Downtown grocery project shelved
By KYLE ARNOLD World Staff Writer on Aug 7, 2012, at 1:03 PM
Retail
"Everybody that is open so far is doing really, really well," said Katie Plohocky of Tulsa Economic Development Corp., who is the project manager. "They are meeting and exceeding expectations for sales. So, for me, that's the most exciting.
It was a tough quarter for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Hopeful downtown market Cam’s Grocery will not open at its 2nd Street and Detroit Avenue location and plans for the retail store are now on hold.
Daniel Cameron, owner of the concept, said he has been unable to secure the $1 million in financing needed to open the 7,000 square foot store at 114. S. Detroit Ave., despite several individual investors.
“Every bank we went to said they just were not funding startups right now,” Cameron said.
Cameron was given a one-year, rent free hold on the property, but he doesn’t want to start paying rent with so much uncertainty about the project.
Plans had called for a small grocery store with a full produce, meat and freezer section, along with a café and fresh-squeezed juices.
It would be located just a few blocks south from another grocery concept, Archer Market, owned by city councilman and downtown restaurant owner Blake Ewing. Archer Market is on target for an early autumn opening.
Cameron said he still hopes to open the grocery store downtown and said he has even been approached by one developer to open a smaller market in another building.
Meanwhile, Cameron has been developing a juice line called Okie Alchemy that he has been selling at area farmers markets. He said he hopes the success of the juice line shows the store’s business potential.
Retail
"Everybody that is open so far is doing really, really well," said Katie Plohocky of Tulsa Economic Development Corp., who is the project manager. "They are meeting and exceeding expectations for sales. So, for me, that's the most exciting.
It was a tough quarter for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
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