Supermarkets

You would think that a new blog would have updates every day rather than every 10 days.  Well, think again.  It is not for a lack of topics, I've got a folder full of those.  I think I need to just make time once or twice a week to sit down and write.  Also, I would encourage all of you to go back to my very first posting about 5 things you would like to improve in Park Hill.  Please post your list.  Once we get a good group of responses, we can go back and revisit them. 

I had intended on writing a very non-controversial entry today about having a 4th of July parade in Park Hill and that someday it might be possible to partner with Mayfair and Stapleton to fund our own fireworks display.  However, an article in today's Denver Post has changed my tune.  The article is about the lack of a grocery store in Park Hill.  Click here to go to the article.

I am not surprised that Sunflower Market is looking for a location other than the one promoted by GPHC at 35th and Colorado.  GPHC has been working to bring a grocery store to North and Northeast Park Hill for quite some time.  Their goal has long been to provide residents of these neighborhoods access to affordable fresh fruits, vegetables and other food items.
Interestingly enough, when the opportunity came to court Sunflower Market, GPHC did not choose to promote Dhalia Square or Holly Center, areas centrally located within North and Northeast Park Hill, as potential locations.  Holly and Dahlia each have the necessary space for a market, parking and additional space for development of senior housing, etc., and these centralized locations would have provided the greatest access to all residents of North and NE Park Hill.   GPHC instead promoted the vision of the Coalition to Transform Northwest Park Hill which was promoting the 35th and Colorado location.  Read about it here.  Although this location was on Colorado, it butted up next to Park Hill Golf Course and an industrial area.  It may have been central East to West, but certainly not North to South.  It should be noted that Lynn Smith, the owner of Kate's on 35th and a member of the Coalition to Transform Northwest Park Hill is also a member of the GPHC board (according to the GPHC website.  Draw your own conclusions on this, I'm just saying that it looks more like a couple of people put their own wants ahead of the neighborhood and in doing so may have dropped the ball for everyone.  Just saying.

When you read the article in the Post, take a moment to read the readers comments, a few excellent points were made (ignore the ignorant ones). Also note, the headline reads "Park Hill hoping to satisfy hunger for grocery store".  The article also quotes Greg Rasheed, the head of the GPHC.  If I didn't live in our neighborhood, I'd think that all of Park Hill was a low income area.  Once again, the GPHC fails to serve the interest (or even recognize) South Park Hill.

So with all that said, where do we go from here.  If you are like me, you are disappointed with the King Soopers and Safeway on Krameria.  Very little prepared food (other than chicken and corn dogs....mmmmmmm, corn dogs), limited selection and lots of low end products.  I know a grocery store is a reflection of the neighborhoods it serves, however, I believe that these stores have it wrong.  Let's take the Safeway as an example.  First, they LOVE to close their departments early.  Meat, fish, deli all are supposed to stay open until I believe 8:00.  Yet, I've been in the store on numerous occasions and the persons working behind the counter are closing up at 7:30 and unwilling to help.  I've spoken to the store manager a couple of times about this.  They, of course, had no idea that this was going on, but really haven't done anything further to fix it.  The store has a HUGE floral section....with no one working at it...ever.  At the same time, their organic produce section is tiny and often understocked.  I have been told that this Safeway is one of the most under performing stores in the city, however, I have no way to confirm that.  It seems to me that King Soopers and Safeway should quit trying to compete to see who can cater to the lowest common denominator.  Instead, I'd love to see one of them step up and change their store concept to one that mirrors a Sprouts or Whole Foods.  Take a look at what the Giant Eagle chain of supermarkets (Pennsylvania) does.  Their Market District stores are unbelievable.  Quit battling over who can sell the cheapest, crappy head of lettuce.  If it were me, I'd rather be a high end grocer with higher margins.  But that is just me.

Anyway, that is what is on my mind today.  What do you think?  Do you wish Spenilli's would have taken over the Rite Aid on Colfax when it closed (did we really need another dollar store)?  Could the Wal-Mart in Stapleton be any scarier? 

Thoughts?

BR