Harris Teeter plans to demolish and rebuild its store at Central Avenue and The Plaza, replacing the aging building with a snazzy new design featuring a second story and a green roof.
A spokeswoman for Harris Teeter said plans to put a "signature building" at that location have been in the works for some time. The proposal, first shown on the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association's Facebook page, calls for the existing store to be demolished in mid-2012 and the new store to open in 2013.
It's the second older, smaller store in Charlotte this year that Harris Teeter has proposed razing and replacing with an upscale building. The other Charlotte store the retailer plans to replace is in Myers Park.
The Central Avenue location was opened by W.T. Harris, one of the chain's co-founders, in 1938. The retailer says that it was the city's first air-conditioned grocery store and first store open until 9 p.m. on Friday nights - major selling points at the time.
But now, spokeswoman Jennifer Thompson said, the store is relatively small, and unable to carry the full line of items available at other Harris Teeters. The retailer operates some 200 supermarkets, mainly in the Southeast.
The proposed 48,400-square-foot store, which will require zoning approval, is shown with a 143-space parking lot and a green roof covering part of the structure. Such roofs feature vegetation to cut down on energy costs and storm runoff. The proposed design also features a second-story mezzanine level with indoor and outdoor seating for shoppers.
In a nod to pedestrian-friendliness, Harris Teeter says the new store will have a sidewalk entrance at the corner of Central Avenue and The Plaza, and a rear entrance facing the parking lot for drivers.
"The proposed store will create a high quality focal point at the corner of The Plaza and Central
Avenue," said Thompson in a statement.
Nicole Storey, Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association's president, said the plans were presented Tuesday night at the group's board meeting.
"We're thrilled," Storey said. "Our store is definitely in need of replacement." Harris Teeter has discussed replacing the building with neighborhood leaders for 10 years, Storey said.
"What they've presented is really unique," Storey said. "I don't think any of us expected to see an art-deco store."
The store's design bears some resemblance to another Harris Teeter redesign slated for Myers Park. The Harris Teeter Express at the corner of Providence and Queens roads - which was also built in 1938 - will be replaced with a two-story, 42,000-square-foot Harris Teeter.
But the exterior style is different, and fits the surrounding neighborhood well, Storey said.
"They were talking about the new store and saying how unique it was, and I asked them to show us the Myers Park store," Storey said. "When they showed it to us, there were gasps in the room at how different it was."
Here are some pictures and a site plan from Harris Teeter:
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63 comments:
This Harris Teeter is in a good location. Close to uptown and across the street from the library. I hope it stays on schedule though. Shutting down for 6 months seems like a long time. Any word on where the current employees would be sent...if anywhere?
This is the worst, most disgusting HT in Charlotte!! Thank goodness they finally realized what needed to be done long ago.
Hopefully they won't jack up their prices even higher than they already are to pay for this thing. Looks like Food Lion on the Plaza will get the business even more now.
The current store has God awful parking and has a bitter staff working the sandwich section. Management doesn't seem to give a ____ and the cop in there is one of the rudest, most condescending public servants I have ever come into contact with. There is much improvement to be done.
me likey
This is exciting and much needed. This was the first store that Mr. Harris opened though so I'm a little sad to see it go.
This should make all the elitist soccer moms jump for joy so they can now be 'pampered' while they shop, all while paying the highest prices anywhere around for groceries. Makes me sick to my stomach.
Odd look- reminds me a "car wash" toy I had for my matchbox cars--
Well maybe if you had worked a little harder anon 12:03 you could enjoy the store to. What are we all suppose to shop at walmart because you're a loser?
Anon. 12:03, you sound very bitter, for no reason. No one forces you to shop at Harris Teeter; and many of us prefer to shop at HT, rather than Food Lion, etc. HT actually does a lot of deep discounting on many products, for those of us who take the time to check out their specials. If you don't want to shop HT, fine, but there's no reason to sound so bitter.
That's good news. This Charlotte native has been shopping there off and on for decades, before it was fashionable to do so. Now, if they can do something about the bums and crime happening in the parking lot, that would be good too.
To the sorry individual above talking about people who shop at Wal-Mart being losers: Why don't you go straight to hell. You and the rest of your sorry teabagging soccer moms. You haven't worked hard, you've just been a rich elitist who thinks everything should cater to you. I hope you rot down in southpark.
No, it's those sandwich people and the damned police at the Harris Teeter that are bitter. People don't like that.
The rich don't need to get pampered any more than they already are. Harris Teeter is just another place for the snobs to continue their vicious cycle.
Does this mean can we at least get a HT Express in Wesley Heights?
Pathetic that the racists show up here and slander Food Lion and Wal-Mart. You should be ashamed that you spread so much hate. Stay down at your harris teeter and spend everything you have!!!!
Who gave Chauncey internet access?
Who the _____ is Chaucer?
I frequent this store often even though I am steps away from the uptown HT because this store has a greater selection due to its larger size. I agree with many who commented on the parking. It is poorly laid out and somewhat dangerous for drivers as well as those on foot. I haven't noticed any homeless hanging around but since I live uptown I have probably blocked them out as a matter of habit(since I am originally from DC I learned this skill as a young child).
I have generally had a good experience with the staff at this store....esp. the folks behind the meat counter....very knowlegable, helpful and friendly. I have even had the stores associates and mgr come up to me as I was shopping and asked how I was and if I was finding everything ok. Try finding that level of service somewhere else!
I look forward to the new store but will miss the downtime needed for construction.
This place needs work! One of the female managers there is really not good with people. When you say hello to her she looks like you scared the hell out of her, then she just keeps walking. Guess she is from the north. Tragic.
Why is it whenever somebody tosses an insult, they always use the anonymous identifier? If you're going to spout off that stuff, you ought to own it.
-Brian Green
The beggars are not homeless, but simply wanting to get high or drunk from money they get from the shoppers at this store.
The cop inside doesn't do anything to stop this crap either. The managers don't care, but it's the customers that have to deal with it almost every day. When you complain, the management looks at you like you are the criminal. God help them.
We do own it, 'Brian Green'. We have the right to complain anytime and any way we want. Now unless you work for Harris Teeter then mind your own business and get back to work.
They can rebuild this monstrosity all they want. The prices at Food Lion will still be better. No competition.
Anonymous 2:08 - If you own it, where's your name? All I saw was another anonymous tag.
I've noticed in this and other posts that people get really passionate about their choice of supermarket. I suppose shopping for groceries is as close to a universal experience as we get in America these days, and where we shop is seen as a proxy for so many other facets of identity (race, income level, and so on). Often, reading comments on my blog, I wonder if the differences between Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Wal-Mart shoppers are as sharp as readers seem to believe.
Agreed. Some obviously do not care about price, but apparently (like someone said earlier) about being pampered and waited on hand and foot. Why people want to feel like they are at the spa or country club when they are going to get groceries speaks volumes about people. Sad, very sad.
I used to get sandwiches there every day for a long time because it was the cheapest in town, after 8 months of sandwiches 3-4 times a week they were still cold and could care less. Hope they are gone with the new store!
Why do people take news like this so personally? If you don't like Harris Teeter, don't shop there. And btw, all walks of life shop at Harris Teeter - not just soccer moms.
You are so typical of an ignorant southerner. I just got back from the NORTH and I can honestly say, Northerners are a lot more nicer (and honest) than Southerners. That manager you speak of is probably a bitter witch from the south!
Anonymous said...
This place needs work! One of the female managers there is really not good with people. When you say hello to her she looks like you scared the hell out of her, then she just keeps walking. Guess she is from the north. Tragic.
April 27, 2011 2:00 PM
Glad they are tearing down this store and rebuilding it. This is a punishment store, employees don't transfer to this store of their own free will. They will disperse the current staff to other stores and get a fresh crew in there who want to serve the customers.
Harris Teeter needs to convert a good handful of stores to a natural/organic format since they have them on about every corner.
Very cool. I saw the HT on East Blvd is expanding again. I'd love to see a design like this on East Blvd but it probably doesn't fit the neighborhood as much as it does over in Plaza/Midwood.
People in this city are rude, regardless if they are from the north or the south. I can't wait to leave this s***hole.
This store will be awesome ! It will be hard to have it closed during renovation -- no other groceries in the Plaza-Midwood area that are fit to shop at. Guess I will have to go to the one on East Blvd. if it isn't being renovated at the same time. HT is the best in our neighborhood !
Super Cool! Midwood is already the best but this is might just go to it's head!
Haters gonna hate....anonymously of course.
Guess what, we rich people shop at walmart too. We didn't get rich by accident.
But don't hate on people that like a nicer shopping experience, like HT, Publix, and Wegmans.
You get what you pay for.
For those of you who think that Harris Teeter and Food Lion drastically differ in prices, I suggest you check out this guide: http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/flash/2603702/ ... Also cannot WAIT for Publix to come to Charlotte!
For all of the people talking about how Food Lion's prices are "soooooo much better" than Harris Teeter, have you been in a Harris Teeter in the last 10 years? The prices today are virtually the same. In fact, the last time I shopped in a Food Lion the private label goods and commodities (milk, butter, sugar, flour) were actually MORE expensive than HT. Most of the major brands and private labels are the same price, and the broader range of goods that are not available at Food Lion command the higher prices. Like any grocer, HTs prices are driven by market forces.
Also, again for Food Lion and Wal-Mart shoppers, don't hate on people who enjoy a shopping experience with working lighting, well-stocked shelves, attentive customer service, and more than 2 cash registers open up front. These things alone are well worth a small markup for most consumers. This is evident from financial results - where HT, Publix, and Kroger are increasing same store sales while Food Lion and Wal-Mart's same store sales are declining in a much improved retail environment. The consumer is speaking.
HT bends people over in the produce dept. Their meat dept is great though. they charge more but you get better customer service.
and the midwood ht sucks. parking lot makes no sense, store is sideways. it was better in the mid 90's before they redesigned it. all you midwood hipsters are just gonna have to drive ALL THE WAY down to trader joes which has great prices on lots of things. or you can drive to the mini ht, east blvd, cotswold, 4th ward. target midtown has a new fresh grocery section now also.
Stop with the mumblin' and grumblin' already. According to Mr. Brad over at WCNC, we're all gonna die in the tornado tonight anyway.
well then perfect mr brian green. HT will do enormous business from the milk/bread crowd.
People, it is 2011. WHY are we building an Art Deco grocery store? This design only dilutes the remaining artifacts of the neighborhood's past by adding to it a messy, stucco imitation of a history that never existed here. And until I see plans, I don't believe for a second that the corner will actually be a legitimate, pedestrian friendly entrance, despite what the architecture suggests.
Good grief, so much hatred, bitterness and wealth-envy here!
Nothing in the blog posts suggests this store will be a glorified spa for over-pampered soccer moms. I see that there will be a garden area with seating on the second level. I didn't read that there would be warm towels and pedicures available.
Speaking as a solidly middle-class family that does most grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, we are doing more shopping at HT these days. If you stick to getting items on VIC, your grocery bill will not only be lower than Food Lion but surprisingly competitive with Wal-Mart. There is nothing elitist about HT. The soon-to-be-defunct Bloom and Lowe's Foods are for the elitists.
I lived in the area of this HT about 15 years ago, the last time it was renovated. You think it is below par now? It was a lot more below par in the mid-90s. I'm glad the area is getting a nice new store.
"Hopefully they won't jack up their prices even higher than they already are to pay for this thing. Looks like Food Lion on the Plaza will get the business even more now"
HT doesn't carry Hater-Ade. So you'll be happier at the Food Lion on the plaza. And you will get to trade pleasantries with all the urine soaked homeless drug addicts and welfare recipients. I'm happy to pay more...
"This should make all the elitist soccer moms jump for joy so they can now be 'pampered' while they shop, all while paying the highest prices anywhere around for groceries. Makes me sick to my stomach.
"Considering the schools are high poverty in the area, I don't know what soccer moms you are talking about. not to mention most of the people who live near & shop at that location are not that lifestyle by any means. Most soccer moms live in the suburbs. If you don't like paying high prices don't shop there. Why should it make you angry. Maybe you are poor and just mad. Hopefully your preferred grocer supplies Hater Ade.
"People, it is 2011. WHY are we building an Art Deco grocery store?" - It's not Art Deco. Did you notice the green roof?
"This design only dilutes the remaining artifacts of the neighborhood's past by adding to it a messy, stucco imitation of a history that never existed here."
- It is a box store. It has been expanded three times. It in no way resembles the market it originally was. I know. I shopped there through three expansions. I don't see where anyone claims the new store is intended to recreate history. It obviously is not. The old store is right there in the flesh and they look nothing alike."
"And until I see plans, I don't believe for a second that the corner will actually be a legitimate, pedestrian friendly entrance, despite what the architecture suggests."
Considering all the foot traffic in the area it would be ridiculous for them not to cater to the pedestrian friendly Central & plaza business district
"Agreed. Some obviously do not care about price, but apparently (like someone said earlier) about being pampered and waited on hand and foot. Why people want to feel like they are at the spa or country club when they are going to get groceries speaks volumes about people. Sad, very sad."
Some don't care about the price b/c they don't have to and some care b/c they have to. You seem to be in the latter category. I have never seen a spa at an HT. i have never seen anything that you would see in country club other than maybe people just being friendly and polite. I don't think that is unique to country clubs... But one thing I don't see at HT are crack heads, drunks, nasty sloppy ghetto freaks wearing sweat pants and flip flops, beating their kids, yelling on their cell phone, begging for money or walking around the store drunk. People haggling over food stamps and holding up the line to put stuff back. Call me kooky but I'll pay a *little" more to get high quality food, good service, and clientele that know how to behave in public
"They can rebuild this monstrosity all they want. The prices at Food Lion will still be better. No competition."
And the the produce section at Food Lion will still smell, floors will still be dirty, Customer Service will still suck, they won't have a wide variety of choices, they will have lower end items, there will be vagrants moping around, poor people beating their kids, picking their belly buttons and sores, They will still have people holding up the e line haggling over WIC and food stamps
"To the sorry individual above talking about people who shop at Wal-Mart being losers: Why don't you go straight to hell. You and the rest of your sorry teabagging soccer moms. You haven't worked hard, you've just been a rich elitist who thinks everything should cater to you. I hope you rot down in southpark."
Actually... this HT isn't anywhere near southpark and I've never seen a soccer mom at this location. I f you want to get groceries at the Wal-Mart on Eastway. Good luck to you and your family's digestive tract.
Looking forward to the new Harris Teeter. It is much needed. While it's closed, or anytime, try the Food Lion on Eastway Drive across from Walmart. It's a really nice, clean store and very well stocked.
Publix is coming to town, soon enough. Word is they've secured sites and might be taking over a few Lowes Foods and Bi-Lo's... stay tuned.
"It's not Art Deco. Did you notice the green roof?"
If you are going to engage in a conversation about architecture, you should probably have a basic understanding of what architecture (specifically architectural style) actually is. Yes, I did notice their half-hearted attempt to appear concerned with sustainability. However, whether or not they sprinkle some grass seed on the roof has absolutely no bearing on the architectural style of the building.
i love the employees at store#1. i hope we get them all back!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU Harris Teeter. It has been a very long time coming. I have lived on Commonwealth Ave for years and have always been disappointed with the Plaza HT but would refuse to travel to another HT for the better selection. Part of why I like our neighborhood is having everything so close and I can't wait for this to open. I hope they have a better selection of fresh organic fruits and vegetables than they do today. I will be counting the days til this opens.
nice! that store was so old...i think Moses once shopped there, lol. I'm just glad they never tore it down or closed it down, considering the transformations the neighborhood has been through in the last 30 years.
Well,i heard they will have to " re-apply"for their job wich is completly unfair and stupid if you ask me..
Not gonna happen...sorry!!:(
It's a shame the Plaza street elevation isn't more people friendly as it faces the bank, the Post Office, the Whiskey Warehouse as well as the adjacent Queen's Gallery. Everything is very car-oriented on the backside facing Nandina. That's the problem with New-Urbanist architecture, it never attempts to find a positive way to include the car. At least the building avoids the faux-historicism of the Myers Park store (yuck!).
The cop was probably in the store BS'in with the chick at the self checkout while that woman was out in the parking lot getting carjacked. Why is that cop even there? Is he protecting the Coinstar machine?
I live right next to all of this construction. 'Harris Teeter is concerned about the environment and believes that by working together, we can all help achieve an environmentally friendly future.' is what they post on their website. This couldn't be anymore fabricated. They cut down trees that have been around for decades and have disturbed what this unique community was founded on. I am in disgust at what they have done. It was not necessary and I will attract the least amount of business I can starting with our homes next to it. Harris Teeter is fake.
Harris Teeter is concerned about the environment and believes that by working together, we can all help achieve an environmentally friendly future. ?????? They cut down trees that have been here for decades! Plaza Midwood was so unique without this destruction. I am ashamed to leave next to this. They will not get my business.
Gross. Cutting down trees and territory that made plaza midwood unique??? 'Harris Teeter is concerned about the environment and believes that by working together, we can all help achieve an environmentally friendly future. ' is on their website. That's totally BULL!
It seems emotions run high with Harris Teeter and the rebuild. I, too was a long time fan but learned that other HT's offer not only a better selection but often fresher items, like fruit and produce, than could be had at the PM store. The friendliest staff is at Matthews Township parkway along with the freshest fruits and veggies. The meat counter is bustling at 7am, produce clerks are on hand, and the Deli/Bakery staff is available.
Foodlion on Eastway sells Holly Farms Natural Chicken-it's miles better than HT brand and goes on sale at a great price fairly often. Regular price berries, broccoli, cauliflower, melons, peaches are often cheaper than HT and of very good quality. Staff is friendly. If you choose to shop around a bit you will find the items you need at a good price without sacrificing quality. And don't forget Target. Target sells boneless chops and chicken breasts that are always tender and juicy(and I mean ALWAYS), produce is often excellent and cheaper priced,and many shelf items are cheaper than HT as well. Good variety at Target of just about everything, plus if you get one of their debit cards you get 5% back on every purchase. Don't lament the loss of the HT or the stores that surround-get out and explore the other Foodlions and Targets in the area. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
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