urbanSTL

^ While less common in the US, grocery stores in malls are much more common in Europe. The first place I saw one was as a senior in highschool in London, and really the design can work very well, though I did notice that the mall operators must be vigilant to keep the carts from ending up all over the place.



Even in NYC, where folks always talk about the corner market, you can find larger grocery stores that focus on providing high quality fruits, vegtables, meats, and prepared foods (read expensive). I can think of a great converted bank off of 14th that would be a model for the type of store that might work in Union Station.



Another good model might be Wegmans. Don't know if folks on this forum have been to many, but Wegmans with their huge areas for cooking demonstrations would be a great model to follow.



In this case, the focus for someone like Straubs, Schnucks or Dierbergs would be on providing top of the line specality items. Lots of prepared dishes, fancy entertaining cooking demonstrations for tourists and locals (dierbergs with their existing cooking schools might be better prepared to do this) and really high quality meats, fruits, veggies, and bakery (Schnucks would be the winner here with their bakery).



Regardless, a grocery store that is less simply shopping and more experince is idealy what would develope. A place where folks downtown can go to stock up for the month on the staples and tourists can come and try all of the STL signature dishes in one place. I do think it can work if downtown is active on providing both good parking and pedestrian access to the station, combined with the existing Metrolink access.

I too have only seen Wegmans in suburban settings and a look at their online store locater makes it clear that they stay out of the major urban areas, as they have no stores in Philly or NYC. The one i have used is south of Princeton in a development much like the Cheterfield Commons (every bigbox under the sun target, walmart, home depot).



I do agree that the bigbox format of a wegmans would not be what I want for union station, but the concept of the food demonstrations and the huge area for the prepared food is exactly what I want, as these features will draw in tourists and fit better with the current Union Station format.

phobia wrote:As a fairly frequent visitor for Union Station (my fiancée likes Houlihan's, and it's a great distance for an evening stroll) and ex-frequent visitor to the Galleria I feel compelled to post in response to the current station-bashing fashion around here. Even on ordinary weeknights, the station has about as much foot traffic as any other mall in town off peak hours, and when there's something to draw people Downtown (sports, street festivals) it is often packed with people.



I recently accompanied a first-time visitor there (who insisted on Hard Rock) and they seemed to have a positive impression... I've certainly seen much more "dead" shopping attractions when visiting otherwise vibrant cities. And the Metrolink station pretty much negates the disconnect it suffers from the rest of Downtown.



I guess my point is that a little bit more love and Union Station is still a gem for visitors to the area. We should have put up signs outside the convention center leading people there (and away from the Centre) long ago.



(If could use some more unique attractions, though )

I actually strolled through US today. Albeit it was the middle of the day on a Thursday, but there was hardly any foot traffic. If you want a t-shirt that says 'St. Louis' on it, a snow globe, a mug or perhaps want to get some Cardinal's or Bud gear then there are several stores selling basically the same stuff in one concentrated area. But, how many STL shirts can a person want/need/have?



If you've got a sweet tooth and want some fudge or TCBY yogurt, then it's your spot, but IMHO it doesn't seem to attract any locals beyond the lunch crowd or those in pursuit of something specific (such as Houlihans or Hard Rock). Even the occassional visitor to the city isn't going to return to US each time they come to STL - it's lost it's hype. Yeah, when big events are in town, especially at the Savvis, the place is busy because there are people staying in the Hyatt and/or families, who want a cheap/quick meal with places they are familiar. It's not a place that people come with a fat wallet - and it doesn't have the hype it once had for the out of towners, that's for sure.



It's not even fair to compare it to Water Tower Place in Chicago, but the stores are what create the foot traffic and the landmark aspect of it attracts the tourists. A good mix of both and a great place to grab a bite to eat because it has mass appeal and a diverse selection.



Not that a grocery store would change things, but a decent grocery store with a butcher and bakery, would generate a lot of traffic and would have a ripple effect on the tenants inside of US. A Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop is actually a decent pitch for the space. I'm not a Nascar fan myself, but since it's the most followed sport, perhaps something that would draw this fan base would help liven up US. I'm thinking something interactive...again this is an appeal to visitors but it's definitely in need of something.