Yeah it's silly. Culinaria is by far the best grocery store in the region. I wish we has more in some if our walkable neighborhoods. People in STL need to free themselves from the one stop shopping mindset.
- 1,646
About the Schnucks (Culinaria). It would be a sad horrible day but I wonder if they throw in the towel sometime in the next decade unless things change. I know we have all been in and out of the store hundreds of times and it seems like "everything is fine". But it's really not. For one, the store is not profitable. I'm not sure when the tax exemption expires. I know for a fact from solid sources that the things that happen there on a daily basis is insanity. Forget about theft, it's just bad behavior and outbursts constantly and ongoing issues with staffing. There are a few seriously competent people keeping it afloat but it's a battle everyday. That's what I've heard. I would worry about the tax exemption expiring and then Schnucks deciding that they can no longer take the losses and constant trouble. Apparently they've recently changed the checkout which should reduce theft and also reduced hot food items which should reduce all the problems and expense that went with that. Don't shoot the messenger....
- 958
That’s not entirely surprising. That’s why downtown needs to target at least another 2,000 residents by 2030
The folks that work here are saints. I'm always amazed by the employees that have been here 5+ years. I hope that GSTL and the City step in if this store ever talks about leaving, what an indescribable loss this would be for downtown. I'll keep giving them my money every week as long as they persist.
- 9,657
Well, they just added a brand new salad bar so it’s not going anywhere
- 958
Hopefully we end up going the direction of having more basic necessities and options downtown, not losing the only option (here the full grocery and pharmacy). As much as I hate on Dollar General, the DGX is a nice asset too, so hopefully they aren’t planning to close it like the one in Clayton. Cobblestone is a nice little urban market with the deli. Lost San Market and Cafe pretty quickly.
Would be nice to see more small format stores and cafes open around downtown
That Schnucks does deal with a couple characters but I’ve never had issues there. The Old Post Office Area still needs a couple projects to bring it back to its former grand urban block glory. Chemical being the big one. Schnucks would’ve always looked better at the bottom of the century building…
Would be nice to see more small format stores and cafes open around downtown
That Schnucks does deal with a couple characters but I’ve never had issues there. The Old Post Office Area still needs a couple projects to bring it back to its former grand urban block glory. Chemical being the big one. Schnucks would’ve always looked better at the bottom of the century building…
I was very happy to see the salad bar brought back. They're probably going to lose money on the new hot case changes though, unless the changes allow them to offset the costs by having fewer workers. For those that don't know, you now serve yourself, and you can pack yourself quite the meal for $8.99, way more than you would get before when the counter staff gave you a prescribed amount of each item.
Anyways, I was going to make a joke about the stability brought by a 10-foot rolling cart salad bar, as if it couldn't be easily relocated elsewhere as soon as the tides change, but I'll avoid trying to be funny.
I'm honestly very happy to see new investments in the store.
Anyways, I was going to make a joke about the stability brought by a 10-foot rolling cart salad bar, as if it couldn't be easily relocated elsewhere as soon as the tides change, but I'll avoid trying to be funny.
I'm honestly very happy to see new investments in the store.Can't wait for the Busch Stadium Beer Cart Bandit to start selling salads on Olive.Tim wrote: ↑Sep 07, 2025I was going to make a joke about the stability brought by a 10-foot rolling cart salad bar
Lol, good one!
This store always has a police officer near the entrance, so sadly I don't think we'll see the day.
I'm actually surprised that this store isn't profitable, given how busy it usually seems to be.
- 145
Probably controversial but I would actually take this store moving over to the next phase of BPV if it meant this location closing as a consequence. I just think its a better fit over there and would be a good way to spur demand for residential or commercial.
- 979
I’d rather it stay in its current location, but it’s a fair point in that it may shore up the stores long term viability a bit. I know that the store isn’t planned to be closed, but it’s perpetually at risk accordingly to my contacts.
- 9,657
If that store will go anywhere its got to be towards Wash Ave/Convention and not further away
- 958
I think the goal would be more to pull a new grocer for between 18th and Compton Ave, MLK down to 40. Definitely residences that are more than one mile from fresh food in this area.
- 145
If that store moves further away from BPV I'm pretty concerned we just won't have a full service grocery store Downtown at all IMO. I just think the strength of Downtown just now lies in that BPV/Arch area and if we can continue to build up that area it then naturally becomes easier to build out.
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The DGX on Wash Ave is on life support, so that could shift the dynamics of where grocery is best suited downtown a bit.
I thought Dollar General was killing most of the DGXs except for a few top performers.Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑Sep 09, 2025The DGX on Wash Ave is on life support, so that could shift the dynamics of where grocery is best suited downtown a bit.
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Yeah it’s not a concept that’s working for them.
BPV is not really core downtown. It has fewer residents and employees than the north side of downtown. Like DB said, if it were to move, it would be moving closer to Washington, not to the completely opposite side of where most downtown residents actually live.Suburban Sprawl wrote: ↑Sep 09, 2025If that store moves further away from BPV I'm pretty concerned we just won't have a full service grocery store Downtown at all IMO. I just think the strength of Downtown just now lies in that BPV/Arch area and if we can continue to build up that area it then naturally becomes easier to build out.
- 1,634
I think that was a poor branding call. Well established Dollar General and you throw it to the curb. I’ve seen the sign in my travels but never knew what it was. Almost feel like my first impression was a fitness space from the DGX name. Should have kept the well known brand and added “Express”.
I think the concept was a good one.
As for Culinaria, always seems to be busy enough. Feel like majority of residents are on that end of DT anyhow. Can’t see them moving to high rent BPV in any case. If Rawlings balked, Schnucks isn’t doing grocery there.
I think the concept was a good one.
As for Culinaria, always seems to be busy enough. Feel like majority of residents are on that end of DT anyhow. Can’t see them moving to high rent BPV in any case. If Rawlings balked, Schnucks isn’t doing grocery there.