The Observation Deck

Constantino's has purchased the Nature's Bin property on Sloane. (see link from the Chamber of Commerce).
http://lakewoodchamber.org/cornucopia-i ... -property/

So we see another example of a nonprofit venture being privatized by Team Summers.
It's interesting....if Nature's Bin was "doomed" by competition from Whole Foods, then why is Constantino's going to fare any better?

By a strange coincidence, this news was announced by Jen Pae on the fake "Lakewood Community" facebook page.

Interesting.

The difficulties the Bin faced were explained as competition from nearby Heinens and the new Whole Foods. Any grocery store in the location would seemingly face the same issues, no?

Makes you wonder what really brought down the Bin.

Oh, and the REAL Lakewood, Ohio Facebook page broke the news May 5, so Jen is late to the party.

Bridget Conant wrote:Interesting.
Makes you wonder what really brought down the Bin.

Just look at who joined to help them stay solvent and raise funding over the past 4 years.

You will stop wondering.

.

Michael Deneen wrote:Constantino's has purchased the Nature's Bin property on Sloane. (see link from the Chamber of Commerce).
http://lakewoodchamber.org/cornucopia-i ... -property/

So we see another example of a nonprofit venture being privatized by Team Summers.
It's interesting....if Nature's Bin was "doomed" by competition from Whole Foods, then why is Constantino's going to fare any better?

By a strange coincidence, this news was announced by Jen Pae on the fake "Lakewood Community" facebook page.

Mike, this statement by you really bother me. This is a great thing for the community on many fronts.

I actually spoke to Nancy at a recently about this...she told me that they did everything in their power to stay open, but given their non-profit status, and a 25% reduction in business after Whole Foods opened, it became impossible. She also told me that during the process, she wanted to make a strong effort to sell the property to someone who would utilize it in it's current form, not just hold it, or redevelop it. I commend her for those efforts.

My guess (strictly a guess) would be that there are tax benefits for Constantino's to move in and utilize the services Cornucopia offers. Both, the food and services side. It also benefits a non-profit, of which has been a wonderful community contributor for many, many years.

The new business can also likely negotiate better deals, because of multiple locations (buying in bulk). Frankly, we needed another grocer to compete with Giant Eagle. The fact that Constantino's is moving into town, maybe we can start having some better pricing overall in the city on groceries. Likely, they'll have better produce than Giant Eagle, and give Heinen's a run for their money on produce.

Wow! Maybe some of the displaced workers from Lakewood Hospital could get a job there. I'm Sure they will be able to support their families on an $8.00 an hour job, with probably no benefits.

Perhaps Mr. Summers feels the need to take the credit and praise for bringing this new business to Lakewood. Could it be that he is starting to feel guilty for taking part in the illegal and immoral hospital deal?

I read that Whole Foods is in financial trouble and is starting to close some of their stores.

Mr. Summers, your friends can afford to shop at this new store. We middle class folks just can't make it a part of our regular stores to shop at.

Constantino's Market is an upscale, gourmet deli/grocery that tends to locate in trendy and upcoming areas. They are great, let me say that, with great prepared foods, cheeses, and wines.

That said, Heinens and Whole Foods services the same market niche with similar specialties.

To say they will offer any sort of price competition is naive. They are an upscale store, not a budget place, and they aren't here to offer any sort of price competition.

Bridget,
I believe the only reason they are here is because of Summers and his friends.

Most of us will not be able to afford shopping there!

Also, Lake Road Market in Rocky River is less than 2 miles from the Bin site.

Maybe Lakewoodites forget it's there, but Riverites don't. They will compete with Constantino's, as well.

Actually, here is the market they appeal to, self-described:

"We're not a grocery store that is going to appeal to the suburban shopper," said owner Costas Mavromichalis, whose son-in-law will run the University Circle store.

"But we do appeal to single people, small families and retired people who don't want to be spending a lot of time in a big supermarket or driving to a big supermarket."

From here:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index ... on_at.html

They did also receive a low interest loan from University Circle Inc and the Feds because the area was considered a "food desert."

Here is Mayor Summers' take on the news, posted by LakewoodAlive:

With our housing market on such an upswing, it only makes sense that we’re going to attract high-quality, locally owned businesses like Constantino’s.” said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. “Our local workforce is largely made up of diverse businesses that support our 52,000 plus residents. A grocery store — especially a specialized neighborhood grocery store like Constantino’s — fits right within the framework of vibrant neighborhoods and locally owned and strong businesses supporting each other.”

But mayor, that is what we HAD there - a specialized grocery store that was locally owned. And it apparently struggled.

Bridget Conant wrote:Here is Mayor Summers' take on the news, posted by LakewoodAlive:With our housing market on such an upswing, it only makes sense that we’re going to attract high-quality, locally owned businesses like Constantino’s.” said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. “Our local workforce is largely made up of diverse businesses that support our 52,000 plus residents. A grocery store — especially a specialized neighborhood grocery store like Constantino’s — fits right within the framework of vibrant neighborhoods and locally owned and strong businesses supporting each other.”But mayor, that is what we HAD there - a specialized grocery store that was locally owned. And it apparently struggled.

"Upswing"?????.........then why they couldn't find any buyers for the school board property?
Also, the condo market is doing poorly....they conveniently omit that from City Hall talking points.

I wish that Nature's Bin would have stayed open but I don't understand how Constantino's going in is a bad thing. What else would we prefer (and a hospital doesn't count). Meaning, what else should have gone there that would have made everybody happy. If one doesn't like it, then don't shop there. I'm weird and don't like Heinens. But I'm certainly not upset that it exists.

In addition, it is a big plus to get a walking grocery store back in that area, IMHO. They will get a lot of traffic from McKinley townhomes and the other apartments on the West End.

Don't see how this anything other than good news, unless someone has some concrete evidence (besides just not liking the administration) why this is not good news.

Matthew Lee wrote:Don't see how this anything other than good news, unless someone has some concrete evidence (besides just not liking the administration) why this is not good news.

We were told a few months ago that market forces made it impossible for a grocery to operate there.
A few months later we are told that a private company wants to operate there...did something suddenly change in this market in the last couple months?

Here's the bottom line: We traded a community-owned grocery store for a private out-of-town operation. I suspect that Natures Bin may have been undermined in its final years....a la the hospital.

This is the standard conservative playbook for the privatization of public assets.

1. Get control of a viable public asset.
2. Intentionally mismanage and badmouth it so that the public believes it's failing.
3. Sell the allegedly "money losing" asset to private operators, and then brag that the new "private" operation is better than nothing.

This same scheme is being done to our public schools.
All these Common Core programs are a scheme to declare the schools a failure.....and private charter operators like Betsy DeVos will ride in to "save the day".

The queen mother of all these is Social Security.
Wall Street desperately wants it privatized so that they can get their hands on that money. Their politicians have been badmouthing the program for years, setting up the public for "the big score". Thankfully W's plan to privatize it was undermined by his horrendous Iraq War and the Katrina situation.
But don't worry....they will be back.

BTW, if records are withheld or concealed, that eliminates any "concrete evidence". If any troublemakers complain about your scheme, simply label them as "conspiracy theorists".

Matthew Lee wrote:
Don't see how this anything other than good news, unless someone has some concrete evidence (besides just not liking the administration) why this is not good news.

Mike Deneen wrote:
We were told a few months ago that market forces made it impossible for a grocery to operate there.
A few months later we are told that a private company wants to operate there...did something suddenly change in this market in the last couple months?

THIS.

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.clevelan ... _doors.amp

Officials with Cornucopia Inc., a nonprofit organization that operates Nature's Bin, said increased competition led to the difficult decision.

"As shoppers' options to purchase natural and organic products have expanded, we have experienced a dramatic decline in sales, and Cornucopia can no longer continue to operate Nature's Bin," Assistant Executive Director Mary L. Johnson said in an email.

Declining sales due to competition from so many nearby places to buy grocery items:

http://m.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard ... -on-nov-12

"Here's the bottom line: We traded a community-owned grocery store for a private out-of-town operation. I suspect that Natures Bin may have been undermined in its final years....a la the hospital."..Mike Deenen..

Wrong. Constantino's is owned and operated by a Lakewood family for decades. They currently live in Lakewood and will for likely decades to come. Now i am not sure where they are incorporated, likely at their large store in the Warehouse District in Cleveland proper. But yeah, keep talking Mike.

Couldn't you guys just start a group text to talk about how much you hate Lakewood? You, Lori, Bridget, etc.. The limit for people in a group text is 10 so you're well under that.

Everything about this is great news. The seller, the buyer, the community, the neighborhood, etc......

A few proposals:

The argument in this thread, to the extent that there even is one, is not about grocery stores.

No one here hates Lakewood.

I wish the best to Constantino's, particularly if they're the same store which I recall making a shortlived attempt in Kamm's Plaza.

I'm ready to elaborate on any of these, if desired. (Unless I'm completely wrong about the third; something was there between Topp's and Marc's, but I might be mistaken about what.)