Uni Place News
University Place residents are celebrating the November 18 opening of Heartland Pantry, Hy-Vee’s new small-store concept that replaces the former Hy-Vee at 48th and Leighton. It’s a fun story: The store the neighborhood had come to rely on packed its bags and headed a few miles down the road. Nearby residents fear for their neighborhood, so they rally the troops and engage in a campaign to save their strip mall. Regional corporation hears their cries and decides to use the location as the first location for a brand new store concept. It’s the stuff of Disney, I tell ya.
In other Uni Place news, I noticed that El Chaparro is now located just south of 48th and Leighton. I assume that’s the same El Chaparro as the hole-in-the-wall at 13th and F. How long has it been there? I’ve driven up and down 48th Street several times this fall, but Saturday was the first time I really paid attention to the sign. That building has held so many restaurants over the past few years that I can never keep track of what’s in there.
The Comments
Gene says El Chaparro has been there November 10, 2008 at 10:16am
El Chaparro has been there for six months at least. The wife and I have been there a couple of times-it’s still really tasty.
Mr. Wilson says RE: El Chaparro has been there November 10, 2008 at 10:25am
Seriously? Ha! Shows you how much attention I’ve paid to the sign.
Speaking of El Chaparro, I need to get back to the one on F. Good stuff.
Gene says RE: El Chaparro has been there November 10, 2008 at 10:56am
I don’t think the sign changed right away, so it was El Chaparro on the inside but had some other restaurant’s name on the outside.
Diane says Yeah, it's quite a tale November 10, 2008 at 10:31am
It was an amazing thing, being involved with keeping a grocery store in Uni Place. Once the ball started rolling, it rolled fast, and within a few short weeks we went from having a blighted strip mall to being the first to test a new store concept.
I was pleased with my sneak peek at the inside of the store - I think it will meet the basic needs of most folks, and then some. There’s a big price range too - all the way from 99 cent salad dressing on the bottom shelf to $6 gourmet stuff at eye level.
I’ll be happy to be able to walk to get my essentials like milk and bread and fruit. I’m very happy that we still have a grocery store in our neighborhood.
As far as El Chaparro - you may not have noticed it right away because there was a Mexican place there before them, and the sign didn’t get changed right away. The food’s great!
Andrew says what are the hours like November 10, 2008 at 1:41pm
what are the hours like on the new el chaparro? I love that the 13th and F location is opened so late.
Andrew says oh, and also. Is the November 10, 2008 at 1:44pm
oh, and also. Is the new store the type that has lots of healthy, organic, vegetarian, etc types of foods? It’s good that it’s going in that shopping center. We still need something closer to downtown in Lincoln though.
Diane says RE: oh, and also. Is the November 10, 2008 at 3:21pm
Yes - they will be having organic items, and a variety of foods. They didn’t have all the stock out yet, but it looks like an interesting mix.
swoof says RE: oh, and also. Is the November 10, 2008 at 5:29pm
Open Harvest is still closer to downtown than 48th & Leighton by quite a bit.
JT says Great news about the new November 10, 2008 at 4:36pm
Great news about the new Hy-Vee. I think I kept that place in business when I was at Wesleyan a few years ago.
LolaTwilight says 1st, I love El Chaparro! November 14, 2008 at 2:01pm
1st, I love El Chaparro! I’ve been to the new location and it is good, but still like the feel of the one on 13th better.
Also, real happy Hy-Vee is opening this up. There are a lot of elderly and students without vehicles living in that neighborhood, many of whom relied on that store.