Archive for the 'Development' Category
Hartford Public Safety Complex
Work continues on the future Hartford Public Safety Complex on High Street. These pictures show the progress as of Saturday, June 27, 2009. The current schedule calls for the project to be complete in April 2011, and look something like this.
The roof of the former Hartford Board of Education building has been removed as crews work to preserve the historic brick facade. Looking into the structure, the second floor railing and spindles are visible in the small atrium beyond the front door. You can also see the supports for the former drop ceilings, hanging well below the actual ceilings.
Below the pictures are links to articles that have been written about the project over the past few years.
July 26, 2006: Half Million for New Public Safety Complex (The Hartford News)
March 12, 2007: City Council Authorizes the Use of Eminent Domain (HartfordInfo.org)
July 17, 2007: Public Safety Complex Nears Reality (WFSB)
January 21, 2008: Conflict Holds Up New Public Safety Complex (Hartford Business Journal)
May 20, 2009: Public Safety Complex (courant.com CityLine)
June 8, 2009: Downtown Public Safety Complex Good for Residents, Development (Hartford Courant)
June 26, 2009: House Approves Larson’s Funding for Hartford Public Safety Complex (tmcnet.com)
Bring Back Cheese & Stuff
Word on the street is that the Dollar World on Farmington Avenue in the West End of Hartford is moving. Actually it’s the sign in the window that says they’re moving, but word has spread through the neighborhood like the flu through daycare. The locals aren’t upset with Dollar World, it just had the misfortune of leasing the storefront that previously housed the West End organic food institution of Cheese & Stuff.
About ten years ago, organic grocer Wild Oats bought Cheese & Stuff. They promised to keep the local market in business but later went back on their word. The small local market was closed to reduce competition for their newer and larger Bishop’s Corner location in West Hartford. After years of boycotting the bait-and-switcher Wild Oats, West Enders celebrated the arrival of Whole Foods a few years ago, but have never completely forgotten the Cheese & Stuff.
One of my friends suggested that Kyle and I reopen the Cheese & stuff now that the old location is going to be available again. We’re currently focusing on other goals, but the idea of opening a neighborhood market seems like it merits consideration.
The community would certainly be supportive, there is sufficient parking, and the Wild Oats (Bishop’s Corner Whole Foods) seems to be on the path to either a sale or closing due to a national anti-trust decision. The Whole Foods is still just a few miles down the road, but a local fresh food grocery could be an attractive alternative to the Blue Back Experience or the Stop & Shop/Shaws combo further down Prospect Avenue.
The main challenge to opening an upscale market is that a foodie needs to have a big role. Without selecting the right items or the ability to inspire customers, the store could have trouble building a loyal following. But if any neighborhood can do it, then it is the West End. We have the talent to identify the right mix of products, and the good sense to appreciate the effort.
So who’s going to bring back Cheese & Stuff?
West Hartford’s Bishops Corner Whole Foods For Sale
Anyone want to buy a grocery store in West Hartford’s Bishops Corner? On Friday the Courant reported that, as part of a federal antitrust settlement, the Whole Foods store in Bishops Corner must be sold within the next six months. Whole Foods will also be selling 12 other stores currently operating around the country.
The outcome is the result of a complaint initially filed by the FTC in June 2007 which tried to block Whole Foods acquisition of Wild Oats Markets, sighting that the merger would “violate federal antitrust laws by eliminating the substantial competition between these two uniquely close competitors in numerous markets nationwide in the operation of premium natural and organic supermarkets.”
Sigh. I’m sure this is a wonderful time to be trying to sell a grocery store. The economy is doing fabulously, particularly in business areas with historically low margins. And aren’t business loans plentiful right now? [Sarcasm noted]
To be honest with you, I have no idea how the Bishops Corner location of Whole Foods was doing financially. I’m sure the corporate wonks at Whole Foods were not going to easily give up a store that was going gang busters. I do however realize that there are a lot of people living in the Bishops Corner area that probably shop at that Whole Foods location. Not to mention all of the people that stop by while commuting to Hartford via Route 44 (Albany Avenue) from Simsbury and Avon on a daily basis. Are those commuters going to take a 1.75 mile detour to get to the Blue Back Square location? Probably not.
This is not to say there are not other grocery store choices in Bishops Corner. Wauldbaums, and The Crown Market do a stand up job. Their offerings are different though, with Wauldbaums being a more traditional supermarket and The Crown focusing on more fresh options, with gourmet takeout and catering. One could argue that these two stores, in combination with the Whole Foods, each served a different niche market and balanced each other out with their diverse product offerings.
So, who is going to fill this storefront? We’ve got 6 months before the big, loud vacant tenant sucking sound starts people.
Stop & Shop? No, too much like Wauldbaums.
Shaws? No, same problem as Stop & Shop, too much like Wauldbaums.
Stew Leonards? No, the store footprint is too small and parking is not adequate.
Highland Park Market? Hmm, this would be an interesting venture West of the River. Probably too close to a Crown Market model though.
Trader Joe’s? Please, please, please!
Aldi? Probably not, as they have not built out the Elmwood location yet and that business would need to be proven first.
What are the other non-food options? You pretty much have to assume it will need to be a mid-sized Big Box retailer to adequately fill and keep the space vital. Thoughts from readers?
As a side note, I’m not even a Whole Foods shopper. Except for their delicious chocolate cupcakes, on occasion. My interest in this development is, if this space cannot be filled by someone in the next 6 months, how will this empty store front affect vitality in the Bishops Corner area? The Whole Foods brought shoppers that most likely purchased goods and services from other stores in the immediate area. How will those complementary businesses be affected by this in the upcoming months if a new tenant is not found? Particularly in our current economy.