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.

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.

Sewell said this yesterday in the Daily Cardinal about ASM seeking out a store location despite Roundy’s moving in:

“It doesn’t matter who provides it. We don’t want to be redundant or do anything that would incur more costs for students,” 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.”

What’s the deal? Yes or No?

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.

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.

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…

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

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.

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.

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.