By Stephanie Froese

Wanted, downtown grocery store

Feb 2, 2011 | 5:57 AM

The news that the Co-op is moving out of downtown and into Cornerstone shopping area is upsetting some seniors.

One woman who lives in an apartment right beside the downtown grocery store said she is worried about what seniors, who aren’t able to drive, will do when they can’t just go across the street to do their shopping.

“It’s just going to be a really bad future for us not to have the Co-op there, or someplace where we can buy groceries, even just our milk and bread and essentials,” she said.

“I wouldn’t move for that reason, but it’s just too bad because I don’t drive and I don’t know what I’m going to be doing.”

Another senior explained it is more than just the groceries that she will be missing.

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“It’s not only the shopping. It’s the coffee bar downstairs that people gather at and the hair dressing salon, things like that.”

Coun. Greg Dionne said it’s not the best news, especially since city council has been trying to encourage population growth in the downtown area.

“I’ve been working hard with my connections in the retail industry to see if we can find a replacement to go downtown,” Dionne said.

He said he thinks even a smaller grocery store would be enough to serve the downtown population, but that there needs to be something.

At the moment a new grocery downtown is just a hope as potential buyers of the Co-op location are not allowed to use that space for another grocery store.

Dionne said that makes it a bit of a challenge.

“You have to find a building close to the senior’s towers and Marquis Towers because most people walk,” Dionne said.

“Just keep the chin up … I believe there is business there and someone will come forth, we just have to keep working hard as private people and as the city and see if we can attract people downtown.”

sfroese@panow.com