David's Natural Market would be the featured store in a razed and rebuilt Wilde Lake village center, according to a plan discussed in the Sun's Sunday edition.
The article discusses a hearing about the owner's plans to knock down the shuttered Giant and rebuild the shopping center. Larry Carson wrote about local residents who want a supermarket, but the owner says the current space is too small for modern grocery stores.
What do these people not get? Look at the demographics and the floor plate, no successful retailer (much less bank) would take on a project like this.
ReplyDeleteI was at Bagel Bin the other day and noticed just how many shops in that village center are shuttered. It's a real shame. It would be nice to have that space filled.
ReplyDeleteJust idle thinking... I wonder if a whole foods would thrive there. People would drive for that.
People would drive to Whole Foods, you are right. But Wilde Lake is developing a reputation like Long Reach and not many $$ people from out of the area would risk it. Not after dusk.
ReplyDeleteThe Whole Foods issue is a lot more complicated than it looks. Rebuilding Wilde Lake's village center to accommodate a destination grocer would help to revitalize the center; but General Growth/Howard Hughes has long wanted a WF in Town Center, and has the money and infrastructure (and will likely have the residential density) to go after them as a retailer. As far as I can tell, Howard Hughes and its predecessor could not care less about the village centers that they don't own, which is one of the issues of Columbia's governance in general as the community ages. It's sad for me to see as a graduate of WLHS and long-time resident of Wilde Lake.
ReplyDeleteHow about an Aldi? It would fit the small space and serve the surrounding community better IMHO. I would go out of my way to pick up their cheap German chocolate bars.
ReplyDeletePeople need to realize that it will not support a regular grocery store there. It's not large enough and won't be profitable enough. If it was, Giant would still be there. I don't understand the mindset of people who keep saying it has to have a grocery store. Would it be nice? Absolutley. But they seem unwilling to accept anything that doesn't have one. So they will continue to have the mess that's there now. The bagel bin, The Melting Pot, and Today's Catch are the only worthwhile things there in my opinion
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