Councilmember Laketa Cole has offered a motion in support of keeping the Walnut Hills Kroger store open.
Kroger has announced plans to close its store at unless it can negotiate a more favorable lease with the property's owner.
The company says that the store has been more expensive to operate than similar stores because Kroger leases the building in addition to paying rent on the land.
Cole wants the motion to encourage Kroger and the property owner to work together on a resolution.
"Studies have consistently shown that across the country grocery stores carrying healthy foods and fresh produce are far less prevalent in low-income and minority communities," Cole wrote. "Given this information and the widespread nature of obesity and its adverse health conditions, it becomes obvious why we need to reverse this trend that shows grocery stores fleeing out urban areas."
Cole thinks that the neighborhood's residents deserve better.
"We must draw attention to this devastating trend and the consequences that it holds for families in Walnut Hills," Cole wrote. "Communities like Walnut Hills need access to the same quality of food those other citizens of this City have access to everyday."
Kroger's lease expires in February 2009.
The motion has not come up for a vote in City Council.
3 hours ago
6 comments:
I actually wrote about this situation here.
At the last Walnut Hills Community Council meeting, there was some outcry over this, but not nearly as much as you'd think. I think many are resigned to the fact that Kroger will get out of the neighborhood regardless.
And I'm not sure their departure is the worst thing in the world. As the neighborhood continues to develop, I'm convinced some other grocery store will take over the space and do a much better job than Kroger has done in Walnut Hills.
Interesting insight in your blog post, Steve!
Though that does get me thinking - is it possible that Kroger is angling not for a better lease, but for City help in acquiring a new location somewhere else in the neighborhood?
It's an interesting theory, anyway.
I have an alternate theory...
From my understanding, Kroger's problem with its landlord is that the landlord will not commit to a short-term lease (ie 5 years).
At the same time, the rumor is that Kroger will be doubling the size of their Corryville store, located maybe a mile from the Walnut Hills Kroger.
Based on these two understandings, I do not think Kroger has any intention of staying in Walnut Hills long term. I think they want a stop gap lease until they have their new Corryville location built. Between that and the new mega-Kroger they're building in Newport, they won't have any reason, in their minds, to stay in Walnut Hills.
Interesting....
Does anyone know who the owner is?
^ That I don't remember. The Enquirer listed their name when it did a few stories months ago, but, of course, those stories are no longer available.
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