The Observation Deck

The new store on Clifton is now open:

https://www.luckysmarket.com/cleveland-ohio/

We went there on Friday morning. I was impressed with the prices and selection and quality. It seems someone at corporate headquarters decided to take advantage of the fact that more people live within a ten minute walk of that corner than live in all downtown Cleveland. The City of Cleveland invested $1 in the 3.5 acre development. The rest of the funding came from private sources.

I predict the store will be very successful. Since Cuyahoga County is hemorrhaging economic activity and population I also predict the closure of some local grocery stores. There is only so much business to go around. Parking and traffic control are going to be a real issue.

This project was developed by the Carnegie Companies:

http://carnegiecos.com/about/history/

That is not the same as Carnegie Management:

http://www.carnegiecorp.com/

Does this development qualify as transformational?

It's like a privately owned whole foods. Out of my price league save for produce but there will be a market for it .. In particular among the organic crowd. I agree it will be successful.

Bill Call wrote: Since Cuyahoga County is hemorrhaging economic activity and population I also predict the closure of some local grocery stores. There is only so much business to go around. Parking and traffic control are going to be a real issue.

The grocery industry is slightly more "recession-proof" than others due to the presence of food stamps and other government support for needy folks.
However, I agree that there will be some thinning of the herd.
Among Lakewood's grocers, I expect Aldi and Giant Eagle to remain viable for the foreseeable future.
Sapells might be OK, too....Lucky's targets a much more upscale clientele.
Constantinos could be the one in trouble....I've heard anecdotal evidence that they are already struggling. The addition of another nearby upscale grocer could be too much to overcome.

Among Lakewood's "nearby" grocery stores, Heinens and GFS should be fine....they each fill a well defined niche.
The Rockcliff Giant Eagle may someday be closed due to its small size relative to other GE stores....but for now it seems to be doing OK.

It's the grocery chains in the middle of the middle market that are in the most trouble. Tops has been long gone from Cleveland (and Lakewood), but that company is circling the drain, in Chapter 11 now. Giant Eagle has done a superior job of defending its markets, and broadening their appeal (Market District stores), although it inevitably will have to retrench. My impression is the Lakewood store will survive because of the density of population and foot traffic.

I've been remiss in not visiting Constantino's and Lucky's yet. Lucky's is on well located to capture home-going commuter traffic. Constantino's is not.

Heinen's is in a class by itself, doing everything right without going to expensive technologies.

In addition:

Lucky's is not completely independent. Kroger has a significant stake in the company and their arrival in Cleveland might be significant from Kroger's perspective.

Giant Eagle is promoting the heck out of price reductions. This is probably intended to defend against Aldi.

Mike Deneen: You mean Edgecliff? (not Rockcliff), on Edgecliff Dr. behind Warren Road, deep inside West Park? Nice store, not large, open til 11 pm which is nice for the neighborhood.