According to the Journal Star, Save-a-Lot in Campustown on the West Bluff will close its doors January 3. Another tenant is lined up, but the developer won’t disclose who it is — except to say that it won’t be another grocery store. There are some other interesting comments:
“We’re looking for additional sites, and we’re open to other sites in the Peoria area,” [Gerry Kettler, director of consumer affairs for Niemann Foods] said.
I wonder if MidTown Plaza is one of the sites they’re considering. There was a lot of speculation back when Cub Foods closed that it would be replaced with a lower-end grocery store such as Save-a-Lot, since both chains are owned by Niemann Foods.
“From that standpoint we are disappointed Niemann Foods chose not to renew the lease. We’ve had a grocery in that space for almost all of the time Campustown has been there, almost 20 years. Apparently, there isn’t a strong enough need for one now,” [Brad Joseph of D. Joseph & Sons, the Peoria firm that developed and owns Campustown] said.
I couldn’t respond to this any better than frequent commenter Mahkno did in the Journal Star’s comments section:
Considering there has not been a decent well run grocery store there for the last 10 years, it is a bit of leap to conclude there is no need for one. Bradley students do not shop anymore. West Bluff residents of all stripes don’t shop there any more. Mr Joseph has pretty much destroyed the customer base that would support Campustown. The local residents have been sufficiently trained to shop elsewhere. He must not think highly of West Bluff residents by his continued efforts to put low end retailers there.
I’ve been to Save-a-Lot and found it disgusting. It was dirty and unkempt. It had very little inventory given the size of the store. And it had very little variety. I went in there once just to get some soda. They offered one brand: Pepsi. That’s it. The gas station across the parking lot had more variety than that.
I shudder to think what will take its place. We can only hope it won’t be a 20,000-square-foot cash store.
Mahkno is right. Campustown was sold to the nearby residents as being for locals and BU students. It really has not been that for quite a while. Sav-a-Lot was a new low. The Josephs need to step up and fulfill their commitment to the area, but,more importantly, it is time for residents to begin demanding that the revival of Main Street be a community priority in 2010.
I think save is find, most of nieghborhood just interested in looting so save a lot probably pretty good
Aldi’s would be a step up and would probably do just fine without selling package liquor or cigarettes.
Feh. C.J. ignored the most offensive part of the article:
—
Neighborhood associations around Campustown were pleased when Save-A-Lot came to the shopping center, but they may be just as pleased the store is closing, said Kara Harris, president of the Uplands Residential Association.
“Unfortunately, the clientele that often came to that store was unwelcome. I imagine the association will be thrilled,” she said.
—
Unwelcome: Poor people. Black people. Students.
Correction: Unwelcome: Rude slobs & panhandlers.
btw – anyone who thinks Save-A-Lot was a dump obviously hasn’t been to the Dollar Tree next door. Talk about a hell hole!
I have been panhandled at several Peoria Krogers. Also outside the Cilco office downtown. Once at the Mall.
Close ’em all down. Unwelcome! Unwelcome!
I got panhandled at One World. Shut it down!
I do remember the good old days when I could shop at Thompson Food Basket in Campustown (and/or on Western and on University) right?
Sav-A-Lot is a bad store. No matter where it’s at. You might as well hang out a sign in any community that Sav-A-Lot is located in: “Welcome. We’re poor, stupid, and unemployed. And we don’t give a rat’s arse about what food we shovel into our mouths, so long as we can have a cigarette and/or Jim Beam chaser.”
It unfortunately says a lot about our region that any Sav-A-Lot here is making enough money to stay in business. Crappy store. Poorly run. Normally smells to high hell. Enter at your own risk.
Ben Schwartz IGA, John-Bee, Thompson’s, etc. all bit the dust.
Sav-A-Lot prospers.
Not good.
Went into Save-A-Lot once. Never went back. Depressing as hell. The West Bluffers demand better. Josephs listen up. Give us quality retailers or turn this property over to Bradley NOW.
I went to Save-A-Lot in Peoria Heights just once and that was enough. Filthy, disorganized and just not my idea of a decent low priced store. Aldi’s is not the best but much better than Save-A-Lot. As for Joseph’s having low end retailers, Starbucks is not what I would call low end. Years ago I used to like going to Campus Town in spite of the traffic jam in the parking lot. Now I wouldn’t go there if you paid me.
“Unfortunately, the clientele that often came to that store was unwelcome. I imagine the association will be thrilled,” she said.
The unwelcome clientele that shop at Save a lot and many of the stores at campus town are the demographic for much of the area. Should those people not shop at their local grocery store?
“The West Bluffers demand better. Josephs listen up. Give us quality retailers or turn this property over to Bradley NOW.”
Retailers locate to where they think they have a client base. As I have stated many times in the past until the neighborhoods that are east of University are improved it will be hard to move quality retailers to the area. Sidewalks and ornamental lighting dosnt cut it.
Aldi’s is a great store. I would love if it came to campus town but the one on Western is probably too close – and it does a good job of serving residents in that area. I also love Haddad’s Grocery. A Kroger might do well in campus town. Would also love to see a Panera’s there.
Each day I face the grueling decision of whether to walk or bike to any of the following:
Whole Foods (2 of them) http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/;
Plum Market http://www.plummarket.com
Trader Joes http://www.traderjoes.com/
Peoples Food Co-op http://www.peoplesfood.coop/
Produce Station: http://www.producestation.com/
Fresh Seasons http://www.freshseasonsmarket.com/
Kerrytown Market http://www.kerrytown.com/
And then there is the downtown farmers market.
If anyone happens to run into Kris Jain, or Kevin Lyons, please tell them that there has never been a person more grateful to have been run out of Peoria.
Munch, munch. Chomp, chomp.
tulip – how about a Whole Foods? Your ideas are great, but it will never happen with the current demographics of the area around BU. Those types of businesses need a larger population of solvent spenders to buy what they are selling.
As C.J. has documented time and time again, the City of Peoria refuses to focus on the issues that will truly create change, i.e. more professional employment, improved schools, stabilization of aging neighborhoods. Instead, the City elects to become embroiled in “get rich quick schemes” like making sweetheart deals with plaza developers in the belief a Cubs store will be the turnkey to bring a blighted area back to life, or invest money (it doesn’t really have) in a new downtown hotel, hoping to restore the city to its glory days.
There are no shortcuts in life and no shortcut to revitalizing Peoria given what ails it. I only hope that 2010 reveals some hope for positive change within the community.
Frustrated: Amen to your comments. Just ask the farmers about the law of the harvest — you reap what you sow!
“Those types of businesses need a larger population of solvent spenders to buy what they are selling.”
Which is why there need to be residential financial incentives to locate to the neighborhoods around campustown instead of wider sidewalks and ornamental lighting.
Campustown doesn’t draw regular grocery customers from the West Bluff neighborhoods. Those customers have been put off by the problem people coming from other neighborhoods and the poor quality of the Sav-A-Lot. When he was granted the TIF, Joseph made a case for building and maintaining a center for BU students and the West Bluff. He made a lot of promises he did not keep.The security issues could have been dealt with early on, but Joseph chose not to deal with them at all. The community has made an investment in Campustown and we need Joseph to step up and renew Campustown.
“Campustown doesn’t draw regular grocery customers from the West Bluff neighborhoods.”
I think it draws many customers from the neighborhoods in the West Bluff. What count as regular customers? Uplands? Moss Ave? I would argue that the store specifically caters to the demographic of the neighborhoods east of University which I think is still the West Bluff.
“Those customers have been put off by the problem people coming from other neighborhoods and the poor quality of the Sav-A-Lot.”
Once again I would argue that many of the people that go to that store probablly live within blocks of the store. The store does serve the West Bluff it just dosnt serve the portion of the population many want it to.
I do not shop at Sav-A-Lot because it dosnt sell what I want to buy but to argue that it does not serve the demographic of its location is I think false.
I think “regular” customers are those who do the bulk of their grocery shopping at Sav-A-Lot. West Bluffers and BU students are not generally in that group. As far as West Bluff demographics go, I would argue that it is still primarily middle class, though I agree we need more homeowners.
West Bluff residents are indeed in that group. I would say that much of the West bluff east of University street and on our side of main is largely rental and at best lower middle class which means they probablly do most of their shopping at Wal Mart, Sav-A-Lot and Aldis. I think that there are a large number of West Bluffers who regularly shop at Sav-A-Lot specifically those that live within walking distance of it. Where do you think all these unwelcome clientele and criminal elements live?
“Which is why there need to be residential financial incentives to locate to the neighborhoods around campustown instead of wider sidewalks and ornamental lighting.”
There you go again, looking for taxpayer handouts to improve the neighborhood in which you chose to live. So ready to accept a government handout rather than improve your station in life via personal success. You do realize, don’t you, that the government has no resources other than those it confiscates from citizens? As such, the handout you lobby for would come from your fellow citizens. I estimate that about half of those would consider it an improvement to live in your neighborhood. What makes you deserving of the handout and not others who are less fortunate? Where should it stop?
I believe you should resolve in 2010 to live your life on your own merit rather than expecting your fellow taxpayers to equalize your position with those who have been more successful. In turn, when less of their income is being confiscated, those who are smarter, more ambitious, or otherwise more successful than you will do what they invariably do: invest their earnings to increase their wealth, creating jobs and opportunities for others in the process.
Happy New Year.
Funny how you think you know about my level of success. I own my own business, I employ several people, I have no personal debt. I do live my life on my own merit. I am suggesting that your tax money, instead of being wasted on programs that are not working, be reinvested into programs that have shown success.
It has nothing to do with deserving a handout. The city has and is currently investing large amounts of money into campustown and the area on and around main street. Your tax money is already being used with little to show for it. I am merely trying to protect the money that is already being funneled into the area.
You keep ranting about entitlement and deserving handouts. That has nothing to do with the arguement. You are entirely missing the point. The city has an interest for whatever reason in improving main street. The way to do that is to encourage people with money and ability to move to that neighborhood. In fact people like me who are already living in the neighborhood would have almost nothing to gain. I ALREADY LIVE HERE.
You did, in fact, propose that tax dollars be used for homes in your neighborhood to entice a better class of neighbor. You further cited the recent repair of your chimney as an example of a project that would be funded in your new program. I understand your apparent indignance at my use of the words entitlement and handout, but those are apt terms.
I did make the presumption that you were unsatisfied with your level of success based on your willingness to accept a handout from your fellow citizens. I’m confused now that you claim to be successful but still need taxpayer assistance.
Your new defense that your program would be better than the current waste is ludicrous. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Ok so whats your proposed fix? All I did was say that prehaps if Peoria wants to improve main street they should attempt to us a program that has proven successful in New York City, Washington DC, Baltimore Maryland, with similiar programs being used in almost every larger city in NC. If the evil government thats confiscating your taxes shouldnt get involved what do you think the fix is. Continue to ignore the problem, move north and just cry about the situation on PeoriaChronicle?
I DONT NEED TAX PAYER INCENTIVE. I ALREADY LIVE HERE. I WAS ALREADY CONVINCED TO MOVE HERE. My chimney was fixed before I closed on the house. The city of Peoria required me to do several thousands of dollars in repair before I could purchase the house.