Actions

Designs underway for North Tulsa grocery store

Posted at 5:58 PM, Oct 15, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-15 19:17:02-04

TULSA -- A new grocery store is coming to North Tulsa, but some residents have doubts in its success.

"People in this area deserve having fresh fruit, fresh vegetables," said Garry Cox, a North Tulsa resident.

It's a fight many residents have battled for years. Gateway Market shut down in November of 2017, and residents protested a new Dollar General opening in North Tulsa back in March.

"Most of the people that want to spend their money at grocery stores, are spending it at dollar stores," said Cox.

Some residents drive outside of Tulsa for groceries.

"I drive a little farther for fresh meats, and all my vegetables," said Sheri Fields, a North Tulsa resident.

But some refuse to travel at all.

"I usually send other people to shop there for me because I don’t care to go those distances," said Beoma Bell-Ere, a North Tulsa resident.

Honor Capital was named as the Operator, but the store name is still underdetermined, according to Rose Washington, Executive Director of TEDC.

Residents are hopeful this is a step in the right direction for a permanent resource in North Tulsa.

"They almost have to put their foot in cement, and what I mean by that..they’re going to be here for the long term, not the short term," said Cox.

EWC 1 Inc. got the green light from the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) to design the 15,000 to 17,000 square foot building at the Shoppes on Peoria.

Many residents want to know why this new store will work, if others in the past have closed.

Gateway Market is about 60,000 square feet, and Washington said the smaller size of the new store will make it more manageable and hopefully the reason for success. She says they won't have to fill a larger space with random items, and strictly stick to fresh groceries.

 The TEDC received a $1.5 million grant from HUD through the City of Tulsa.

After they receive the designs for the food store, they will begin the building permit process and get the cost estimates for the building.

They hope to have the store up and running in October of 2019, but Washington says that's an aggressive timeline, so it may open later in 2019.

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.

Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.

Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook