Giant Eagle Eyeing Property Across the Street?
Giant Eagle is looking at its former location across the street on Detroit Avenue for a Market District prototype store.
Giant Eagle is eyeing its former location across the street on Detroit Avenue for a Market District prototype store.
That’s according to city officials, who said there have been some “preliminary discussions” between the Pittsburgh-based grocer and the city about the future of the company in Lakewood.
Giant Eagle sold the property at 14013 Detroit Avenue to Urban Active in 2007. However, plans at the site to build a workout facility never came to fruition.
The building has been vacant since 2007, when Giant Eagle finished its move across the street to 14100 Detroit Avenue.
According to city officials, the company is looking to make renovations to the existing store and build a new, “prototype” store — not unlike the one improved in Strongsville this week.
“All of this is in the preliminary stage,” said Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development, adding that discussions with Giant Eagle officials revealed that the grocer would like to build a new structure on the corner of Bunts Road and Detroit Avenue.
Then, renovation would begin on the existing store.
Company officials aren’t saying much.
“We have nothing to share about the Lakewood store,” said Giant Eagle spokeswoman Paula DePasquale.
The company unveiled plans in Strongsville to build a Market District store — an upscale, 110,000-square-foot grocery store that includes a restaurant, pharmacy and a vast array of prepared foods.
As well as a new Get Go gas station.
"This is going to be incredible," Jim Chickini, a Giant Eagle vice president, told Strongsville officials Tuesday afternoon. "These (stores) are special. There will only be a handful of these."
There is currently only one Market District in Ohio — in Upper Arlington, an affluent community near Columbus — and five in the nation. The other four are in Pittsburgh.
“It would be a great building, like any new development in town,” said Siley. “The bigger story here is that Giant Eagle is looking to invest in that grocery store. Having a good grocery store isn’t just an amenity, it’s essential.”
Debbie Palmer contributed to this story.
Rick Uldricks
8:48 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
So, GE is thinking about using the vacant property across the street as a temporary store while they renovate the existing GE (aka old Tops) into a Super GE with a Get Go gas station? After all of this is completed, are there any plans for the temporary store that used to be a GE twice and never became a health club? Any plans for the old gas station? Do they plan to remove the gas tanks in the ground so the property can be used for other types of businesses?
Sam Bridgeman
9:55 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
They aren't building a temporary store. They are building a separate Market District Store that's like a Whole Foods where Giant Eagle was and where there was almost a health club. Then they are renovating the current Giant Eagle (previously Topps). I would imagine what they do with the pumps depends if they care if there is a competing gas station nearby but we probably won't hear the answer to this question till the new Get go opens.
Rick Uldricks
1:55 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thanks for the clarification, Sam. Good to hear that the proposed GE Market District Store would be permanent, this might even satisfy those who have been hoping for a Trader Joe's in Lakewood (are they similar?). However, that's a whole lotta GE in one area.
Val
9:41 pm on Monday, January 16, 2012
Video of a Market District store in Pittsburgh:
http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54165-giant-eagle-new-market-district-location-pittsburgh-north-hills
Barbara
7:55 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Because it is an investment in Lakewood, I hope it all comes to fruition. However, I wonder if the recent influx of grocery stores can maintain a strong enough client base to stay and prosper. In addition to Giant Eagle, Heinen's and Earth Fare, the will soon be a Whole Earth and this proposed Market District in very close proximity. Add in the Bin, and we are saturated with basic grocery stores as well as specialty/natural/organic food store.