417 replies to this topic

[runawayjim]

basachs, on Aug 23 2007, 08:45 AM, said:

I would say we do need anther full service grocery store on the West Side. The ones you mentioned are sub-par. They are not the same caliber as Whole Foods or Eastside Marketplace. With the influx of more money into the West Side, there is greater demand for better quality. People that shop at Price-Rite deserve better as do people that now travel outside their urban neighborhood for groceries.

And Price-Rite does not sell organic goat cheese, immediately making it unacceptable.
Then again, we think we have it bad over here...

http://www.projo.com/news/content/FOOD_DES...AN.34bb91e.html

we definitely do need a full service grocery store on the west side. there's no reason people who live in a city should have to travel what those of us on the west side have to do to get to a full service grocery store. it's either stop and shop on branch (which is worse than the eagle square shaws) or stop and shop in cranston for the nearest stores.

does price rite sell produce, cold cuts, and meats?

i'm wondering what they thought when they moved to south kingstown. did they really think they'd be able to walk or take the bus everywhere? it's pretty rural down there.

[misterchlo]

Who knew Trader Joe's would be such a lightning rod hot button of a topic?? To avoid further avoid conflict over the price of granola, I'd like to say that a Target in that spot would make me happy as well. You've got much of the groceries element available plus so much more in a stylishly cheap setting ;>

And to those who say Target would never go in that spot due to the non-suburban demographics, yes i can see that. BUT they are not entirely against venturing into lower income urban areas. My example would be the Target in South Bay in Dorchester just off 93. (I think that shopping plaza is called South Bay?!)

[Liamlunchtray]

runawayjim, on Aug 23 2007, 09:17 AM, said:

does price rite sell produce, cold cuts, and meats?

yes they do

Their produce is kind of hit or miss, but frequently better than Shaws was (and a LOT cheaper)

For meats they tend to focus on bulk packs and lower cost fare. You wont find a great steak, but you will find boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.99 a lb.

Cold cuts is the only real issue - They dont have a deli counter, only pre packaged stuff. I have a hard time finding what I need, but sometimes you find a really good deal like a 14oz pkg of fress mozzerella for $2.

the one major issue with Price Rite is that you cant count on them always having what you need. On Sunday they were out of all bread products, save for about 3 loaves of pumpernickle and a few packages of English muffins. Oh, they did have Calise Bakery stuff (all $1 each) but it is kept with Produce and not bread for some odd reason. they were also out of plain yogurt. I have been in on other weeks where they are completely out of cheese. I'm not sure how you would run out of staples like cheese and bread...

[Cotuit]

Liamlunchtray, on Aug 23 2007, 10:58 AM, said:

I'm not sure how you would run out of staples like cheese and bread...

Was it snowing?

[Liamlunchtray]

Cotuit, on Aug 23 2007, 11:01 AM, said:

Was it snowing?

No. It was July.

[jencoleslaw]

Liamlunchtray, on Aug 23 2007, 11:04 AM, said:

No. It was July.

well, there ya go.

[matt]

runawayjim, on Aug 23 2007, 09:17 AM, said:

stop and shop on branch (which is worse than the eagle square shaws)

I don't think the S&S on Branch is too bad. They're a little slow to restock sometimes, but otherwise, I've been reasonably content there.

Of course... if I had a Valueland close by...

This weekend I was out in Hadley/Amherst/Northampton and went to Atkins Farm Market. It was fantastic! Fresh produce, a nice deli; all kinds of great stuff including prepped sandwiches. It was like a dream.

[runawayjim]

matt, on Aug 23 2007, 02:57 PM, said:

I don't think the S&S on Branch is too bad. They're a little slow to restock sometimes, but otherwise, I've been reasonably content there.

i never had a really bad experience there, i just found it a bit dirtier than the NP shaw, the eagle sq shaws, or the mineral spring S&S (used to shop there after work when i worked until midnight because it's open 24 hours).

none of those stores were worse than the NP shaws for getting items restocked, at least in my experience. 7 times out of 10, they'd be out of at least 2 items i was looking for.

the mineral spring S&S, by the way, after having their renovations and remodeling about 2-3 years ago, is actually quite nice (nicer than the branch ave one and i'd even say nicer than the cranston one, though i haven't been to mineral spring in a while).

[Garris]

matt, on Aug 23 2007, 02:57 PM, said:

I don't think the S&S on Branch is too bad.

Neither do I. I've found it a very reasonable alternative when I've been around there. Nothing fancy of course, but completely solid.

- Garris

[mandrake258]

Hi. first post. I live pretty much across the street from Eagle Square. Been living there for 2 years. Lived closer to O'ville square for three years before that. I have to say, I almost never went to the Shaws, except in cases of extreme emergency (no toilet paper! out of kitty litter! etc...) I always go to the PriceRite and also to Mekong market on Broad St plus a couple other places here and there for this n'that.

The Shaws was so expensive, and their produce section was really lousy. I don't mind the somewhat "limited" selection at the PriceRite. I do all of my own cooking, so I don't rely heavily on prepared goods or specialty items like organic goat cheese.

My two cents on what they should do with the space: either a flea market or a farmer's market. how about a cross between Philly's Reading Terminal Market and Atlantic Mill's Bigtop Flea Market? That would basically be my ideal shopping mecca

[mandrake258]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 22 2007, 03:38 PM, said:

Note Update

Promenade District Neighborhood Meeting
Forum for a community dialogue

Hi Jen,

Who is sponsoring this? The planning committee, city council, or some other organization? Shaws, maybe?

thanks!

[jencoleslaw]

while i don't disagree with mandrake, i do believe that a flea market would be hardpressed to pay the $20+ per square foot lease that would need to be assumed to take over the shaws space.

for more information on that community meeting, please email the address on the posting. i was just putting it up as a favor.

[mandrake258]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 24 2007, 03:16 PM, said:

for more information on that community meeting, please email the address on the posting. i was just putting it up as a favor.

kind of a cagey answer, but ok. I will email "them" whoever they may be...

may I ask you who you are favoring with this favor?

[jencoleslaw]

mandrake258, on Aug 24 2007, 04:30 PM, said:

kind of a cagey answer, but ok. I will email "them" whoever they may be...

may I ask you who you are favoring with this favor?

Does it matter? You're either interested in being part of the solution at eagle square, or you're not. What does it matter who is organizing this meeting? The important thing is that it is happening, and that everyone who has a stake in the area is invited to try to figure out what the next steps are.

For someone who lives in the neighborhood, i'm surprised you don't know anything about the meeting.

[mandrake258]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 24 2007, 04:51 PM, said:

For someone who lives in the neighborhood, i'm surprised you don't know anything about the meeting.

I'm surprised too! That's why I'm curious to know who is organizing this.

I've asked my neighbors about it. None of them no anything about it. No fliers, phone calls, or anything. I didn't see any fliers at la lupita, the flea market, price rite, the donigian park poster board or the manton ave community garden or on lamp posts in the neighborhood. nothing... maybe I wasn't looking hard enough?

Anyway, thanks for posting about it here! I look forward to hearing people's ideas!!

[runawayjim]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 24 2007, 04:51 PM, said:

For someone who lives in the neighborhood, i'm surprised you don't know anything about the meeting.

for what it's worth... has this meeting been greatly advertised around the surrounding neighborhood? i never even knew there was a promenade neighborhood association or the like until you posted that.

[mandrake258]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 24 2007, 04:51 PM, said:

Does it matter?

It might... I mean, if the meeting is being organized by some supermarket mega-corporation or a property developer, then there's obviously a conflict of interest here.

Like what if the meeting is being put on by Alberton's and they're like "We propose that the best thing for your neighborhood is an Albertsons and a 10-year sales tax abatement" you know? Obviously that's an overstatement, but when I walk into a community meeting, I'd like to know if it's grassroots or astroturf. Is that too cynical?

runawayjim, on Aug 24 2007, 05:31 PM, said:

i never even knew there was a promenade neighborhood association or the like until you posted that.

I never even knew there was a Promenade Neighborhood. I thought I lived in Olneyville

[runawayjim]

mandrake258, on Aug 24 2007, 05:37 PM, said:

I never even knew there was a Promenade Neighborhood. I thought I lived in Olneyville

there's a valley neighborhood... which is technically where eagle square is located.

[gregw]

The Promenade District runs from where the Foundry and the 903 are to Eagle Square. Some define it as running to Olneyville Sq. It includes bits of Smith Hill, Valley, and Olneyville. But it refers to the former industrial corridor along the river and not to the residential areas around it.

It's kind of like the Jewelry District, which is mostly Upper South Providence or the Armory District. These aren't official political wards either.

Edited by gregw, 25 August 2007 - 05:03 AM.

[foxpointer]

I think the subtext of mandrake's statements is the allegation that property developers assign new or misleading names in an effort to "re-brand" a neighborhood. This is a pretty common argument. There appears to be a heightened sensitivity to neighborhood identity when one perceives their neighborhood (as if a neighborhood name can be copyrighted and exists for their exclsive use only!) as being under attack.

As Greg points out, this specific discussion is made even more complex by the overlay of the Promenade District, which is not a political boundary but more of an invented district, the boundaries of which will differ depending on one's point of view.