New Grocery Store Located Among Walkable Neighborhoods Not Designed For Pedestrian Customers/Employees
A new grocery store will open soon on the near south side, between Soulard to the east, Lafayette Square to the west, and The Georgian/King Louis Square to the north, Lasalle Park. The I-55/I-44 highway interchange is to the south. Technically this is located in the Peabody Darst Webbe neighborhood, partly named after the former public housing project that were located where King Louis Square was built years ago.
Fields Foods is our vision come to life. A full-service grocery store rooted in the heart of historic Lafayette Square near downtown St. Louis. The Lafayette Square area is one of St. Louis’ oldest neighborhoods with historical stores, parks and homes. It’s truly one-of-a-kind, and that’s why it’s the perfect fit for our store.
Our team of friendly, dedicated, knowledgeable foodies guides our customers through a vast arrangement of local, healthy, delicious foods that will inspire your inner gourmet. You will walk through lush fields sampling vine-ripened fruits and vegetables. Stroll down urban streetscapes and visit the local butcher and baker. Head down to the docks to our seafood shack and enjoy what truly fresh from the sea means. And if you’re not in the mood to cook tonight, that’s okay. Stop by our prepared food section and pick up a slice of brick oven pizza, a toasty panini, salads and so much more. Need a bit more than a slice of pizza? We have a chef on staff creating restaurant quality dinners for carry out. A Sushi bar and a Wine and Beer cellar stocked with vintages from across the globe and local craft beers completes your experience.
Many area residents, tired of having to drive to the grocery store, welcome a neighborhood store they can walk to.
“Can’t wait to have a grocery store within walking distance. Actually I can see the store from my 3rd floor window.”— Jean C. commented on a Facebook picture.
A market here was proposed in early 2007:
Koman recently partnered with Chris Goodson of Gilded Age on plans for an $80 million mixed-use development just east of the Lafayette Square neighborhood and just south of downtown. Goodson’s Georgian Square development includes plans for a Walgreens, grocery store and coffee shop. Goodson has helped transform Lafayette Square in recent years. In 1999 he helped spearhead the creation of an $8.5 million tax increment financing district in Lafayette Square. Through Gilded Age, a development company Goodson founded with partner Trace Shaughnessy, he has developed more than $125 million in real estate projects since 1996. He also is president of the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. (St. Louis Business Journal)
Immediately south of downtown, another grocery store is under development. St. Louis-based Gilded Age plans to break ground on a Walgreens across the street from its Georgian Condominiums this August. Next to the Walgreens, a City Market grocery store, a unit of SuperValu, will open in the summer or fall of 2008, said Gilded Age principal Chris Goodson. (St. Louis Business Journal)
In March 2008 things were still moving forward:
The SLDC already has approved forgivable loans for two other projects to receive funding from the pool of excess revenue: Gilded Age and Koman Properties’ planned $30 million first phase of its Georgian Square retail development, across from Gilded Age’s Georgian condominium project, will receive $300,000. The developers have signed an agreement with Walgreens to locate on the site, said Gilded Age principal Chris Goodson. A City Market grocery store, a division of Supervalu, and a Starbucks are also planned for the development. “We’re moving forward with the Walgreens, that will be built first,” Goodson said. (St. Louis Business Journal)
The Walgreens opened in 2009. Several other attempts were made to get a grocery store here, but each fell through:
When Gilded Age announced plans for a grocery in 2007, it was with Minneapolis-based Supervalu, a project that never materialized. Other pending deals with Phoenix-based grocery chain Sunflower Farmers Market and local operator Sappington Farmers’ Market also failed to move forward. (stltoday.com)
I’m very glad to see the store nearing completion. It’ll provide needed jobs, though jobs may be lost elsewhere as people change where they buy groceries. Sadly, it doesn’t appear any consideration to the many who will arrive daily on foot, some pushing strollers, and even the occasional wheelchair user. Let’s start in the adjacent Bohemian Hill to the east.
![Looking west on Soulard St, the new Fresh Fields is on the left, Walgreens center.](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/georgiansquare01.jpg)
![The concrete curbs between the parking lot and Soulard St are already poured, no provisions for ramps, sidewalk](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/georgiansquare02.jpg)
![Looking south across Lafayette Ave on 14th the new grocery store is straight ahead](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/georgiansquare03.jpg)
![The circle indicates the location where the new store is being built](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/georgiansquareaerial.png)
![The area has good sidewalks but it takes careful planning to design new developments to encourage walking.](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/georgiansquare04.jpg)
![The parking lot will blend into the Walgreens lot](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/georgiansquare05.jpg)
I understand most customers and many employees will drive to this new store. I also know many will opt to walk here from home, Walgreens, nearby bus stop, etc. How many isn’t know, but if we do a pedestrian count later it’ll surprise you just how many do walk, or bike. Had the civil engineers, architects, & developers actually planned a welcoming sidewalk approach the numbers would be higher. From press releases and articles it’s clear they’re not targeting local residents, “Goodson and Randol also hope the store’s proximity to major highways will attract customers entering or leaving downtown St. Louis.” (Sauce)
Clearly the city has been working with the developers for six years on this project, there was time to figure out how residents of his own project across the street can walk to his new grocery store. The city failed big time by not requiring good pedestrian access.
Hopefully, somehow, I’ll be proven wrong when the grocery store opens January 4th.
— Steve Patterson