The Kroger corporation sent several representatives to the Merion Village Center this evening for an open discussion with neighbors. About forty people were in attendance including Kroger employees representing the real-estate and human resource departments, the Parsons Avenue store manager, the district manager as well as a lawyer representing the corporation. As a resident Merion Village resident I was present as well.
Kroger has plans to add a fueling station to its property on Parsons Avenue as way to bolster sales, which are reportedly down by 12% over last year at this location. The new plans call for the fueling station to be located on the current Kroger property rather than on the previously targeted vacant lot at the south-west corner of Sheldon and Parsons.
While the fueling station plans are still under consideration, Kroger wants to address neighborhood concerns about the facility in hopes that making improvements to the facility and personnel would lend neighborhood support for their continued commitment to Merion Village.
The most commonly voiced concern dealt with how the Kroger store handles the disposal of trash. Residents who boarder the Kroger property complained that the compactors behind the building emit foul smells and are sources of neighborhood litter. Adjacent neighbors claim that the compactor lids and enclosure are not properly secured.
Other residents stated that they feel as if the facility is not maintained to the standards of other Kroger stores, comparing it most often to the Kroger store in the Brewery District. Store cleanliness and employee attitudes were cited as the top reasons why neighbors have taken their shopping dollars elsewhere.
A portion of the discussion surrounded the adjacent parking lot which Kroger also owns which is located between Frebis and Moler (click HERE for more info). The lot is maintained as part of the square-footage-to-parking ratio that was required by the city at the time of construction. Representatives from Kroger asked what, if anything, the residents would like to see happen with this property.
A local resident whose background is in urban planning suggested that the lot(s) be returned to the urban fabric of the neighborhood with new housing. Another resident suggested a community garden. Whatever Kroger may decide to do with the adjacent parking lot would require a variance from the city to scale back the number of required parking spaces. However, Kroger claims that no variance is needed to eliminate the existing parking spaces to accommodate the fueling station.
Kroger’s district manager said that the Parsons Avenue store has been approved for a large-scale renovation although a date has not yet been set. He did not say, however, if the renovation included the fueling station or if the renovation was aimed primarily at the existing facility.
Most residents said that they felt that a neighborhood grocery store was key to keeping the neighborhood and Parsons Avenue vibrant and many volunteered to assist Kroger in any way possible to see that the Parsons Avenue store become a more productive part of the neighborhood. Kroger representatives stated that they hoped to become a Business Member of the Merion Village Association.
Both the store manager and the district manager claim to be working on programs and processes to ensure that a mutually beneficial relationship continue and grow between the two parties.
Another meeting will be planned to discuss the actual fueling station plans later this year.
5 responses so far ↓
Jason // 4 March, 2009 at 12:07 am |
I think this was a really good summary of what occurred. The one thing that I would like to emphasis is that we need to shop at Kroger’s on Parsons. The district manager said that the products they sell in their store is due to data research. It was striking to me that many in attendance actually shop at the Brewery District store instead of our Merion Village store. The sales are down 12% in large part due to their own mismanagment. There arguement for the fueling station is that they “need” it for this store to be competive. I thought after they put in the Brewery District store that they would try to close the Parson’s store. The reality is that it would be by far a greater problem for Parsons and Merion Village for this to close. Again, shopping there is vitally important. For us to improve the quality of their selections, to have a greater voice regarding the fueling station and other store improvements I would encourage all residents to shop at Krogers in Merion Village. I believe they turned our backs on us and thus many left to shop elsewhere, but now they are using that to either put a fueling station or close the store. In tight economic times, companies are not going to keep a store open that is losing 12% a year! We need to shop there and at the same time be vocal on our expectations for interior and exterior maintenance and overall quality of food and service. I don’t want to see this Kroger’s close. We need to shop there!
On another note, I think turning the alternative parking lot on Moler into a park is a bad idea. With Moler park so close by, I think it is unneeded and will have to be upkept. Given Kroger’s history for lack of maintenance I think it is highly unlikely they would maintain it. And, frankly, who wants to go to a park where this parking lot is located (next to an ally, behind Kroger’s, and with view of dumpsters.) I fear that this park would become a place for crime. Instead, I think housing should go in there. Kroger’s should return the parking lot to the community for development.
Stephen // 20 October, 2009 at 10:18 am |
The trash problem in Merion Village is out of control. Some of the people in our own community, and certainly the people who travel through our community have no respect for the environment. I have picked up diapers dumped next to my house, and confronted a driver who thought it was ok to clean their car out on the street next to Moeller park, only to be screamed at and threatened. How do we get the city more involved, can we photgraph offenders and provide the info to the police?.
Thanks
Jeff Johnson // 27 October, 2009 at 12:29 am
There is always work to do – and sometimes it takes more than usual. A quick sweep of the curb and yes, sometimes I too have to pick up after those who have littered. If every reader here just picked up a few pieces of litter a day…. I’d prefer not to have to, but I made the decision to live where I do and with that comes some extra responsibilities.
Jeff Johnson // 4 March, 2009 at 8:38 pm |
On the days when I take the bus to work I usually bring an extra plastic shopping bag along and pick up litter.
On any given day I can collect one full bag while walking just two blocks. There is just a large amount of litter along the streets of Merion Village, but I don’t think that the Kroger store is the source of it. It may collect there because of the vastness of the parking lot and the associated fences.
Reducing the amount of litter in the neighborhood is more than a job for just one merchant. It’s all merchants and neighbors taking responsibility for their property, and taking the extra time to pick up the extras whenever they can.
autopolis // 26 August, 2009 at 11:33 am |
It’s great that Kroger was willing to listen to some of the concerns of residents. I live in Franklinton and was impressed with the store when it first opened. It has gone downhill since then, but parts of the surrounding neighborhood seems to be holding it’s own. A better Kroger should be a great anchor for redevelopment in that area of Parsons.