New Grocery Store Rumored for Downtown

original article: http://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/2013/12/new-grocery-store-rumored-...

RocSubway was informed over the weekend by two separate and anonymous sources that a new independent grocer may be coming to downtown Rochester in 2014. Admittedly, this may be unsubstantiated and premature. But these sources have been very reliable in the past. And if true, this would be wildly good news for downtown.

And what the hell, this is a blog, not the Associate Press. I think I have the right to circulate some juicy gossip once in a while…

So here’s what I know. The building at 10 Winthrop Street , previously Craig Autometrics (behind The Little Theatre), has been sold. My sources indicate the buyer (or buyers) are city residents who want to open small neighborhood grocery store. Burch Craig, the previous owner, confirmed all but the part about the grocery store. He’s staying tight-lipped, saying only that the new owners will announce their plans in the new year.

The Little Theatre’s cafe is actually within the Winthrop Street building. And perhaps coincidentally, The Little Cafe has booked no bands for next year. This was confirmed by one local band that has regularly played at The Little for years. So then I wondered if The Little might be losing their cafe space. But the cafe manager tells me this isn’t the case.

So we’ll just have to wait and see.

This all comes on the heels of news earlier this month that Top’s “Friendly Markets” wants to be the first supermarket downtown.

And we all remember the toilet paper guy who pleaded with downtown planners for more small retailers/grocers downtown. Well, 2014 may finally be the year downtown gets some toilet paper.

UPDATE: The rumor turned out to be true…
It’s Harts Local Grocers coming May 2014.