week. We rotate among Coop, Ranch's, Sunflower, Whole Foods, Smith's and Albertson's. Even with these needs, we manage to keep the driving to a minimum.; ▶ Reply to This