New grocery store coming to downtown EC (October 1)
Yesterday, we got an insider tip about a special announcement/news conference involving downtown Eau Claire's Phoenix Park Neighborhood, followed up later by a teaser press release from Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. So, today (July 20), we're sitting in the North Conference Room in City Hall following a Redevelopment Authority meeting, listening to city officials and developer Geoff Moeding speak. The big news?
A new grocery store is coming to downtown Eau Claire – Charly's Market (225 E. Madison Street) is to open by October 1, have 10-13 staffers
BAM-SHAZAM! Yep, what seems to be the Holy Grail of people's wants and needs for downtown Eau Claire are coming true: a petite shopping market will be moving into the heart of the new Phoenix Park Neighborhood – more specifically, moving into the first floor retail space of the area's newest mixed use building (222 Wisconsin Street, the dark gray/light gray one).
More details ...
Store: Charly's Market, 225 E. Madison Street
Selling: High-quality meats, deli, customized meals "for those on the go," some main grocery items, some baking goods, canned goods, milk – items for "convenience shopping"
Timeframe: Open by October 1
Carolyn Miller
- 4,200 square feet (two thirds of 225 Wisconsin building, option to expand)
- "does not want to interfere with Farmer's Market" and "does not want to compete with Just Local Food" and "will not be 'gas station'", "like a Trader Joe's,"
- To start with 10 employees, 3 managers
- Phoenix Park Neighborhood developer Geoff Moeding to receive a $200,000 incentive package from Eau Claire's RDA (the money will be passed on the Miller)
- Market is named after Millers's black lab Charly
- EC Economic Dev. Director Mike Shatz says city and Moeding has been looking to get a market in the Phoenix Park Neighborhood since the original plans
- Miller is not afraid of the economic climate, believes time is right to support local shops
- Miller will be steering clear of major food distributors, no word on local sources
- Schatz says the next major goal is a "restaurant on the river"
