Should Gainesville invest $3 million in grocery where two have failed?
A developer who wants the city to spend $3.3 million in tax money to open a grocery store in an East Gainesville commercial plaza where two stores have previously failed says this time, things will be different. Jacksonville resident Fred Washington says the proposed Bravo community supermarket at 2302 East Hawthorne Road would be much more than a grocery store. A Save-A-Lot and Food Lion have opened there, but later closed. The city is asking developers to bring plans for a community grocery store for East Gainesville possibly using American Rescue Plan Act funds or Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area funds. Developers have until July 22 to share plans for an at least 20,000-square-foot supermarket. The company must agree to lease a portion of the property to the city for $1 a year for 99 years to operate a new Gainesville Regional Transit system transfer station for East Gainesville similar to the Rosa Parks Transfer Station. "The supermarket product selection should feature grocery and hot bar products that cater to the heritage, culture and customs of the indigenous and existing community, and grocery aisles/sections and hot bar products that provide healthy options that address the health issues within the existing community," the city's proposal says. From 2019: East side lacks grocery stores, new development  still  Change in 2012: Save-A-Lot replacing Food Lion  Under plan, new supermarket would be joined by booths, medical office, more  Washington said if his company is awarded the contract, the plan would include:  A Bravo supermarket;  Rented booths where products like pies and cellphones are sold;  A medical office that would complement the services offered by the Health Department and UF Health;  A credit union;  A coffee bar, salad bar and cafeteria, and  A fresh fish counter and market space inside the store where local farmers can sell their products. Its really going to be a change agent for the whole area, Washington said. The new business would generate at least 30 jobs with pay of at least $15 an hour, Washington said. Washington said this project is modeled after a Bravo community store in Brandon, which is operated by his business partner, Richard Sanchez. He said his development company, Southern Accommodations LLC, is proposing to partner with Sanchez for the Gainesville project. The plaza is only a couple miles from the Walmart Supercenter store that sells produce and meats at 1800 NE 12th Ave.  Washington said they will be able to compete. We will be able to fill specific niches that Walmart would not, he said. One of those niches would be a fresh seafood market where daily catches are sold, something Walmart doesn't offer. "You will be able to buy it at good price points," he said. "We feel that will bring people by the droves who like seafood.  The current tenants in the plaza, which include DJ Coin Laundry, China Wok, Lucilles Southern Kitchen and Family Dollar, would stay, Washington said. Washington said the whole plaza will be renovated, with his company pitching in at least an additional $3.7 million for the work. Plaza security will be handled by an African American-run company that hires retired police officers, Washington said. Were not only going to fix up and renovate the grocery space there, but we are also going to bless the other tenants there by redoing the entire facade, updating everything  everything from roof (on down), he said. Community advisory board will recommend products  A community advisory board will recommend products and services and programs offered at Bravo. If you are from India and you cannot find the foods that you need that you are used to buying, Bravo can have those products on the shelves for you, he said. He added that the grocery store will conform to the community, instead of the community conforming to the grocery store.  Produce, fruit and meats from local farmers will be sold, purchased in much smaller quantities than Walmart would require, Washington said. Behind the grocery store will be 7,000 to 8,000 square feet of community meeting space. From purely a business standpoint, the plaza location is "horrible," which is why the tax supplement is critical, he said. Within a mile of that plaza are only 5,000 residents, though grocery stores usually want 50,000 before opening, Washington said. Gainesville Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos said he believes the project presents a great opportunity, and said past stores have failed because they "haven't evolved to meet the needs of the area." Some residents in the neighborhood said they support the project. We need it on this side of town, said Tyeshondra Whitfield. But she said the store needs better security than what Save-A-Lot had. My son was working here when they closed down. He told me they were losing a lot of inventory (to theft)," she said. "All of a sudden they werent making any money.  Jeanette Gay, who was doing her laundry next to Whitfield in the plaza, said the would be welcome. "We need it, she said.