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(09-02-2013 06:56 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 06:54 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 02:58 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 12:28 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  There's also the Western near 5 Points. The point is that no one is going to build a grocery store when there's no customers.

It'll happen. People are moving downtown without it, and will eventually hit critical mass.

Western sucks. Too expensive for the quality they provide. I go to it a lot out of necessity, but I'd rather drive to the crappy Lakeshore Wal-Mart that has hamburger meat sitting in the shaving cream section.

Needs to be a Publix.

One of the main reasons I'm moving to Bluff Park instead of Downtown is because of this.

If that's the case you probably weren't cut out for downtown living in the first place. I guarantee you something the caliber of Publix will never move downtown. At the very best it will be like the Western.

Sweet. I have taken your city-planning background and food industry business experience into account and determined that your guarantee holds much weight.

*shrug* I actually do have some experience in the retail industry (more than just running a register), but that isn't really relevant. Someone in another thread was right, you need to get your panties out of a bunch.

I would LOVE a Publix, Kroger or (gasp) Whole Foods. I expect something along the lines of an Aldi or Save-A-Lot.

(09-02-2013 06:59 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 06:56 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 06:54 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 02:58 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 12:28 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  There's also the Western near 5 Points. The point is that no one is going to build a grocery store when there's no customers.

It'll happen. People are moving downtown without it, and will eventually hit critical mass.

Western sucks. Too expensive for the quality they provide. I go to it a lot out of necessity, but I'd rather drive to the crappy Lakeshore Wal-Mart that has hamburger meat sitting in the shaving cream section.

Needs to be a Publix.

One of the main reasons I'm moving to Bluff Park instead of Downtown is because of this.

If that's the case you probably weren't cut out for downtown living in the first place. I guarantee you something the caliber of Publix will never move downtown. At the very best it will be like the Western.

Sweet. I have taken your city-planning background and food industry business experience into account and determined that your guarantee holds much weight.

*shrug* I actually do have some experience in the retail industry (more than just running a register), but that isn't really relevant. Someone in another thread was right, you need to get your panties out of a bunch.

Ahh, you of all people to talk. Don't get whiny just because I called you out on your BS, too.

Sorry that I may disagree with someone telling me I wasn't "cut for downtown living" when I've lived in Southside Birmingham for 7 years and 3.5 of those years without a car.

If I'm not mistaken, don't you live in Calera?

(09-02-2013 07:09 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 06:59 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 06:56 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 06:54 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 02:58 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  Western sucks. Too expensive for the quality they provide. I go to it a lot out of necessity, but I'd rather drive to the crappy Lakeshore Wal-Mart that has hamburger meat sitting in the shaving cream section.

Needs to be a Publix.

One of the main reasons I'm moving to Bluff Park instead of Downtown is because of this.

If that's the case you probably weren't cut out for downtown living in the first place. I guarantee you something the caliber of Publix will never move downtown. At the very best it will be like the Western.

Sweet. I have taken your city-planning background and food industry business experience into account and determined that your guarantee holds much weight.

*shrug* I actually do have some experience in the retail industry (more than just running a register), but that isn't really relevant. Someone in another thread was right, you need to get your panties out of a bunch.

Ahh, you of all people to talk. Don't get whiny just because I called you out on your BS, too.

Sorry that I may disagree with someone telling me I wasn't "cut for downtown living" when I've lived in Southside Birmingham for 7 years and 3.5 of those years without a car.

If I'm not mistaken, don't you live in Calera?

Yes, and I lived on Southside too for a while, if this is going to turn into a game of mine is bigger than yours

(09-02-2013 07:03 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  I would LOVE a Publix, Kroger or (gasp) Whole Foods. I expect something along the lines of an Aldi or Save-A-Lot.

Mamanoes is great...has a LOT of stuff for such a small place...but it can't provide fresh produce on a consistent basis.

The lofties are going to be spending so much money to stay downtown, they'll expect the quality of a Publix or Whole Foods. It will happen. That or a CVS/Walgreens will build in and branch out into a grocery too.

As a downtown dweller, it takes about 10 minutes to commute to the Publix on Greensprings, so I don't view the absence of a grocery store as an issue. However, the city school system is an issue and will be the reason I move away from the city center in a few years.

The grocery store is an overblown thing IMO. If you live in Hoover and want groceries you have to get in your car and drive 5-10 minutes just like you do if you live downtown.

I do think though that all the new apartment deals coupled with the growth of UAB students living on campus will dictate a grocery store to open downtown. The rumor is V Richards on the bottom floor of the Pizitz building. It'll be something along those lines. I wouldn't expect a big chain like Publix to come in.

(09-02-2013 08:58 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  The grocery store is an overblown thing IMO. If you live in Hoover and want groceries you have to get in your car and drive 5-10 minutes just like you do if you live downtown.

Could see a "Walmart Neighborhood Market" happen.

To be a "legitimate" metro downtown/loft district, either Birmingham needs to get things like grocery stores downtown, or they need to seriously revamp their transportation system.

I think it's pretty obvious which one is more likely to happen first.

The goal would be to not NEED a car.

There was almost a full sized walmart right next to downtown at the trinity steel site just west of I-65. Say what you want about walmart, but it would've been a major boost to UAB and Downtown residents. It would've been close enough that a DART stop would've been feasible.

Some of the city officials blocked it from coming in.,,,,,,..........not crazy about Walmart, but I think they made a mistake there.

(09-02-2013 09:40 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 08:58 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  The grocery store is an overblown thing IMO. If you live in Hoover and want groceries you have to get in your car and drive 5-10 minutes just like you do if you live downtown.

Could see a "Walmart Neighborhood Market" happen.

To be a "legitimate" metro downtown/loft district, either Birmingham needs to get things like grocery stores downtown, or they need to serious revamp their transportation system.

I think it's pretty obvious which one is more likely to happen first.

The goal would be to not NEED a car.

I would agree on the Walmart neighborhood market. That is feasible and could work.

(09-02-2013 09:56 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  Some of the city officials blocked it from coming in.,,,,,,..........not crazy about Walmart, but I think they made a mistake there.

Yep. If it's that vs. a nice shopping center with local businesses? OK. But what's there now? A big pile of dirt.

(09-02-2013 12:17 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  A lot of truth there. I live on 2nd Ave N, and we have to go to the Publix on Montclair (2-3 miles). There is a small market in the neighborhood (Mamantoes, which is good for a few things).

Depending on which store I go to I have to drive 5 to 8 miles. When I lived on south side with a two block walk to two different grocery stores I still drove most if the time. How often do you only buy two bags of groceries?

(09-03-2013 09:34 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 12:17 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  A lot of truth there. I live on 2nd Ave N, and we have to go to the Publix on Montclair (2-3 miles). There is a small market in the neighborhood (Mamantoes, which is good for a few things).

Depending on which store I go to I have to drive 5 to 8 miles. When I lived on south side with a two block walk to two different grocery stores I still drove most if the time. How often do you only buy two bags of groceries?

Yep, that's just it. Unless you roll a grocery cart back to your loft/apartment/condo, you would still need a car when you buy full groceries.

I also noticed that the Lyric Theater is being worked on and is very close to re-opening downtown. That will be a huge plus for the area as well.

(09-03-2013 09:38 AM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(09-03-2013 09:34 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 12:17 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  A lot of truth there. I live on 2nd Ave N, and we have to go to the Publix on Montclair (2-3 miles). There is a small market in the neighborhood (Mamantoes, which is good for a few things).

Depending on which store I go to I have to drive 5 to 8 miles. When I lived on south side with a two block walk to two different grocery stores I still drove most if the time. How often do you only buy two bags of groceries?

Yep, that's just it. Unless you roll a grocery cart back to your loft/apartment/condo, you would still need a car when you buy full groceries.

I think part of the point of having a market within walking distance (especially if you were working downtown within walking distance) is that you visit the store much more often. How does it work in Manhattan?

(09-03-2013 09:38 AM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(09-03-2013 09:34 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 12:17 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  A lot of truth there. I live on 2nd Ave N, and we have to go to the Publix on Montclair (2-3 miles). There is a small market in the neighborhood (Mamantoes, which is good for a few things).

Depending on which store I go to I have to drive 5 to 8 miles. When I lived on south side with a two block walk to two different grocery stores I still drove most if the time. How often do you only buy two bags of groceries?

Yep, that's just it. Unless you roll a grocery cart back to your loft/apartment/condo, you would still need a car when you buy full groceries.

Except anybody that lives in any other major metro with downtown loft living will tell you, you don't buy groceries in a month supply like everyone else. You go once or twice a week.

Have you guys ever been to any other major city in the US?

They have done a lot of work to it.......over 8 million has already been raised. I've been in it numerous times, and the acoustics are off-the-charts good in there! It will be a great addition to the Theater District when completed!

(09-03-2013 09:55 AM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(09-03-2013 09:38 AM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(09-03-2013 09:34 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 12:17 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  A lot of truth there. I live on 2nd Ave N, and we have to go to the Publix on Montclair (2-3 miles). There is a small market in the neighborhood (Mamantoes, which is good for a few things).

Depending on which store I go to I have to drive 5 to 8 miles. When I lived on south side with a two block walk to two different grocery stores I still drove most if the time. How often do you only buy two bags of groceries?

Yep, that's just it. Unless you roll a grocery cart back to your loft/apartment/condo, you would still need a car when you buy full groceries.

Except anybody that lives in any other major metro with downtown loft living will tell you, you don't buy groceries in a month supply like everyone else. You go once or twice a week.

Have you guys ever been to any other major city in the US?

You make a good point. That's why I like having Mamanoes nearby.....get a few items here and there (same with Family Dollar). Downtown Birmingham is kind of jinxed on public transit though. Most real cities that I have lived in/visited had a real transit systems that were clean and worked.

I will add that DART is a lot better than nothing though.