What's going on, Albuquerque?

Morning Fix - With All My Heart

Pit named 5th best home court advantage in Men's College Basketball.
A series of public meetings is set to take place to discuss Rt. 66 in EDO, Silver Hill, and UNM areas.
Hey pardner, wanna head down to Deming and rustle up and shoot some of dem dere wild goats?
City brass fave Paul SIlverman gets his way with downtown Supermarket. My prediction- a bunch of profitable housing up above, and a steady stream of failed grocery tenants at street level.
Indoor track meet at the convention center this weekend features some top talent.
National nutritional advocacy group gives ABQ, and NM top marks for school breakfast program. See the actual complete report here.
More real estate activity hoped for The Place at Nob Hill (AKA "where Baca's used to be")...
Gap to shutter superlame mall stores, and make the big move across the street to the supercool mall.

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Comment by RunLikeADog on January 18, 2013 at 8:23am: I hope whoever designs the downtown grocery store at least pays a visit to the Whole Foods "Mother Ship" in Austin, TX. A store like that would go a long way into breathing life in to bar infested down town Albuquerque.

Comment by once banned twice shy on January 18, 2013 at 10:07am: RLAD: Unfortunately, Whole Foods is a bit on the expensive side for the demographics of the neighborhood.

Comment by RunLikeADog on January 18, 2013 at 10:26am: OBTS - You are correct, a Whole Paycheck wouldn't work well there but a store that delivered the same experience as their HQ store in Austin with prices that are comparable would. Think of a Super Pros Ranch Market or something along those lines. Something more that a functional store is needed. A destination store that brings people downtown is the ticket IMHO.

Comment by Masshole in Fringecrest on January 18, 2013 at 10:39am: Keep in mind that 6,000 square feet is TINY in supermarket land. 77 by 77 feet. That's barely a Dairy Wall, a Bread aisle, and a Produce section.

Comment by misterhinkydink on January 18, 2013 at 10:45am: The grocery looks to be a fancy convenience store. What a disappointment.

Comment by Phil_0 on January 18, 2013 at 10:57am: It sounds like the owner of P'tit Louis will be running the grocery. There's a conceptual design up at the Journal.

Looks small, but the presence of meat and bakery counters at this stage is encouraging. Hopefully they'll follow the precedent set by other great small NM groceries past and present (think the old Grocery Emporium/Girard Market, or Kaune's in Santa Fe). At any rate it'll beat what's in the neighborhood now...the Country Club Market on Coal is a pit.

Comment by Masshole in Fringecrest on January 18, 2013 at 1:04pm: That's looking a little better. A FRENCH Market, as it were. I think a charcuterie or boulangerie would KILL.

Comment by shotsie on January 18, 2013 at 1:46pm: Methinks the grocery store gives certain tax breaks and/or incentives for the apartments above it....

I was just at that Whole Foods in Austin, and it's just a killer store - 6 or 8 different types of food stations (BBQ, sushi, fish, cheese, sandwiches, deli foods - the list goes on) - about three times the selection of Wyoming/Academy - they have their own parking garage, c'mon

Comment by Lahjik on January 18, 2013 at 9:56pm: Here in Texas, we call it "Whole Paycheck". yeah, I'd hope they put a real grocery store downtown rather than a foodie simulacrum.

Comment by Hunter on January 19, 2013 at 9:32am: Whole Foods, really? Time to wake up and smell the roses before they all die. This city is in the midst of a precipitous downward demographic dive. Gap stores abandons Coronado for the "lifestyle" center across the street. Coronado fills the old Macy's space with "60% off everthing everyday" Gordman's and Dick's Sporting Goods and Firearms Emporium. (Am I the only one who can't remember ever being in a mall that sold guns?) WalMart and Target continue to see the need for more stores in Albuquerque. And Conn's, another discounter, planted its flag on the east end of town. If there is any bright spot it would be that the October election presents the opportunity for new faces in six Council seats and the 11th Floor. Absent any change at City Hall, expect four more years of more of the same.