heard a rumour that the new downtown grocery is to be at richmond and carling. if this is true, it COMPLETELY missed the mark of why a grocery needs to be down there. it needs to be far more east. this is not a market for people who can afford cabs to get to and from. it is for those EOA that are buying essentials at mini marts because they can't afford busfare to groceries out of their area. hey - did that old baptist church at king and adelaide ever get sold? that would be an ideal place!!

I am in favour of a grocery store but would not want to see the market close - I like their variety, and differences from a retail chain grocer. We currently live in Oakridge (although we've purchased a condo downtown for future) and love Remarks - we always go there for the fresh foods (ie. fruits and veges) but then go to Shoppers and/or RCSS for toiletries and soda, etc. It's nice that they are close to each other and would like to see those services/products in or near the market.

Pat, why are you milking this to death?
Is Mr. Fontana behind this “prolonging” dead issue?
Are we out of ideas to write about?

I saw on the Freep's site that they were talking to Sobey's? Putting in an overpriced grocery store like that is a sure way to make it fail. Nobody's going to shop there, they'll just take the bus to the No Frills out at Wharencliffe & Southdale or the Argyle Mall location.

What about a FreshCo? - Which is what Price Chopper was recently rebranded as

Of course we want a grocery store downtown, but obviously the economics have to make sense for a grocery store before they will act on it.

article by Joe Belanger about need for downtown grocer. "Conditions ripening for grocer downtown": http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/05/03/18099196.html

I think the base of the Renaissance towers is a huge lost opportunity. I have seen many buildings of this size incorporated with retail at ground level in bigger cities (Toronto, Vancouver) including grocery stores. It seems to only make sense to put a grocery store in the base of the two biggest condos downtown. Instead the street is dead and lifeless, the buildings look great though. Maybe the city could mandate that the podiums of large condos contain retail. Im not sure how exactly a condo builder and grocery store chain work out the details of sharing space in a newly constructed property, but I know it has been done very successfully in other cities.

My Market experience has changed over the years. Back in the day it was a cool place to go to put together a cheap lunch. Now if I go, which is rare, it is to get a small piece of wicked old cheese. To me The Market is not a place for everyday staples, but more a specialty place for those who can afford it. Having both "side by each" offers the convenience of both everyday goods and the specialties (like the desired whole foods).
As far as a grocery store goes in City Hall. Meh. It just doesn't sound "right".

Location... the Copps downtown location would be ideal. Close to the condos and on the way home for people going home via Ridout. There would be ample parking when you tear down the storage shed and well within walking distance for several hundred condo dwellers and almost next door to the LCBO. One stop shopping. The MARKET might have something to say about it.

Good point, Paula. We now know Downtown wants and needs a grocery store. Time to put that to rest and move on to making it so.

Sangay, I think you should post your idea as a main idea. Even a two floor grocery store, reduced leasing costs because it's in the new City Hall building.

Great idea Sanjay if Fontana really wants a new cityhall it might as well be a real benefit to the people living downtown too!

"We could certainly use a downtown store which does not overcharge for substandard produce"
This doesn't exist sorry, we live in the real world.

Right on, Emily. And when you say "...it's certainly no fun during summer, winter, rain or rush hour." I read, always.

A grocery store is definitely needed downtown. Sure, there are groceries on bus routes, but it's certainly no fun during summer, winter, rain or rush hour.
We could certainly use a downtown store which does not overcharge for substandard produce. Given the choice between expensive Valu-Mart and taking the bus to somewhere more reasonable, I'll take the bus every time, but I wouldn't have to make that choice if there was some competition within walking distance.

When I think of "living downtown" I do not think of having a driveway, or an SUV. I think of living above a store or in a highrise. With that, let me ask you all, what comprises "downtown"? To me downtown is bordered by say, the river to the west, Colbourne St. to the east, the tracks south and central ave for north. What's your impression?

Sangay: Great plan! And we could pay for it with the City Hall Makeover Show. :) (I gotta' keep pushing that idea. It isn't even being made fun of. I thought it would get more attention than it is, or isn't as it were)

Sangay your comment "build a new city hall BUT, put a Whole Foods and small alternative health clinic on the main floor with a large piazza around it for summer market and vendors to surround the building. This way the rent for a 1st floor tenant could be lowered"
Sounds something Mr. Fontana or that landlord woud say.

Yes I think a grocery store is needed downtown

Oh, just had a brain cramp- build a new city hall BUT, put a Whole Foods and small alternative health clinic on the main floor with a large piazza around it for summer market and vendors to surround the building. This way the rent for a 1st floor tenant could be lowered, it would give the building some revenues to offset city hall operations, give life to the buidling during off hours and create a public 'meeting' area!

The first reason for no grocery store in the core is (a)rents are WAY too high for the returns on investment (b) lack of people that live in the core means it will take years to get a return on investment (c) The majority of Londoner's are car addicts and don't want to shop downtown~they like driving to work, driving home, driving to a crappy mall and keeping their giant SUV's parked in their lane ways when not doing these other things.