A lot of attention is spent on corporate consolidation of services and industries, but at least on the local grocery store front, the opposite seems to be happening. As big chains including Giant Eagle and Walmart close central Ohio stores, smaller grocers are opening up.
Feeling Lucky
Lucky's Market opened its second Columbus store last week, this one in Thurber Village Center in Victorian Village (once the site of a Giant Eagle). The store, which focuses on organic products, follows the Lucky's on North High Street in Clintonville. The store is among several smaller or specialty grocery stores to open in recent years in central Ohio including Littleton's Market in Upper Arlington and Aldi's central Ohio expansion , along with a proliferation of international markets such as Istanbul Market on Bethel Road , in addition to longtime operators such as Weiland's and Hills Market. Another recent change on the grocery front: Toro Meat Market has replaced the longtime Parsons Avenue IGA. Look also for a market in the next phase of the Peninsula development in Franklinton.
Melting down
Easton sued the Cleveland-based grilled-cheese restaurant Melt Bar and Grilled for $201,603 in back rent at its Easton Gateway location. The suit offers some insights into rents at central Ohio's premier shopping center. For the 5,013 square feet it rented, Melt was to pay a minimum of $15,457 a month for the first three years, rising thereafter. By last fall, when Melt stopped paying, according to the suit, base rent had climbed to more than $18,000 a month. Melt has closed six Ohio locations in the past two years, including the one at 840 N High St. in the Short North . In other Easton news, the center announced new tenants including Chico's and its subsidiary Soma.
Rezoning, part two
A lot of the focus on Columbus' proposed new zoning code has understandably been on parts of High and Broad streets and other "urban core" strips, where buildings as high as 16 stories will be allowed under certain conditions. Less attention has been paid to the next levels of zoning such as "urban centers" or "community activity centers," which would allow buildings up to seven stories on other busy stretches. One of those stretches is Henderson Road west of Reed Road. In response to the Columbus zoning plan, Upper Arlington has launched an effort to reimagine the south side of Henderson, which is in UA. Residents as well as UA officials seem ready for some redevelopment along the stretch, which some described as "outdated," "hectic," "dangerous" and my favorite, "janky."
Developing New Albany
Along similar lines, the city of New Albany is trying to come up with a plan to develop 573 acres around the intersection of U.S. 62 and State Route 161. The city has created a 21-member committee to lead a planning process for what is called the 62 Interchange Focus Area Plan . The plan is meant to become a guide for development of the area, now a mix of residential, business and undeveloped land directly north of 161.
Food (hall) fight
Vendors were announced this week for the seventh and latest central Ohio food hall, the Little Grand Market in the Grandview Crossing development, set to open in August. Many of the 12 tenants will be familiar to central Ohioans, but together they offer a long menu of options. Also on the food hall front, Zaki Mediterranean Grill will replace Cousins Maine Lobster at Budd Dairy Food Hall.
Party time
This week's house-of-the-week comes from Reynoldsburg, where an 8,300-square-foot timber-frame-style home, complete with party barn, sauna and home theater, has come on the market. The property is being listed by Jeff Ramm and Neal Hauschild with Nth Degree Realty for $1.999 million.
A costly overnight
A Chicago-based investor paid $9.9 million for the Easton-area Hampton Inn & Suites, topping this week's property transfers .
And that's the development wrap for the week.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A shifting grocery store scene
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