NEWS
ASM still pursuing new grocery store
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Also by Ken Harris:
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- No morality in voting, author says (February 26, 2008)
- UW brings new lawyer onto administrative team (February 25, 2008)
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- UW calling for help shoveling (February 21, 2008)
Related Stories:
- ASM hopes to bag new grocery store (September 20, 2007)
- Alders approve Monroe Commons construction (March 16, 2005)
- ASM formally announces plan for grocery store (September 27, 2007)
- City delays decision (April 19, 2005)
- Grocery store to change owners (October 8, 2007)
by Ken Harris
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The
Associated Students of Madison are still going to pursue the installation of a
grocery store in Union South despite plans for a grocery franchise to move into
the new University Square complex in August.
ASM
chair Gestina Sewell said the announcement that Roundy’s will place one of its
franchises in the complex, located at the corner of University Avenue and Lake
Street, has not stopped their plans to get a grocery store included in the
remodeled Union South.
Sewell
said ASM still went forward with their grocery store presentation to the Union
South design team at the mini-conference Monday. She said she believes there is
room for both establishments on campus.
“The research behind
what ASM has done shows there is not an abundance of grocery stores in the
area,” Sewell said. “So it does not make a grocery store on the southwest of
campus redundant.”
According
to Susan Springman, president of Executive Management, Inc., the company in
charge of operating the University Square complex, a grocery store was listed
as something they wanted to include from the beginning of the project.
Springman
said the store will occupy two stories, take up 27,000 square feet and will be
specially tailored to cater to “the downtown market.”
“We’re very excited
about it,” Springman said. “There’s a need in the area. There will be 1,000
students living nearby, all with kitchens.”
Sewell
said ASM advocates having a grocery store on campus, even if it is not the one
they planned.
“ASM’s plan had
developed from listening to the student body’s ideas on what they’d like to see
on campus,” Sewell said. “We see that service as something that is very
beneficial. It doesn’t matter to us who provides it.”
According
to Sewell, a grocery store in Union South could coexist with the University
Square store by concentrating on a different market. She said she would like a
grocery store that focuses more on providing local products and fresh produce.
Sewell
said by concentrating on providing different products than the franchise store,
the Union South store will complement, and not duplicate, the University Square
location.
Springman
said the grocery store is only a fraction of the 140,000 square feet of total
retail space available at University Square complex.
Although
the other tenants of the retail section have not been announced yet, Springman
said there will be restaurants, clothing and specialty stores.
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 3:02am):
This is a capitalist society so if there is a need for another grocery store then someone seeking to make money will probably build one. It seems hard to believe that ASM could break even without the quality discounts that other chains receive. Unless of course the cost of the rental space is pass on to students.
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 6:33am):
Of course it will be passed on to students. Gestina, Jeff, Suchita? Non-UW students in a few months. As long as the resume is safe, they are happy.
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 8:57am):
Sewell said this yesterday in the Daily Cardinal about ASM seeking out a store location despite Roundy's moving in:
âIt doesnât matter who provides it. We donât want to be redundant or do anything that would incur more costs for students,â she said.
Isn't that the complete opposite of her quote in today's BH?: "it does not make a grocery store on the southwest of campus redundant.â
What's the deal? Yes or No?
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 12:46pm):
People that live in the Regent and Randall Station and College Court and near the stadium will happily embrace an alternative to the crap at the Open Pantry. This is a good idea, and could be shaped in a way that even raises revenue for the University. I don't understand why the campus "moderates" (read: CB, Something Verbose, and their friends) are so opposed to this.
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 3:52pm):
I don't think the grocery store is a good idea at all. The Union is being rebuilt to make more space for student activities and the such, not for a grocery store. Besides, since the store would not be able to buy things in large quantities like larger chains do they would not receive any discounts from distributors. The prices would be through the roof.
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 5:26pm):
Aren't we forgetting about Capitol Center Foods and the soon-to-come Willy Street Co-op. And the West side of campus has Trader Joes...
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 7:44pm):
3:52, I fail to see how a student-run grocery store that serves students fails to be a student activity, particularly if it is student-run. Additionally, if the grocer serves a buy-local, eat-organic clientele that ASM is proposing, the prices won't matter. (And given that much of that area shops a great deal at the OP, I would guess this store will offer better goods at prices that are competitive to that.) Finally, if this creates student jobs and generates additional revenue (for students or for the Unions) students will win by allowing the profits from their food purchases return to the university, rather than having them go to private third parties.
5:26, have you ever lived near Union South without owning a car? Cap Center Foods is nowhere near serving that neighborhood nor is the old or new Willy St. Co-op. Trader Joes might, but probably not - I would venture to guess there aren't many people making the walk from College Court up to Trader Joes to buy groceries.
~12:46
Justin K. (February 26, 2008 @ 8:11pm):
This Gricery store plan is asinine. No groceries near campus? Just off the top of my head I can name Capitol Center Foods, Trader Joes, the Regent Co-Op, Whole Foods, Copps, and soon, the Willy Co-op, all within walking or short bus ride distance. And if there a store opening on University and Lake, then there's really no reason for one in Union South.
The whole U. South renovation is a huge an unnecessary burden on the students, who twice rejected the plan in referenda, only to see it snuck through on an undemocratic vote which only included a miniscule proportion of students. At a time when tuition is shooting up and funding cuts are costing the UW professors, building more pointless amenities which keep students from having to interact with the community is idiotic.
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 10:13pm):
I really enjoy the number of people who claim the Union renovation plan was 'snuck through on an undemocratic vote' that included 'a miniscule proportion of students.' People who make that argument either (1) didn't vote themselves; or (2) didn't encourage enough of their friends to vote against it. Take some freaking responsibility.
Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 11:18pm):
there aren't as many options for those without cars on that side of campus, but i still think this is a waste of time. asm should focus on things such as getting a better textbook program in place (like renting), which would benefit ALL students. most people would probably rather save $500 per semester than having groceries a little more convenient.
Anonymous (February 27, 2008 @ 12:12am):
I live near Union South and I walk to both Cap Center Foods and Trader Joe's frequently. Union South is about half a mile to Trader Joe's and about a mile to Cap Center/New Willy St. Ive found it to be max about a 20 min walk to either. They both offer fresh organic produce. And the new Willy St co-op will offer an even wider variety of local produce and dry goods. AND if you aren't able to carry your groceries home Cap Center has home delivery (I think new Willy street will too).
Yes, having a grocery store inside of my apartment would probably be handy, but 3 grocery stores within very accessible walking distance is fine for me.
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