Bringing Major Grocers Downtown

The recent opening of Whole Foods in downtown Seattle highlights the challenges of attracting major grocery stores to the urban core.

1 minute read

November 4, 2006, 7:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera

Downtown Seattle is set to get its first major grocery store in decades -- to the cheers of many residents. The store's opening is a result of the area's growing population, but also likely some determination by the developer.

"One reason grocery stores require dense residential populations is that many operate on narrow margins, making it difficult to squeeze profits from thinly populated neighborhoods. Most downtown locations also carry hefty rents...Whole Foods' higher prices mean it can pay higher rent than some grocers, but probably not as high as the $30-per-square-foot and up being charged for street-level space in downtown Seattle"

FULL STORY: Downtown gets its own big grocery

Friday, November 3, 2006 in The Seattle Times

Community / Economic Development Urban Development Washington

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