I also want to take the opportunity to say that I am proud to live in New Haven. There is such an unbelievable amount of positive energy and camaraderie among it's citizen and neighbors. I thought it was a lost art. We have the momentum, the collective intellectual prowess, and inter personal cohesion; We will not be stopped! We will not settle for anything less than the best that the universe has to offer. Thanks i forwarded to my contact list here in New Haven! Long Live New Haven!!!!!......

I live in East Rock but visit this supermarket often, as the prices for staples are significantly better than the neighborhood groceries.

A supermarket in central New Haven is essential and is a matter of health equity.

For those of you who do not want to print and fill out the survey on paper, a link to the online version of the Dwight Supermarket Concerned Citizens Committee's survey will be posted here very shortly. Stay tuned.

Once it is posted, please circulate the online survey link to all of your email contacts. Encourage as many people as possible to fill it out.

Please post your general comments and ideas on this thread, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. See point #3 above -- share the information here with your neighbors, friends, libraries, schools, etc.

Mark Abraham
Executive Director, DataHaven
Secretary, Dixwell Community Management Team

It is absolutely critical that this space be filled with another grocer. I was speaking with a tenant of an apartment building on Elm Street today. She said that so many of her neighbors are elderly and disabled and absolutely have no other place to buy groceries due to their limited mobility. If you know anyone like that offer them a ride. If you don't have a car, offer to pick up some groceries for them on your bike.

Also there are almost one-hundred people in the community that will be out of work. We need to reach out to them. Is it possible to set up a listserv for this kind of thing? So that we can pool our resources (rides, shuttles, job offers, etc.) and keep these folks in the loop. Anyone have experience with that?

Help distribute these flyers all over town! Print some of the "25032" PDF's from above and post them on telephone poles everywhere -

People can text "Issue 25302" to 41411 to vote for this issue on SeeClickFix -

Critical and essential are both pefect words to describe the necessity of coming together to make this an effective plan. The Dwight neighborhood diverse and community oriented shared this grocery store with hundreds of other people who travel in and out of New Haven daily. Losing such an economic revenue generated would be horrible to New Haven as a whole and I am willing to work hard to find a solution as a life long resident.
I'm sure there will be people who do not see the need for a grocery store here, but I encourage anyone that does to complete a survey and get others to do the same.

Here is the link to the online survey, if you prefer that to the paper version. The survey will be used by the Dwight Supermarket Concerned Citizens Committee to collect data that may be used to help attract a new supermarket at this location.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/dwightsupermarket

Please forward to all of your email contacts.

We NEED a grocery store here!!! Please, NH government, do what you can to attract a new grocery store! What are people to do?? The people need food.

I'd really like to see a Whole Foods or Trader Joes go into this space, especially since they weren't able to attract one to the new building on State Street. If one of these grocers went in here, I would do ALL my shopping there, even though it'd be a little bit out of my way.

I would support a Whole-Foods, too, I think it'd do great! Too great, though, perhaps. I'm worried that it might take the smaller Edge of the Woods out of business. Two natural-food stores literally right next to each other, who do you think wins? The chain, probably..

Could also be the one willing to sell more items like meat and fish. Not everyone is a vegetarian or a vegan.

keep the shaws location an operational grocery store!!!

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/17/a-failure-of-design-in-downtown-new-haven/ = shaws . Fix this & fix the store

The need to keep a supermarket at the Shaws location is critical. This closing of Shaws is likened to the "white flight " it will lead to deteriation of the neighboorhood and familys who earned ,and found Shaws to be a leg up from hopelessness. I believe the potential profitability of any supermarket that would replace Shaws is a guarantee ,but I believe whats stopping any buyers are stereotypical fears that are unfounded...I'm hoping for a positive outcome.

This Shaws was always busy when I went in, how could this stay vacant for a long time?

Does Supervalu not like ethnic customers?

All shaws in Entire state of Ct closed. Issue is not with location or demographics - this store was highest profit shaws in the country. Issue is with structure of the deal, real estate(which is owned by a community nonprofit) and potential buyers in the region, who may or may not be expanding or want to have competing stores near their own existing ones.

Just what the neighborhood needs -- a Whole Foods so that East Rock residents don't have to drive all the way to Westville to stock up on bran flakes and veggie burgers.

New Haven already has plenty of health food and gourmet groceries. What it needs is a good supermarket that sells staples and other foods at reasonable prices.

Any grocery store would be better than none, though I'm with the people who think a Whole Foods wouldn't be the best choice -- I love whole foods, but not instead of a grocery store that provides staple groceries at reasonable prices. We need basics before luxuries, and without Shaw's, basics will be hard to come by.

I'll be pleased if a supermarket goes in here regardless. At the same time I feel high quality food (I don't mean overpriced pseudo-gourmet food at stores who's names I won't mention) at reasonable prices, with a decent variety, would fit the bill. Otherwise I tend to find it difficult to buy food that meets my dietary restrictions (not self-inflicted restrictions, but genuine health issues).

I shop frequently at Edge of the Woods as well and also would not like to see it hurt.

We need quality fresh food year round in New Haven, but without boutique prices. The link between obesity and processed "food" and "fast food" has been established.

I would like to support local growers and not pay to fly in strawberries from South America.

We need sensible change.

A full-service grocery store is essential to this neighborhood. There are many people who walk to the Shaws now, and they would incur the added expense of time and money by taking the bus or driving up to Stop & Shop.

Want to know more about the health and habits of people in our city? Please join us Wednesday, March 17th at 730 George Street to discuss the results of the Community Health Surveys conducted by CARE: Community Alliance for Research and Engagement in six New Haven neighborhoods last fall. Dwight/West River residents/businesses are included in this survey.

Question please contact alycia.santilli@yale.edu or RSVP on the "West River New Haven" Facebook page.

** If you drive then please park on Winthrop Ave and walk in through the rear entrance of f the parking lot. If you park on the lot you might be towed.

This data will be used to help us in our search for a new market.

Some of us eat meat & fish, not available at Edge of the Woods.

By all means we should replace Shaws with another supermarket. However, don't forget Ferraro's Grocery on Grand. It's a unique place with excellent prices and, for its size, remarkable selection -- go on Saturday afternoon for great mark-down prices on a variety of goods. I live in Wooster and we count ourselves fortunate to have Ferraro's.

Perhaps Ferraro's would like to branch out into the other side of town? I'd welcome that wholeheartedly!

Make it a CO-OP!

Another person wants this fixed!

Ferraro's is a great little market. Perfect where it is. I doubt if they would move or expand to such a large space. Lots of times successful small businesses trip themselve up big time when they try to expand. It would be tricky but maybe... What about something really different. Not a big single market but a market place like Faneuil Hall in Boston. The space broken up into smaller stalls (or whatever) and rented to food, produce,cheese, meat/fish, ethnic foods, local growers/sellers. That would provide smaller businesses the opportunity to create a critical mass to attract customers and also provide access to local produce and provide jobs, not just grocery store jobs but farm jobs, to the local economy. Maybe even give City Seed Farmers' Market a winter home. It would require a lot of organization but might work. It would also provide a uniqueness that would pull people in. Just a thought.

Lancaster, PA has a wonderful year round farmers market that I could see serving as a model. I know there's also one in Syracuse, NY that hosts different vendors depending on the day of the week. Maybe that would be the way to go.

There's no question that we need a downtown supermarket. What seems to escape as an issue is that supermarkets build "neighbors" and "neighborhoods". Local supermarkets provide jobs, competitive pricing for goods, local information and solidarity of good old neighbhood spirit!

What a great idea! Yes, make it a fun destination. Include an area for crafts, street entertainers, etc. I like your vision.
pat

Another person wants this fixed!

The Faneuil Hall market idea is great, I wonder whether a city the size of New Haven could support it? Wouldn't we still need a good supermarket for household supplies? How does Faneuil Hall work that? Would such a market employ as many New Haven residents, or would it employ mostly truck farmers from outside of the city? Not that there's anything wrong with truck farmers, but it would be good to have more jobs for local folks. Of course one advantage of multiple stalls/vendors housed at that site would be that we wouldn't be so dependent on the goodwill of any single corporation.

I know its the internet and I agree that New Haven needs some progressive ideas to attract people to visit/move here but can we think about the residents of the neighborhood that houses this store? Just about every suggestion is aimed towards middle class white people that dont live in this neighborhood. Its the same old song and dance here folks, all but 2 of the Shaws have been bought in CT, if this store was turning a decent profit then why isnt anyone buying it??? Shop-Rite and Stop&Shop have bought 16 of 18 Shaws.

I'm sticking with my first comment, it has to do with the color of the neighborhood. The neighborhood will only get worse now.

Capanos near deal to buy Shaw’s supermarket in Clinton

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/communities/x1224405950/Capanos-near-deal-to-buy-Shaw-s-supermarket-in-Clinton

I'm all for the idea of a market hall. At the same time, I don't think it would be particularly successful in this location, not because of demographics, but because of location. All of the great market halls I've been to have been centrally located and in a building of historic value. For example, I lived in Oxford, England, for three years, where they have an excellent indoor market in an old building in the very center of town. Oxford is in fact very similar to New Haven, it's an industrial city with a large working class population, problems with crime in bad neighborhoods, a world-class university, and lots (of course many more) tourists. The market hall works there because it meets the needs of most of the people, with stalls for fresh vegetables, locally made cheeses and game meat, trinkets for tourists, boutique items for the upper class, sandwich and coffee shops for locals, cheap jewelry stalls for local folks, etc. Also a good place for buskers and craftsmen.

I can see something like this working quit well in New Haven if it's done right, but not necessarily in the old Shaws building.

If you have something people want whether it be specialty goods, cheap prices (with good quality), or especially good service etc, people will come and they will put up with just about anything (except crime/danger). I again point to Ferraro’s. Except for those who live in the immediate area, this little market is truly inconvenient. It’s hard to get to, the parking lot is tiny, the isles are narrow, the lines are long and on and on. So why does this little market not only serve it’s neighborhood but attract people from all over New Haven County? If you have ever been there you know. Have you ever heard the butcher at Shaw’s or Stop & Shop yelling out “I’ve got a special going on over here” and you run over and grab up a bunch of steaks at a really good price? I agree that the Shaw’s building is not as visually appealing as say Faneuil Hall or some others located in historic buildings but that could be dealt with creatively if the will is there to do it. The great thing about the Shaw’s site is the location and amount of parking. In fact, there is probably too much parking. Some of that space could be used for expansion (maybe to support a flea market) if the marketplace takes off. Another good thing about a marketplace with individual vendors is that you could have even 20% turnover without shutting down the whole operation. The difficult thing is that this sort of operation requires active, community engaged, and creative leadership. You can’t just plop it there and expect miracles.

All good points KatiB. I especially agree with your last point about needing to be active to make things happen.

At the same time, I've never been to Ferraro's! I'm part of that high-turnover international population that comes to Yale for a few years to get a degree and moves on. We don't know about local favorites, often don't have cars, and get to most things by bus, sharing rides, or walking. If something is visible, downtown and easy to get to, then we pick up on it pretty quickly and frequent it regularly. We also don't have much money, but typically want high quality and a wide variety (foods from home country). Many of us shop at Shaws, definitely, since it's within walking distance to Yale. But I feel a central location would maximize the market hall's use (for example, attract tourists and local visitors) and help revitalize downtown.

This is just a reminder to take the Dwight Supermarket Concerned Citizens Committee's survey if you haven't yet. Over 1,700 responses so far.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/dwightsupermarket

P.S. Responses must be received by Friday, March 19.

Hi Mark, thanks for the reminder. What are the plans for the survey results. Will the committee be doing a public presentation?

I'm looking forward to a public presentation.

Anotehr person wants this fixed!

Another person wants this fixed!

On behalf of the 5,500 Yale Graduate & professional students with whom I work, and the hundreds of Yale employees who shop at Shaws no matter where they live, I do hope we can all work for a full-service grocery store in this location again. Many city residents, whether or not they are connected with Yale, depend on shaws for fresh foods at good prices in a convenient location, so we need to find an appropriate grocery store for this location.

If and when we secure a new store, we DO need to work with NH Transit & parking and Conn DOT to do a lot more traffic work in the area- cross walks on whalley, traffic calming, parking lot safety, bike racks, etc, to make the new store accessible for walkers, bikers, transit riders, and cars.

Lisa Brandes
Asst Dean,
Yale Graduate School
& New Haven Resident

Lisa, do you or anyone else know if a message was sent out to Yale faculty, students, staff.

Hey Melissa and Nan,

Thanks for asking. The next meeting is on March 30 at 6:30PM (same place as before) and yes, as I understand it the Committee will be giving a presentation about the survey results.

We'll try to have any updates about next steps and meetings here and at http://www.ctdatahaven.org/newhaven/index.php/Dwightsupermarket.

Regards, Mark

I would like this fixed. But an upmarket WholeFoods won't fix it. I can't afford that, and lots of us would probably be taking the bus up to Stop and Shop on Dixwell and Putnam if some expensive store arrives to replace Shaw's. Shaw's had its faults but it was more affordable than most of the places people say are so wonderful.

How about inviting Ferraro's to move into this big space? Or C-Town who closed their store on Dixwell a little while back?

Another person wants this fixed!
Please! I need somewhere downtown to buy fresh produce!

Another person wants this fixed

Yes to a supermarket!

But preferably not WholeFoods which is far too expensive.

And not Edge of the Woods which is too expensive plus they don't sell meat.

And not Trader Joes which is expensive and pre-packages everything in tiny bundles and, at the store in Orange, often has produce much worse than our Shaw's did.

Just a good grocery store that the neighborhood can afford and we can get to without sitting for an hour on the bus, or divide the space into separate greengrocer, butcher, baker, fishmonger and so on. Under that arrangement, maybe Edge of the Woods could occupy part of the space.

Someone posted about the covered market in Oxford but the real market in that city is at Gloucester Green a few blocks away. The covered market is mostly souvenirs and luxury goods, not everyday shopping.

I don't think anyone needs to worry about Whole Foods or Trader Joe's moving into inner New Haven even if it is close to Yale University. I also don't think any large traditional grocery store will move in without demanding huge tax breaks from a city with too many tax exempt prperties already. The writing is on the wall. Nothing grocery or food related is going to move into that space unless there is some reasonable chance of making some money. The large grocery chains will look at the Shaw's experience and not come in without considerable concessions or guarantees. The smaller vendors will not be able to occupy such a large space. Another consideration is demographics. The neighborhood and Yale cannot support a large grocery store so any future venture will need to pull in more than this captive audience. That means whatever goes into that space will need to appeal to those shoppers who can just as easily go someplace else. My bet is on a marketplace where different vendors rent space. That way one stall can appeal to the very budget conscious and another can appeal to the organic or locally grown crowd. Maybe a bakery or caterer would take some of the space. Maybe there is an entrepreneur who just wants to sell papergoods or someone who just wants to sell flowers. Anyway, I do hope there is a solution to this and that it comes sooner rather than later.

Katib,
As I understand it, Shaws did not go out of business. In fact, this particular location was profitable. It was closed because its parent company shut down all operations in the Connecticut region.

How about just a regular ShopRite Supermarket. It would fit the mold of New Haven as being reasonably priced and anything else would just be too expensive for the city residences.

This "Safeway" grocery store exterior has a good logo that'd fit the former Shaws, no? I've sent them a "Contact Us" message informing them about the empty grocery store, and if they might want to step in...

http://www.rampantscotland.com/graphics/safeway4771a.jpg

It is crucial that we keep a supermarket in this downtown New Haven location. It is the ONLY full-service grocery in the area and the only store (other than small specialty markets) that supports the neighborhood and so many New Haven residents and Yale students and faculty.
As others have said, Whole Foods would be great, but Whole Foods is far too expensive for the average middle-lower class resident from this area and would of course, potentially threaten long-time local, Edge of the Woods. Trader Joe's would be fantastic and my first choice, IF it can provide quality produce, meats and fresh fish, on a larger scale than the Orange location currently does. A supermarket like A&P, Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, Big Y, Adams, etc., would be best.
Please find a replacement and do not allow this space to become an abandoned sight again. Thanks.

Patrick - ("How about just a regular ShopRite Supermarket. It would fit the mold of New Haven as being reasonably priced and anything else would just be too expensive for the city residences.")

because ShopRite didn't buy this location.

I have been told by a city official that the Shaw's was profitable, as a writer mentioned above. Shaw's closed as part of larger corporate decision.

Maybe Stop and Shop customers can convince the chain to open a store here. Their trucks are coming to the area anyway...

Did anyone ever shop at AM Market on State Street in Hamden, not far from the city line? Formerly it was Limon Fine Foods. It closed over the winter. I think it struggled there because of its location, but it was a good, basic, medium (not super) sized grocery store--the kind that's all too rare these days. It had loyal customers (too few, sadly), thanks to its great prices on produce, wide range of ethnic foods, store-made salads, and of course all the usual grocery store items. And the people who worked there were nice. I don't know who owned it, but maybe they should be recruited to try again at the Shaw's site, which would be much better for business than where they were before.

Oh man! AM Supermarket on State St. I loved that place! I shopped there at least once, sometimes twice, every week last summer. I don't know if they'd need all the space, but they would be a great store to have here.

Were's the Wal-Mart Super Center located??

Off of Foxon Ave. Which requires a car or a long bus ride.

I was sad to see Limon Fine Foods go. I made a point to shop there, especially because it was the closet grocery store to me and had a good selection. It'd be great to see them reopen.

Can the GDCIC who posted above initiate a cooperative for this location instead of working on attracting outsiders who don't care about us? I wouldn't mind paying a higher non-member's price if it is still reasonable since the only alternatives are an hour of bus travel or Peapod deliveries.

Could some local chain like C-Town be persuaded to supply a neighborhood cooperative with their transport lines?

Goto Super Wal-Mart on Foxon Blvd.

It would be a good place for a Price Rite. That store is the best, great produce and meats with everyday, super low prices.

What about Aldi? They just had a big hiring fair in Milford and said they are expanding in CT... also, their prices are good and they deter loss by using a quarter for a shopping cart that you get back when you return it after shopping. The closest ones are East Haven and West Haven.

Aldi is a good idea, though they don't sell much fresh produce and everything is, unfortunately, processed and not of the best quality.

Melissa makes Aldi's sound like Minore's further down Whalley near Walgreen's--not much fresh produce and not the best quality. Minore's does have meat. This section of Whalley (Shaw's) needs more fresh food.

I fully support a replacement for Shaw's, but anyone concerned about a lack of fresh food on Whalley should stop in to Edge of the Woods. Yes, there is the meat "issue," and yes, many things are more expensive there--but the produce section is a pleasant exception. Edge of the Woods' produce is high-quality, fresh, often local, and comparably or even better priced than the area supermarket chains. Edge has both nonorganic and organic produce. I don't do all my shopping there, but I will often go for produce alone--it's worth it.

And if you haven't tried their prepared food/salad buffet, it's wonderful!

This is an urban planning nightmare and if nobody moves in there it will only serve as another example of New Haven on the decline. This neighborhood will only get worse now. The reputation of this city still seems to be enough to keep it from growing which is really sad.

Is this the last Shaws to be bought by another grocer? Last I heard it was 16 of 18 have already been bought and reopened as another store around CT.

Attention shoppers, shaw's will close permanently today at 5. Come out for the final hours.

nevermind. they moved up the closing time to 3 without telling anyone. Adios, shaw's.

It's ridiculous to talk about putting in market stalls or any other yuppie tourist attraction in this area. The citizen's that live here need a full service market. Those are great ideas for SOMEWHERE in New Haven, but not in this location.

Right, Deftpunk. Let's leave the attractive, healthy options to the Yuppies. This area doesn't deserve anything that nice.

What I meant was that we need a functional grocery store here before we get luxuries. It's great to have a farmer's market around, but I would rather have a place to buy ziploc bags and lightbulbs first.

At shaws, what was lost more than anything was a place to buy all your fresh food in one place. If they're having trouble finding someone who can use the whole space, it might actually make sense to divide it somehow and supply a local fish monger, butcher, produce vendor, florist, etc. Maybe even a small hardware supplier for lightbulbs and stuff. (Although WHalley Hardware is already nearby).

Now who ever said anything about having trouble finding someone to take up the space? This issue opened eighteen days ago, it's for sure going to take more than three weeks for a major corporation to announce a new location.

Hate to sound negative, but i find it hard to believe any grocer is going to move into that vacant store. The area is at best "rough" and the building and grounds are not much better. The space is too small for a major chain, and the smaller ones will not come there. Breaking it up may be the only answer, but i think you are beating a dead horse. It will end up boarded for a few years, and look like Minores. But a real gem IS Whalley hardware. Ask for Steve, and he will take care of you like you wont believe. If all stores were like that in NH we would have no problem attracting a big Store.

I agree that the real gem is Whalley Hardware. If Whalley Avenue had more stores like Whalley Hardware, it would be in much better shape.

Tim: The area is marginal. It's convenient to people who live downtown, as well as Dwight and Hill residents. I often visited Shaws from East Rock.

I'm not sure what you mean by saying the space is too small for a major chain. Shaw's was a major chain, and this was a full-size supermarket.

The Whalley store was consistantly busy, so there's clearly a market for a grocery store in that location. My understanding, though, is that losses were particularly high. Supermarkets operate on very slim margins, so higher-than-usual losses due to shoplifting, maintenance, etc. can eat away at profitability.

Clearly, the other supermarket chains that operate in this area had a reason for not acquiring this property.

I don't necessarily share your pessimism, but New Haven's Economic Development team definitely has a tough task ahead finding an appropriate tenant for this space.

Nobody wants any part of "Gun Wavin" New Haven.

Is the meeting still on for tonight?

"Results will be sent to the Committee and announced at an upcoming meeting on March 30th at 6:30PM at the Dwight Police Substation."

What is the address of the Dwight Police Station?

Stacy- while I can agree that this Shaws was not in the best neighborhood I frequented this supermarket on a regular basis and NEVER saw anything out of the ordinary. In fact there were way less goons hanging out in front of Shaws than the East Haven Shop&Stop.

The image of New Haven is better than it was 20 years ago BUT it still sucks and this has got to be the reason 16 out of 18 Shaws in CT have been bought and this one wasnt. I hear the mayor is/was turning things around but its not what I see. Ask any New Haven taxpayer...

New Haven is nothing but Liberals, Taxes, and Guns. Kind of funny to put all those three together. Makes for unpalatable cocktail when you want a business to take roots there. "Gun Wavin New Haven", where the crooks shoot you and the politicians grab your wallet.

Stacy- I'll be getting out of here ASAP but while I'm here I will try and stay somewhat positive. I get a bit sick to my stomach when I hear the other Shaws were snatched up quickly because I know this store made money, apparently no store owner wants to deal in/with New Haven and that is the sickening part of it.

This vacant store needs a replacement soon or this neighborhood will slide even farther down than it already is.

Maybe Magic Johnson will open a rent-a-center here...

Nan--the police station is located at 130 Edgewood Avenue. Meeting is still on as far as I know

Gee, Stacy. Thanks for summing up my hometown in three words.

Have you actually been to New Haven, or are you basing your conclusions on what you see on Page 2 of the Register?

You don't mention the fact that New Haven is an educational, cultural and culinary center. You ignore its fascinating colonial history, its natural beauty, architecture and parks. You also completely dismiss the people who actually live here, unless you mean to suggest that 123,000 people -- people of all ages, races and beliefs -- can all be waved off as "liberals" (which apparently means their lives are insignificant).

Yes, New Haven has its problems, and no one who lives here is unconcerned by the crime and taxes -- which is why we're here trying to come up with solutions. However, one problem we could live without is smug, ignorant suburbanites spewing poison at our community.

What exactly are you doing on this forum? You have contributed absolutely nothing to this discussion, nor have you informed the worthwhile debate that's under-way on this forum. Please go darken someone else's doorstep with your sour, offensive and ill-educated generalizations.

Right on.

Uncle Egg Wrote:

You don't mention the fact that New Haven is an educational, cultural and culinary center. You ignore its fascinating colonial history, its natural beauty, architecture and parks. You also completely dismiss the people who actually live here, unless you mean to suggest that 123,000 people -- people of all ages, races and beliefs -- can all be waved off as "liberals" (which apparently means their lives are insignificant).

Sounds like you need the government to keep your little utopia going. That is a recipe for disaster.
New Haven needs businesses, jobs, and a government that promotes and attracts economic development. Think about it. You cannot even keep a decent grocery store because taxes are too high and safety is a major issue.

Education, Cultural, and Culinary Center? Colonial history, natural beauty, architecture and parks? The city has cancer all over the place and it has spread throughout the city and into bordering towns. The city needs economic development and jobs but all we get are pipe dream projects of shopping centers and apartments that essentially rape the taxpayers. You are living in a fantasy world. Try driving through Fair Haven, Newhallville, Lower Dixwell, Quinnipiac Ave, or the Hill and you will see why New Haven doesn't have a grocery store. A grocery store in New Haven will have sky high taxes, high security costs, high theft losses etc...Someones gotta cover all the social programs and unions. It would be interesting to see how many of the City's workers actually live in the city. Not many.

Stacy and Phil: What are you talking about? Yes, New Haven has problems. We all acknowledge that. It also has some very attractive qualities that make it worth putting up with crime and taxes to live here. Those of us posting on this forum are trying to help figure out ways of addressing it. If you look at the posts here you'll see suggestions spanning the entire range from pragmatic to utopian. Your comments contribute nothing to this dialogue except bitterness, apathy and resignation. As far as I'm concerned, those are just variations on cowardice: You don't like what you see and you're afraid to change it.

I challenge either of you to contribute a constructive comment toward the solution of the problem at hand: an empty lot in a neighborhood that needs a supermarket. If you cannot do so, please go preach your gospel of fear and capitulation wherever it is that you happen to live.

Uncle Egg, I think they made their point. A good grocery store and most businesses for that matter do not want to do business in a municipality where there are obscene taxes and crime infestation. There are too many alternatives that have far less headaches and costs that a company is willing to place their bets on. Yes there are pockets of New Haven that are nice as with all cities but for the most part New Haven is in a downward spiral that is accelerating. Without industry and economic development the spiral downard cannot be reversed or slowed down.

I could not agree more with Uncle Egg. For those that think that the grass is greener somewhere else please stop breathing New Haven's air and move on. We would gladly prefer to share the air with those who wish to dig in and help; rather than stand on the side and criticize. One can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. Free choice and no love lost.

Moses,
I think the problem has been identified as to why a grocery store does not want to come to New Haven. Either you don't want to look at the problem or what is necessary to fix the problem. The problem with New Haven and many other cities and now carrying over into states is that people are moving on to more favorable business climates. You tell me what you think it will take to get a grocery store into New Haven or any other large business for that matter? I am open for discussion but the problem is right in front of you to see and you don't want to open your eyes.

Bring back a full-service supermarket to New Haven?
There are far more profitable places for an outfit to places it's resources than New Haven.
1-Factor in the New Haven taxes.
2-Factor in the added cost of additional security inside and outside the store.
3-Factor in the lost revenue because after the sun goes down, so will business.
4-Factor in the lost revenue due to theft.
5-Factor in the added cost of cart theft and shoplifting.
6-Factor in cost structure of potentially having to deal with a union down the road.
*There are many other reasons but it all comes down to there are far better alternatives for someone to invest their capital.

Moses- please fill me in on what I as a citizen of New Haven can do to help this downward spiral. Keep the fact in mind that I already pay out the wazzoo to live here(40% of my mortgage, no kids). I like this town, only lived here for a couple of years, lived in many places from CA to CT. I know almost all the kids on the street, I pick up the garbage just about every day in front of my house(and neighbors too) and I cant help but notice the downward spiral every day. I want to help but what else can I do ???

Jon,
Join your Community Management Team. If you don't know where and when it meets, check with your alderperson. S/he can tell you the details. If you live near Beaver Pond Park (Beaver Hills), come join us and help us restore, replant, and clean up the park. Thanks for being positive and pro-active. There's a lot that you can do to help out and check the downward spiral. But you will feel more powerful if you have a group of people to work beside you.

In our quest to become an "advanced society" we have given up our humanity and inherent value as the highest art here on the planet. Not belittling the rest of creation. When I look into a person it is not solely their material value, their job, or where they live. We are not a number or a dollar sign.
I am asking you to view New Haven as a diamond in the rough. A city which has resources waiting to be tapped.
I see New Haven filled with groups and individuals who are gifted and want to do what is necessary to define themselves and their community by their fortitude and strengths.
We are the determinants of what our future will be here in New Haven- Not the government ,not business, and definitely not money as worthless as it is.
We can all give up because of a problem or we can all stand up and seek solutions. I will go down fighting for my community and the people who I am privileged to share it with. I welcome all who embrace these ideals... Shall we join forces?

Jon in the numbers there is strength. I could not agree more with Nan. It was not until I moved here to New Haven did I begin to get involved because I wanted to make an impact on the place I called home. I met the enemy and it was not "they or them" it was me and I sat about changing that.

Um, you have stop and shop in westville. Why cant people utilize public transportation to go down there?

CLOSE THIS ISSUE! GO TO STOP AND SHOP!

People can go to Stop and Shop only a mile or 2 away. Utilize public transportation. The ciyt taxes all business out of the area so the problem is not the supermarket, it is the city

I agree, let's get a serious B Line going, will everybody patronize it? Please?

The fact remains that while you can get to the Stop and Shop on the B line without too much agony (if you're lucky), hauling your purchases home might be another matter altogether... the Stop and Shop in Amity is great but it doesn't solve the essential problem here. The city needs a centrally located full-service non-specialized supermarket.

Reopening the issue here because a supermarket has not been brought back yet.

I'm happy to hear that the issue is not closed. It should not be closed until the citizens of New Haven have a full-service supermarket in place of Shaw's. I'm glad to know that so many people are working seriously to find a replacement as soon as possible.

The reason for the closing was sound, and so it the reason it cannot be re-opened

Does anyone happen to know who I could talk to about trying to get better weekend and evening bus service to the Amity Stop & Shop? I guess it would have to take quite a creative solution, since CT Transit can’t exactly unilaterally increase service without an increase in its tax revenues.

In NYC and NJ they have something called $1 jitneys. Might want to give it a go.

It is possible that making Whalley Ave more inviting to bicyclists and pedestrians would help make it easier for businesses to survive here.

If you are interested in the long-term future of Whalley Ave, a public meeting on that subject is scheduled for this Thursday, April 8th, 5:30–7:30PM at the Beecher School cafeteria (100 Jewel Street).

Personally, I would like to see European-style cycle tracks on Whalley Ave near where Shaw’s used to be. More info here: http://seeclickfix.com/issues/9507

I thought of a really wild idea for the old Shaws location the other day. How about building a park-and-ride parking garage on the surface parking lot? There are tons of people who drive from the suburbs (out from Woodbridge, etc.) towards downtown (Union Station) in the morning and evening. You ought to know about it, as you've been stuck in that traffic before! A parking garage right on Whalley Avenue could be built without waiting for the relief from the state of CT about that parking over by Union Station itself. It would definitely make the morning hassle to the train station a little less crowded. (shuttles to and from Union Station to the garage).

Rigel great suggestion but it would entail people driving into New Haven. How about cutting them off at the pass and having them park at Yale Stadium and then having buses come in or rent them bikes which would create jobs for people here in New Haven to maintain them and transport them to where they might be needed the most?

moses - separate issue, I'm just bringing in an idea for this empty lot while we're on the topic of it.

At least turn the lot into a weekend swap meet and charge some dinero, do something.

How much money did Stefano give to Shaws to open in 1998 anyways? Should have made it a 20 year contract instead of 10...

How about we all run through the meadows holding hands and singing joan baez songs? We can then have a picnic under some shady trees and discuss how we will save the city of "Gun Wavin" New Haven by having a full service grocery store. Even though that grocery store won't make a profit surely there would be some kind soul willing to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars a year so we can all have our grocery store. Surely we can obtain some federal funding to have our grocery subsidized so we can all buy fruits, vegetables, and granola at great prices too. I will reach out to the local element around our grocery store by singing and playing acoustic guitar. "We need our nuts, we need our fruits, we need our granola, and we need some juice....repeat.....peace, love, and our little grocery store"

Or why don't we post really stupid and immature things on a site with grown folks trying to have a real conversation. But make sure you post it under a made up name so people won't recognize you and know how ignorant you really are.

Dear Peace Train (Tea Party) Peter:
Please keep your irrelevant opinions to yourself. This is a site for discussion problems and solutions to those problems. We don't need cynics and whiners.
Sincerely,
Steve

Peace Train Peter_ Where do you live? where do you shop? Where do you work? Thanks, C. B.

Do you really want to discuss the problems or just gloss over them and throw tax dollars at them hoping it will be a fix? The problem is that there are far better opportunities for people to invest their capital than New Haven. New Haven is not business friendly so why would someone who wants to run a business and make a profit bring their operation there? Wise up and realize that New Haven is in a downward spiral and the politics of the city do nothing but keep that spiral going.

Peace Train Peter

The problems are a challenge, but I don't think you are valuing the economic value of a grocery store in this location. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the immediate vicinity that were walking to Shaw's and now will have no other option for groceries, other than commuting hours on a beleaguered bus system that cannot efficiently run down Whalley.

What people in this forum are saying is that we are committed to helping be the change in New Haven. This will be no easy task. We have seen millions of tax dollars going to projects without the desired outcome. We have also seen inspirational efforts create change with little or no tax dollars and just community involvement.

Have a little faith and be willing to do the good work that is needed, and you'll be surprised what we can create. There is a big need to be more "business friendly" in our town, and there are a lot of reasons why this impression is felt, but there is also a real need for business to be more "community friendly". We need more partners in food distribution chain like you see at Minore's Market and Edge of the Woods. Partners in a community that won't shutter their doors at the first sign of trouble. Partners that will dig in with the surrounding neighborhood and fight the fight that's worth fighting, and this forum is saying that the neighbors without access to healthy food are worth the fight.

Great Place for a Shoprite.

When I first heard about all of this, I couldn't believe it. I love all the positive attitudes displayed here but, I am sorry Doug, when you say:

"The problems are a challenge, but I don't think you are valuing the economic value of a grocery store in this location."

I don't think you realize what you are saying. Obviously the company that decided to pull out did assess the "economic value of a grocery store in this location" that is why they decided to pull out. If it was profitable, they would have remained. I highly doubt they would walk away from making money -- that is why they are in business.

I completely agree with Peace Train Peter's statement:

"Wise up and realize that New Haven is in a downward spiral and the politics of the city do nothing but keep that spiral going."

It is not just to keep the spriral going that is just a byproduct. The real agenda is to keep the status quo. One way to do that is to control who votes. The easiest way to do that is to cater to people who don't vote and drive out the types of people that do vote. (Before everyone goes crazy and says "I vote, I always vote", look at the voting statistics for this little town of approx 124,000 -- it is pathetic.)

What I think is you guys should organize and turn the Shaws on Whalley into a food co-op. Why not?

New Haven Resident:

Shaw's market share was being hurt in the entire state of CT and therefore their corporate owner decided to pull out of the entire state. Shaw's didn't pull out of CT because the Whalley site was not profitable. There were 2 stores not purchased in the state, and to presume that you or anyone on this forum would know or understand the complex variables of why these were not purchased, is out of scope. What is known is that this was the most profitable Shaw's location at a point since its opening (as has been reported by various officials). The demographics that are widely distributed DO NOT include the 19,000+ students in the area and therefore have an income distribution that is not based on reality. As you have your doubts, I will share mine. I highly doubt that a full market study was concluded that would show accurately the profitability of the area, and this is being shown through the survey being led by the Greater Dwight Development Corporation. This is business, and business is FAR from perfect, so to assume that the reason this store wasn't purchased was because it wasn't profitable, is not accurate.

On to the co-op: this would be a great solution and a stronger tenant that would have more vested interest in seeing the neighborhood survive and thrive than say a corporation with only interest in the bottom line. Currently, the Shaw's parent company has a lease on the site for another 8 years and could, if they so choose, leave it vacant. One would ask why they would do that. I would suggest that there are economic benefits for competitors to leave a food dessert in the Whalley corridor, forcing people out of New Haven for shopping. Perhaps these competitors that were purchasing other Shaw's locations feel it is in their economic benefit to make a deal with Shaw's to leave it vacant.

Resident: Just because Shaws wasn't making enough of a profit to keep that location open doesn't mean it's a lost cause. There are other companies that specialize in urban locations, which tend to have higher overhead and losses. They tend to operate at a higher profit margin, which means slightly higher prices.

Personally, I'd love to see a co-op or something similar, but I suspect that that's more of a progressive pipe dream than a pragmatic solution to the problem. (Go ahead, prove me wrong.)

In any case, it's pretty clear that there's a demand for a supermarket of some sort in this area -- it's just a question of what company or organization is best suited to capitalize on that demand.

I was attended a Community Development meeting about this yesterday. Apparently Shaw's WAS profitable at this location. The only reason that the store closed was that Shaw's shut down ALL of its operations across the entire state. I repeat, Shaw's WAS PROFITABLE. They closed because of a corporate reorganization in which the company decided to focus the Shaw's brand in other regions.

Sorry for the grammatical error. I meant to say:
“I attended a Community Development meeting about this yesterday. Apparently Shaw's WAS profitable at this location. The only reason that the store closed was that Shaw's shut down ALL of its operations across the entire state. I repeat, Shaw's WAS PROFITABLE. They closed because of a corporate reorganization in which the company decided to focus the Shaw's brand in other regions.”

I do not blame Shop Rite for not taking over this location, especially since part of the deal was that they would have had to keep the employees of Shaws Whalley. As a Caucasian American, whenever I entered Shaws Whalley, I received negative vibrations from the mostly-African American employees, as though "Whitey don't belong here."

The location was also unsafe, proven by the fact that they always needed a security guard present, and crazy homeless people hung around the bottle return area, with its unclean, sticky floor.

I'm glad that location closed.

@No takeover:

I used to go to that Shaw's location frequently, as well as to the laundromat a few doors down. I never once got the feeling you describe as "Whitey don't belong here."

As a Caucasian American, I often shopped at Shaw's and never once received negative vibes from the employees in any part of the store. I enjoyed going there and found the food products to be fine. I wish that the supermarket had not closed. No one had to patronize the store. People were free to take their business to this store or to shop elsewhere. The fact that Shaw's is now closed and empty is sad. I hope that a new full-service supermarket opens as soon as possible. A store in this location provides an important service to residents of New Haven.

Hey, No Takeover. Seems like you let your imagination get away from you. I regularly visited this Shaw's; employees there there were no more (or less) inattentive than their peers at the Super Stop & Shop locations in Hamden. Negative "vibrations"? Please!

The clientele may indeed have been slightly scruffier than you'd find at a suburban supermarket, but I think your sense of danger was all in your head. All supermarkets have security guards, and yes, the bottle return areas tend to attract the down-and-out. (By what twisted logic would you assume that people are dangerous just because they're homeless, anyway?)

Whatever the case, I think you will find that property far more dangerous as a vacant lot than it ever was as a supermarket.

I feel bad vibes sometimes from the cashiers at Edge too. It's not the most stimulating job.

Some of the Shaw's employees weren't too enthusiastic. Some however would go out of there way to help me.
The fact remains that if you treat your workers like crap they are going to provide bad service. If you give them an opportunity to advance, provide meaningful perks and benefits, and perhaps even have the potential for ownership/management (e.g. Food Co-op), then they will give you the best service in the world, b/c they will have reason to care about their job.

Maybe New Haven can attract a Food Bazaar like the one that just opened in Bridgeport, the first store in CT.

It looks like Food Bazaar might be a really good fit. This is from their press release about the Bridgeport store:

"The Food Bazaar of Bridgeport is owned by the An Family, who has been in the supermarket business since 1988. The 22-year-old chain, whose 16 stores are located in NY, NJ and now in CT, specializes in running inner-city supermarkets that cater to a variety of ethnic tastes, from Caribbean to West Indian to African to Asian. “We pride ourselves on going to great lengths in order to provide each of the communities that we serve with the flavors that they love and recall from ‘back home’ as well as providing a culinary adventure for those seeking something new and exciting,” said company spokesperson Suzanne Kuczun."

Whole-Foods is a great idea. I'm not sure that it would put Edge of the Woods out of business though. We need more grocery stores like these in our neighborhoods and less Stop and Shops and Shoprites with their expensive prices and overly processed foods.

I still feel that a store like Food Bazaar would be a great option at that location.

"...we make it our priority to enter so-called "underserved" communities that other major supermarket chains flee from. While those chains may not be interested in providing these communities with high-quality products at low prices, we make it our duty because we know that everybody deserves to feed their families with high-quality, affordable food."

"We provide health coverage that is funded 100% by the company, paid vacations, sick days, personal days and skills training classes."

http://www.myfoodbazaar.com/AboutUs/BogopaUSA.aspx

Any affordable grocery store will work. As much as I like Whole Foods I do not see that as a realistic answer to the problem. Maybe if the Mayor wasn't encouraging the middle class to leave town because of high taxes and high crime it would be a good idea but as it is the location needs a grocery store where people can buy cereal, bananas and diapers without breaking the bank.

It looks like Food Bazaar new location in Bridgeport is an old Shaw's. That leads me to think that they're aware of our empty ex-Shaw's, and that they decided to pass on it. Any idea if the relevant community organizations have been in touch with them?

Ashley- Whole foods is called "whole pay check" for a reason. It is a VERY expensive store. Best, C.

I think for that shaws location sounds like thats what you are talking about that food bazar is great something that would bring in jobs to the area< and i like that the medical is 100 percent company funded that would be great for the neighborhood, whole foods is to expensive for almost anyone i know how about a trader joes at state and chapel, much more buget friendly , there supposed to put a store there too

may 20th, they need to put a shop rite there or key grocery store. some kind of grocery store. everyone dont want to call all the way to stop & shop with there high prices. and ferroas on grand ave, is nice but its very tight up in there. we need a grocery store and soon. no save a lot. there cans are outdated. we need a decent store. I would not go to minore's on whalley ave, in 1994 I brougt some hamburger meat there and got sick. so I never enter that store again and I only live 2 blocks. I myself I go to stop & shop. I went to shaw's just to get 1 item like 3 times out the yr. I had nothing agaist Shaw's its just that, I been going to stop & shop all whalley in westville all my life. and they are like family.

Fairway is one of the best larger food markets I have been to. They are opening the first one in CT later this year.
A place like this belongs in New Haven. Check it out.

http://www.fairwaymarket.com/stamford.html

I used to frequent Fairway both the one on broadway and 125th st. It had fresh food, gourmet cheeses, excellent seafood. They had respect for their employees and they were always respectful. The other thing was that when I was leaving the city about 4 years ago they were doing a good job of recycling. Fear is that they might put Edge of the woods out of business.

Key Foods is in talks to buy and reup this store. Thank God!

Join the Dwight Central Management Team on Tuesday June 1st at 6:30pm at the Community Room at the Dwight Substation. We will be discussing this issue and scheduling our follow-up neighborhood workshop from the 2010 New Haven Quality of Life Survey results

I rarely used the Shaws on Whalley because of the "customers". Panhandlers outside AND inside the store, rude and obnoxious people littering the isles - I overheard racist remarks about myself on multiple occasions, since I apparently never got the memo stating that slightly tan people weren't allowed inside.
Forget the 1st of the month when food stamps were issued, the wait in checkout lines even "express") was regularly 30-45 minutes while listening to complaints from people "only" being able to afford two grocery carts of food. I can't imagine how distasteful it was for employees and store security. Being laid off by Shaws was likely a pleasure. With the high amount of theft in the store, it's a wonder the prices weren't tripled in this location.

So, sure, bring a store back to Whalley so these idiots won't go to the ones I shop at. The same issues will probably lead the next store to extinction as well.

We talking about the same Shaws? I shopped there for years and don't recall seeing any panhandlers (not that it would have bothered me -- they have every right to panhandle and I have every right not to give them any money). The aisles were generally pretty clean and the staff and fellow shoppers were no more or less rude than the self-important suburbanites in the Hamden supermarkets.

I shopped at Shaws too and never saw any pan handlers either. I enjoyed the experience and really miss the store. (I am also so glad I never had to encounter "Need one, but won't use it" a person who does not seem like my type.)

I shopped at Shaws for years and never had any bad experiences. There is a problem with the outside of the store, and surrounding area. It looks crappy. There are drunk people hanging out in the bus stop shelter. There is always trash littering the sidewalk and parking lot, too. Security was minimal, and the lighting at night was not good. I never saw any police patrolling the parking lot either. Anyone looking to put in a grocery store will see all of that and will keep walking. What Dwight needs to do is clean the area up. Contact CT Transit and see if they will disassemble that covered bus stop and remove the bench. There is another stop (with no cover or bench) a few feet away, so this should not be a problem. Then talk with New Haven PD about patrols- I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of an issue to get an officer to drive through the parking lot a few times a day, both night and day. This will keep criminal activity to a bare minimum. Then mow the grass, clean up the litter, and plant some flowers- These are not hard things to do- all it takes is a little initiative.

me myself and I-
I'm with you on that. I shopped there for the last year and it was my favorite of all New Haven chain grocery stores. Good selection, nice employees and believe it or not I'm white and have blue eyes.

Of course most of the city needs to clean up things, its certainly not just the Dwight area. The cops, for example, dont quite get the whole "presence" thing in N.H. but with the city in financial ruin(even though we pay some of the highest taxes in the USA) what can we expect?

"racist comments in the store?" my GOD man, leave your mothers basement on occasion(and take the white hood off too). dinner is ready upstairs.

Doug, Keep me posted and let me know what I can do. I will be free as a bird after the 12th.

Please find below links to a Community Planning Survey for the Dwight/West River/Edgewood area's application for the federal Promise Neighborhood funding. If possible, please send to your email distribution lists to solicit as much feed back as possible from the community members. This is an open process that is requesting the opinions from members of the community in order to better shape the Promise Neighborhood Planning Grant.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/promise2010

The community meeting held last night was covered by the New Haven Independent. I was asked by the Greater Dwight Development Corporation and the Dwight Central Management Team to take the community input into the digital world and create the survey. This will greatly help the grant writers gain a better sense of the neighborhood's needs and barriers to success.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/an_elm_city_harlem_childrens_zon/

Best,

Doug

Thank you, Doug!

Where are people Dixwell/Dwight residents shopping now? Busing to Hamden's Stop and Shop? Convenience stores? Just curious.

i think we should use the space as a giant food co-op. we need to start consolidating the efforts of local agriculture NOw before we really have a problem with sustainability. All cities should have grainaries. it should be used as a grainary, as well as a giant co-op for CT / NE regional growers. they should redesign the roof to become a giant sunroof, so that they can turn all the lights off during the day.

What about Stew Leonard's? Fairway is a good idea. Edge of the Woods will have a hard time if any half decent store moves in. Has anyone contacted any of these stores?

Some of you may be interested in this issue as it relates to attracting and retaining a supermarket at this location.

http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/9507

Based in part on the recommendations of a SCRCOG plan currently being finalized, Whalley Avenue is going to be rebuilt between Westville Center and Downtown New Haven, including the area along the former Shaw's site. In keeping with the city and state's new complete street laws, a number of citizens have been requesting that the SCRCOG include a recommendation that would accommodate cyclists of all ages and abilities. At a major public meeting last night, dozens of citizens spoke up in support of allowing cyclists access to the corridor, instead of "recommending" that they take alternate routes like Edgewood Avenue.

Not only is this essential for transportation and environmental justice reasons, but in terms of economic development, the Whalley Avenue corridor's businesses will only be able to succeed if they are accessible to all residents.

"Indie food market competing for ex-Shaw’s site in New Haven"

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/07/08/news/new_haven/aa3nekeyfoods070810.txt

Key foods would be great there! It would be nice to have someone local who can cater to the neighborhoods around here more than a big conglomo-corp can.

pardon this slightly off-topic post, but i recently learned of a really inexpensive and easy way to grow your own vegetables indoors- several in one window. you make it yourself with recycled water bottles, etc.

it would be a great way for new haven residents to supplement their diets with healthy, fresh food while we wait for shaw's replacement.

http://www.windowfarms.org/

http://www.dailycandy.com/all-cities/video/culture/79514/Plant-the-Seed

cheers!
juli

knock it down and put a career building, job training center there. Lord knows its needed in th earea

juli, really. I live in the area and nobody is going to be growing vegetables in their windows. You are so disconnected with the neighborhood.

zeadd1969 - i believe there are a lot more people using urban farming techniques than you think. just yesterday i was at a bbq on Ella Grasso Blvd (just up the road from shaw's) and the house had a small vegetable garden. it's amazing what can be done in the little space -

juli - have you set these up? i could really dig doing this in my apt downtown and i have loads of windows -

http://our.windowfarms.org
Let's all look at what is possible, and go forward....

zeadd1969 I also live in the area and know a number of people with gardens in their small spaces including pots on their porches. I know folks with chickens. Maybe you're the one that needs to take another look at your neighborhood.

and if you need help bringing these to your house, ask this SCF posting - it seems we have some advanced learners on the issue here -

Lots of people have gardens in this area.

@Kevin, you know, upon reading my comment, I believe a come across a bit abrasive. Let me clarify my point. Most of the home around there are older homes without central heat and air. My building was built in 1913. In the summer months, my window boxes are used for AC or box fans. Now, if the product suggested can be utilized without window space, then it is a different story. Also, upon observation and making an assumption, most of the residents of the area don't have the notion of window gardening on their radar. We could talk about the use of unused urban space as community gardens, but in order to even think about utilizing the space would require community education and action. I'll take the hit as to not being an advanced learner, the wording of my post deserves it, but there is a reality on the ground that goes beyond having the product dropped off at my house.

Y'know zeadd1969, when you put it like that....

Who wants to start a "Transition Dwight/West River" group so we can start getting ideas like this publicized and begin implementing them in some way? The 'transition town' movement (started in UK) promotes not only food security (like window farms) but also energy independence, improved transportation, skillsharing and all around better living.

http://www.transitionnetwork.org/support/what-transition-initiative

I have been following transition for roughly a year and it is about empowering people to assume their rights to organize in communities to prepare themselves for any eventuality. I would endorse it and help get one started. Great Idea!!!

Shop Rite bought the space

Really, now. Where did you hear this from?

I heard people on the bus on Friday say it was bought by Stop & Shop, but I'll wait until someone official finally makes the announcement. They said they would do so by the end of the month. Watching for an update on the Independent until then.

Shaw's, before it closed, was a frightening, dirty and dangerous place with beggars hassling people going through the doors, gang members stalking the parking lot, etc. New Haven doesn't deserve a supermarket if it's just going to attract the same element again.

Economic Realist, your Shaw's is not the Shaw's where I shopped. That Shaw's was well-lit, friendly, and pleasant. It was on Whalley Avenue near Broadway. I hope we have a good replacement soon so I can shop there again.

stop and shop has bought the plaza. so says an empolyee friend of mine who was asked to move that location when it opens. date unknown.

anyone have an update from GDDC?

Latest news: http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/01/14/news/new_haven/doc4d30b398094c3393302314.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Stop & Shop has confirmed they will be renovating and opening a new Stop & Shop location at the former Shaw's on Whalley Avenue

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/02/01/news/doc4d4859001f809318317550.txt

Congratulations! A full service grocery store has been brought back to central New Haven, thanks to the hard work of Greater Dwight Development Corporation, and its partners at Whalley Avenue Special Services District, Yale University, the New Haven EDC, City of New Haven, many local residents, and others. For related resources please see http://www.ctdatahaven.org/newhaven/index.php/Dwightsupermarket.

Hear, hear!