Thursday, February 17, 2011

Two-story Harris Teeter headed to Myers Park, Eastover

Harris Teeter announced today that it plans to expand the Harris Teeter Express at the corner of Providence and Queens into a two-story, 42,000 square feet store with a larger selection of groceries.

"Harris Teeter's current store at 1015 Providence Road was built by its landlord over 60 years ago and is a very small store that limits the variety and selection the company offers at its other locations," the company said in a statement.  The store was originally an A&P grocery store when it was constructed in 1938.

Permits and zoning applications for the project have not been filed with the city of Charlotte. The grocery store would replace the existing buildings on the site, which include the current store and Myers Park Hardware, which is shut down.

The new store building will be built back from the corner, towards the rear of the property near Huntley Place and Bolling Road, said Jeff Brown, a Charlotte attorney assisting Harris Teeter with the project. That move will create one larger parking area and a "much safer, more orderly," way for cars and trucks to enter and leave the property, Brown said.

The ground floor of the new Harris Teeter is planned to be about 29,500 square feet, and a second story mezzanine level is planned to be about 12,500 square feet. The company said it will work with neighbors and respond to their input on the project.

76 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh boy, that intersection is a disaster anyway! Where are people going to park? In the shopping center lot next door, hence taking away business from those places? Yuck. I feel bad for the residential neighbors too.

On the bright side, I might finally be able to afford a house in Myers Park once the expansion is finished! ;)

Anonymous said...

^did you read the article to the bottom?

"The new store building will be built back from the corner, towards the rear of the property near Huntley Place and Bolling Road, said Jeff Brown, a Charlotte attorney assisting Harris Teeter with the project. That move will create one larger parking area and a "much safer, more orderly," way for cars and trucks to enter and leave the property, Brown said."

Anonymous said...

In fact, such a development is likely to increase prices in Myers Park and Eastover since the neighborhoods will now have a full-service Teeter that can be accessed on foot.

Please leave room for a future LYNX stop underneath this property.

Thank you.

Myers Park Res said...

Boo! I love the Tiny Teeter! It's so easy to run in/run out. If I wanted to spend all afternoon in a crowded Teeter, I would just head over to Cotswold or Morrocroft.

Anonymous said...

+1 above. Urban neighborhoods lose their charm when suburban supermarkets infiltrate.

ry said...

oh boy, now their groceries will be EVEN more expensive.

Anonymous said...

Now this just ticks me off. If it's any Teeter that needs an upgrade it's store #1 in Plaza Midwood. That place is a disaster.

Anonymous said...

What about the Super Target? Isn't every corner in Charlotte suppose to have a Harris Teeter and a Super Target?

Anonymous said...

Wow! How many frozen Hot Pockets do those Queens College kids buy from that store?

Anonymous said...

Harris Teeter is going to ruin this street corner. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do the right thing and put the parking BEHIND the store. I hope the rich folks in Myers Park cry bloody murder over this proposal.

Anonymous said...

Why can't they update the one on Central Avenue? Now that truly is the worst grocery store ever.

Anonymous said...

They should also consider rooftop parking, since there's going to be a 2d floor, anyway.

Anonymous said...

Yes, put the parking BEHIND the store.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Harris Teeter, Hear our plea and upgrade, upfit the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood store. In desperate need of attention! Please give it some love, too!

WashuOtaku said...

They should have considered underground parking (like I've seen in bigger cities) and have a escalator/conveyor system for shoppers and shopping carts. Though yes, that's a little more expensive in what they are going to do, it would be cool.

People that complain that the area is going to somehow loose its charm, obviously never been there; it's an upgrade.

Anonymous said...

It's one of the most visible corners in the city. Put the store up front with maybe a bistro or something on the actual corner...but attached to the store...like Dean & Deluca.

Anonymous said...

Whoop dee doo!!!

Real talk.

Plaza MidHood said...

Who cares about the Teeter on Central...hippies like it all old and dirty how it is hahaha, When Central Avenue is cleaned up maybe they can clean that place up too!

Anonymous said...

I like the mini Teeter also. Very convenient to get in-get out in a flash. They carry 95% of what we need. Unless they expand into some of the lawn area behind the store, parking and traffic will be more of a problem than they think.

Anonymous said...

Tough to put the store up front and have a loading area. Also, a bistro or restaurant would increase the parking requirements. It does show a deli and coffee bar with upstairs outdoor seating. I would change the roof

TH said...

Indeed - This corner really will be ruined unless the parking is located BEHIND the store.

Anonymous said...

OK,,, a 2 story grocery store.. How will people be able to shop on 2 levels and use a shopping cart?

Anonymous said...

I used to play Asteroids and Dig Dug at that A&P. How time flies...

Anonymous said...

More bling for those with the ka-ching. People who shop here will never complain of high prices. There noses will be to high up in the air for them to notice prices. They need a separate parking area for those who don't drive Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and Prius, along with a sign that says any car older than 2 years will be towed to the nearest Food Lion.

Anonymous said...

They will have a large elevator which you will push your cart into.

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it there will be Valet parking.

Anonymous said...

This is great news, sounds like they have thought it out from A-Z

Anonymous said...

Boo! I love the little Teeter too!!

Anonymous said...

They need more room to sell Kool-Aid for the DNC. They love it

Anonymous said...

Does this require a rezoning? If so, the City should push for a more pedestrian friendly design. A typical strip mall with parking out front would be a gigantic leap backward no matter how fancy the building is.

Anonymous said...

All the bathrooms will have Bidets.

Anonymous said...

The majority of pedestrians would likely be coming from behind the site or across Providence. I don't think the city wants to stress walking down Providence, or biking.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Myers Park Res - I love the little Teeter! I can't think of one thing they don't have that I've needed on my stops there. I know... stop the Tajma Teeter 2, and bring back the Myers Park library!

Anonymous said...

Harris Teeter, if you are reading, PLEASE upgrade the store on central in Plaza Midwood. That is the most frustrating store in the city and I think the first Harris Teeter as well. Show some pride in the place.

Anonymous said...

Rumor is they are talking something similar at the Plaza

Anonymous said...

Doesn't Harris-Teeter know- Buffy don't do stairs.

Anonymous said...

I agree that the store, as described in this article, will destroy the corner. No one likes to look at a parking lot or even enclosed parking decks along the street like at Metropolitan. When will Charlotte learn this? It misses the opportunity to add dimension to the corner and create a more urban feel -- where people choose to walk and have something on the street front to walk to. As someone else said -- "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do the right thing and put the parking BEHIND the store." Better yet make it enclosed multi-story parking behind the new building. Visit Whole Foods in Austin to see a model complete with escalators. They have a shop for cooking classes right on the corner. A Cafe on another side with outdoor seating.

Anonymous said...

Coming from a development background - parking behind the store is not feasible in this location and does not make sense. At minimum it would have a much higher impact on the residential properties on Bolling. Rooftop parking will not work with the size of the building and lot. The lot will be rediculously well landscaped and will only improve the intersection. Are any of you people clammoring for rear parking not damn yankees?

Anonymous said...

This is one idea for the intersection presented earlier this year. I am a southerner who wants rear parking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNnfIYZ5ByA

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:32 I'm not a "damn yankee" you condescending jerk, and think this is a terrible idea in a neighborhood that should have urban development standards in mind at this point. Charlotte is once again trying to bring the suburbs to the city, and the increased traffic and increased open space will deter the pedestrian activity that is starting to blossom there.

See Tranquil Court down Selwyn for a perfect example of how a decent size parking deck can be hidden well in a VERY small area.

Anonymous said...

That rendering looks nice and it's great to have a goal, but it's a planner's pipe dream. It doesn't take into account traffic patterns and counts, loading requirements, lacks adequate parking, and more. I see these type plans all the time and while they do look nice, they are not (even in MP) financially or operationally achievable.

You have to look at the shape of the building with respect to parcels. Even HT, which will obviously tailor their store to a location, will not accept an oblong or L-shaped building. Believe it or not, studies do show rear parking is detrimental to sales, and when the retailer is funding the project, that's a huge deal point. Landscaping and green space are also great to have, but at $500k an acre it doesn't take much of it to make a deal financially unviable.

Anonymous said...

Tranquil Court is a very different project. Multi-story mixed use is a much higher revenue generator and can much more easily support extremely expensive componenets like a parking deck. Unfortunately, grocery stores cannot and multi-story parking does not work very well with cargo driven retail. It was also opposed by many neighbors due to density.

Anonymous said...

I can't for the life of me see why anyone would be promoting building an asphalt desert at one of Charlotte's prime intersections. Those who are must work for HT or be affiliated in some way. Where there's a will there's a way. This ain't exactly midtown manhattan here. There's plenty of space to do the right thing. Strip malls are so 1976.

Anonymous said...

If only Publix would come to Charlotte and put Teeter out of its' misery.

Anonymous said...

I had to chuckle. I've been in Chicago for a few days and away from the negativity of the Observer's forum and blog posters. Guess it's time to get back to reality with Charlotteans. It's been so nice without the negativity!

BOL

Anonymous said...

Wegmans, Publix, Kroger... where are you!?!

Anonymous said...

This is a really bad plan. I hope this won't happen. That isn't what one of the premier neighborhoods in Charlotte needs. The Cotswold HT is a 1.5 miles away. The story is fine as is. Fight them tooth and nail.

Anonymous said...

What a bunch of idiots.Dont want to shop at HT the dont...take it to WalMArt!

Anonymous said...

I had to chuckle. I've been in Chicago for a few days and away from the negativity of the Observer's forum and blog posters. Guess it's time to get back to reality with Charlotteans. It's been so nice without the negativity!
----
Wow thanks for the negativity about Charlotte. I remember when I went to Chicago and got on the train and every single person on the train car insisted that I not go any further for my own safety b/c the neighborhood I was planning to go to was so dangerous for someone of my demographic. They pleaded with me to get off and go back the other direction. I went back downtown to my hotel and this homeless man asked me for a dollar. I asked him guy if the area I had been was really dangerous and he was like what were doing there I am a homeless man and I wont go there. and he told me not to walk under any overpasses ever in downtown Chicago at night unless I wanted to die. Have fun in Chi-town

Anonymous said...

Now this just ticks me off. If it's any Teeter that needs an upgrade it's store #1 in Plaza Midwood. That place is a disaster
-----------------------------------
What are you talaking about.It has been expanded 4 times in my lifetime. And possibly more prior to that.

Anonymous said...

I love harry peeter

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Harris Teeter, Hear our plea and upgrade, upfit the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood store. In desperate need of attention! Please give it some love, too
----
Just some history on Charlotte: Harris Teeter used to be Harris & Teeter It's 2 last names not Mr. It Was Mr. Harris & Mr teeter who combined their grocery stores.
Harris' Grocery store began downtown and then moved into a building right near Thomas St on Central. Then it moved to the current location on the Plaza. It has been expanded 4 times.
You will notice the Harris Name around town i.e in politics, charities, major roads, cemeteries. Harris Blvd. which is obviously an extremely long road and was almost all the Harris Plantation.

Anonymous said...

Who cares about the Teeter on Central...
--------------
Well if you shop at any Harris Teeter I hope you care, there wouldn't be a chain if that one was never built. that store does a lot of business and Ruddick has put a lot of money into it several times because it has performed very well. it makes more money than the Providence location. Cotswold is the reason. Cotswold has been the number one profit maker for HT since it was built in the 60's. Morocroft has been a disaster and has generated losses and is kept open simply for branding. My guess is they are trying to convert some cotswold shoppers because they can't expand cotswold due to parking limitations. It is a big risk

Anonymous said...

They need more room to sell Kool-Aid for the DNC. They love it
------------
Dear troll, Myers Park and Eastover are obviously the most expensive neighborhoods in the city and home to a very expensive private business college. The top 5% of income earners in the city are most likely to live there and most likely are republicans. It is well established blue territory.

Anonymous said...

oes this require a rezoning? If so, the City should push for a more pedestrian friendly design. A typical strip mall with parking out front would be a gigantic leap backward no matter how fancy the building is.
-------------------
I didn't know the typical strip mall was two stories... Yes it requires a rezoning. That article says they haven't applied for the rezoning yet....

Anonymous said...

Wegmans, Publix, Kroger... where are you!?
-----------
Click your heels two times.

Anonymous said...

Wegman's?
Publix?
Bah. Garbage for the masses.

It's Gelson's, Bristol Farms or Andronico's.

Or nothing.

Anonymous said...

way unnecessary, morrocroft is huge anyway. it could still be the lowly a&p and be effective

Anonymous said...

"Morocroft has been a disaster and has generated losses and is kept open simply for branding"

That quote is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. Completely untrue, but funny none the less.

Anonymous said...

The Hairy Peter in Myers Park is getting bigger. Is it taking the little blue pill?

Anonymous said...

I have to wonder if some of you ever walked into the HT on Central 15 years ago. Actually, I don't have to wonder. You obviously didn't.

David said...

Underground parking won't work...Buffy will never find the SUV!

Anonymous said...

In related news, Laurel Market announced they will add a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Anonymous said...

Now if they could only get decent help and customer service there and clean up the sandwich area!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
I have to wonder if some of you ever walked into the HT on Central 15 years ago.


Of course not. Even 15 years ago, the only people in that part of town were PURE TRASH.

Anonymous said...

David.. I can only imagine how awful it must be to be so poor, and so full of spite. please log off of the public access internet, and seek employment as soon as possible.

Anonymous said...

The morrocroft location makes the most money, because the richest people live there. You are so dumb if you think this isn't the case. The morrocroft location is left open 24 hours for a reason money $$$$. All you who don't shop at Harris teeter are poor rednecks

Anonymous said...

Make it urban or get out!!!

Devlin Pierce said...

Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...
I have to wonder if some of you ever walked into the HT on Central 15 years ago.


Of course not. Even 15 years ago, the only people in that part of town were PURE TRASH.

--WOW?! Seriously? Pure trash. This entire forum makes me sick. everyone trying to act like you know what the h*&! you're talking about. I grew up in Plaza Midwood. 15 years ago that "pure trash" consisted of the young professionals and artists who were puting the time and effort into reclaiming large portions of PM.

As far as a two-story grocery, the "right thing" will have to be determined by zoning. The company has a bottom line to protect and will keep the new plan as inexpensive as allowed. I don't like looking at parking lots at intersections either, but it's capitalism folks- the best way to make a buck.

By the way, thanks to the ANON who gave the history lesson on HT- probably the only truly informed comment said up to this point.

Anonymous said...

Agreed. This entire forum is disgusting. Insinuating that all people that live in Myers Park drive luxury cars & walk around with their noses in the air? People in Midwood are pure trash? STAY CLASSY CHARLOTTE!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Devlin Pierce said...

By the way, thanks to the ANON who gave the history lesson on HT- probably the only truly informed comment said up to this point.

WELL... that comment show how clueless you REALY are. The "historian" conveniently left out the fact that H-T didn't sell beer or wine (would not be fittin' for Jesus) until the mid 70's. They would sell you all the Mr & Mrs T's Bloody Mary Mix, Bitters, Corkscrews & etc that you could lug out the door but beer or wine? FORGET-ABOUT-IT... Oh and they would sell you all that on Sunday. Jesus would forgive H-T for making money on Sunday., just not selling beer or wine. Can I get an AMEN on up in here?

Let's not glorify Mr Harris TOO much other than to say he was a WORLD CLASS hypocrite.

Anonymous said...

Let's not leave the booty loopers out. Put in a bike lane that circles the HT. It will be lovely at rush hour.

George Hanson said...

@ 2.07pm.

"accessed on foot"........?!?!

That's one of the funniest things I have ever heard. I grew up across the street and I have never ever seen anyone walk to that grocery store.

Sometimes when I'm back in town visiting I will in fact walk up there to ship. As I walk home with a couple bags of groceries I can see the drivers staring at me thinking "hmm, the jack*ss must have had a DUI and lost his license". I kid you not!

theREALreasonIS said...

The reason this is happening is because HT is owned by the Ruddick Corporation, who's owners and most of their VP's and executive staff live in this neighborhood. Notice in the picture the vehicles on either side of it?... And the upscale balcony area?

theREALreasonIS said...

Mr. Harris also fought the wine issue until the company was too large for the family to run. Ruddick made him and Mr. Teeter (Of Mooresville) a respectable offer to take it off of his hands. Until he died that was one of the most sour issues for him, was that everyone to stay in business had to have a wine section as alcohol became more and more prevalent.

If you'd like to know which store actually produces the most profit for the company, how about you simply ask? Most of the managers are very friendly and love to talk about their careers in grocery that have lasted 20+ years to get to that level of management. They'll discuss locations, neighborhoods, etc.

The President of HT Mr. Morganthall is very precise when it comes to new store openings and market evaluations. From conversations I've had with managers, he is highly respected and will nail a locations first-year earnings to within several hundred thousand dollars: very close to the real results. With decades of experience he has had, he and the rest of the corporate team know what losses, and gains, the company can stand. He's not compensated $2.5M for nothing (see http://people.forbes.com/profile/frederick-j-morganthall/69289)

As for HT in general: 2 story HT's anywhere but Washington, DC are a show of power & money, and to accentuate the neighborhood. DC they have to be 2 story because their is no where to build, so you're buying out retail space and have to build up.

So even if HT losses money on this location, the brand is recognized. And brand recognition (like Starbucks, Disney, Build-A-Bear, Mercedes, or Nike) is sometimes worth more as a whole than looking at one locations profit margins.

Corey O'Neal said...

Grrr that is what is wrong with Myers Park is demolishing old and rebuilding I grew up in Myers Park as my dad and my Grandfather, we always went to Myers Park Hardware for oil changes, misc. now they want to tear down tiny teeter. we had the first nursing in charlotte on sharon road and they thought we were to old so they pushed us out and demolished it as everything else there is no history anymore and it makes me sick just because a corporation comes in and changes things leave them alone if you don't like you can leave