Lincolnite

I was thinking the same thing. Especially for those desiring a larger grocery downtown.

I’m still disappointed in Hy-Vee for conceding to the claim by the neighborhood people and the Lincoln Journal Scott that American citizens have a right to a grocery store within walking distance.  But I’d say the Hy-Vee generic brand and Best Choice from Super Saver are tied for best generic brand.  There’s one exception to that—the Best Choice generic cereal tastes like dog food.

It wasn’t that residents felt they had a “right”, nor were they being whiney or lazy or any of the other misconceptions tossed about - they simply knew that the well being of their neighborhood’s only strip mall and ultimately, their neighborhood, depended upon a grocery store remaining at 48th and Leighton. Also, given the traffic that goes by on 48th, it makes sense (and cents) for a grocer to be there. It won’t be a money losing proposition for Hy-Vee, or they wouldn’t have given in.

It also gives Hy-Vee the opportunity to try out their smaller format store, following the lead of grocers out on the west coast who are realizing that sprawling big-box grocery stores on city fringes aren’t the only option in the marketplace.

It’s a win-win for Uni Place and Hy-Vee, and ultimately, all of Lincoln, which benefits from strong healthy neighborhoods.

I disagree ... the tone coming from ‘the community’ and the LJS was definitely whining, based on the idea that the neighborhood had a right to a grocery store and it was Hy-Vee’s obligation to fulfill that right.  I hate seeing companies give into that, as it sets a precedent and lets the LJS think their relevance extends beyond coverage of Husker football.

That store is a linchpin to the neighborhood, much like the old IGA that was on 11th street. When a location has been established for years, and your neighborhood grows around it, you can’t just expect the people that live there because of it’s proximity to just move or go somewhere else. Many people live close to places like this BECAUSE they can’t just move or go somewhere else. Mabye Hyvee didn’t have an obligation under your Capitalist theory, but I feel they had a moral obligation to at lease explore the issue.

<i>When a location has been established for years, and your neighborhood grows around it, you can

So if Hyvee wanted to up and leave, why did they sign a 5 year agreement to not let another grocery store go into that building?

That neighborhood store makes a lot of money, and is really profitable….Hyvee mentioned they wanted to start pushing smaller stores, this community just jump started it

The agreement was so that another competitor wouldn’t come in and take the business from their new store.  I know, what an amazing concept. 

If they really wanted to do the smaller stores, and smaller stores are the new thing, then they would have done it without the pressure of the whiny media and neighborhood people.

I know people that live in houses because of proximity to parks, schools, work, the Lied Center-how is that any different than a grocery store? Maybe they have mobility issues, maybe they don’t own a vehicle by choice or circumstance, maybe they just like to not have to go all over town. Do they all ‘deserve’ what they get, too? You either have an endless gas budget or a real high horse.

I’ve bought gas once since the beginning of June, so it must be a high horse. 

how is that any different than a grocery store?

The difference? A grocery store is a privately-run business that can locate wherever it chooses.  Parks and schools: it’s hard to live too far from a park or school in Lincoln.  The Lied Center: WTF? Who chooses to live near the Lied Center?  We’ve been told that StarTran must exist to get the mobility-challenged people around, do we also need to locate grocery stores for them too?  Where does it stop?