Grocery store chain looks at downtown EC site

Earth City,MO-based Save a Lot, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minneapolis-based SuperValu, is considering development of a downtown Eau Claire parcel for construction of a 15,000-square-foot neighborhood grocery store. The site being considered is located at the corner of Madison and North Barstow Streets, which was previously occupied by an M&H gas/convenience store prior to it being purchased and demolished by the City of Eau Claire in 2004 as part of the city's revitalization plan.

According to Save a Lot Division Manager Dick Koop, the grocery store chain considers Eau Claire's central business district a prime location for its type of store.

"If you look at the demographics in Eau Claire, there is a huge void in the food business in the downtown area," said Koop, who added that the company has begun negotiations with the city's Redevelopment Authority about acquiring the land and developing a store that conforms with the downtown plan.

City of Eau Claire Economic Development Specialist Mike Schatz said the Redevelopment Authority has directed him to begin discussions with the grocer and will likely ask that the company present a site plan.

"Typically, grocery stores are more suburban and since the downtown is urban/high-density, this will be a challenge to make it work," said Schatz, who said there are concerns about adequate parking and making sure that the exterior of any new facility in the North Barstow Redevelopment District conforms to the city's requirements.

TBL