Schnucks Plans Small Format in Downtown St. Louis Garage

ST. LOUIS - Schnuck Markets, Inc. is readying to build a new, small urban food store to serve residents and commuters in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The new store, to be located on the lower level of the Ninth Street Garage at the corner of 9th and Olive Streets, could open in late 2008 or early 2009.

The store will be a uniquely-designed fresh food market that will include a pharmacy for customers' prescription and over-the-counter medicine needs, among other features such as a floral shop, Kaldi's Coffee bar, service meat and seafood departments and several prepared food stations including a salad bar, an Asian hot food bar, barbecue bar, pizza station, chef's grill and a made-to-order sandwich shop. A 6,303-square-foot mezzanine overhead will house an extensive wine department with a tapas tasting area and seating space, all of which will be built beneath ten stories of parking.

"As a company, Schnucks has worked toward the growth and revitalization of downtown for some time," said Schnucks chairman and c.e.o. Scott Schnuck. "We have always looked for opportunities to serve customers in this market area. A growing downtown population, potential for additional growth and redevelopment around our planned store site, along with our partnership with state and local supporters are all indicators to us that the time is right for us to bring a new neighborhood store and new jobs to the City of St. Louis."

A team effort involving many state and local officials, the project started with an agreement crafted with the help of St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay, Comptroller Darlene Green and Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder of the Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB) and MDFB Executive Director Robert (Bob) Miserez.

Under the agreement, Schnucks will lease the street-level retail portion of the Ninth Street Garage from the MDFB - the agency that built the garage, owns the property and is spearheading the entire Old Post Office development. The project is contingent upon the city's board of aldermen's passage of legislation allowing for reimbursement on a portion of the project costs over time.

"We're hoping to build a two-level store, and the configuration of the space will allow for the creation of a cosmopolitan and urban feel along with amenities you won't find anywhere else in St. Louis," said Schnuck, adding that the store's lower level will include approximately 20,800-square-feet of fresh and specialty foods including natural and organics. "Our customers will be able to do their complete food shopping in the new store," he said.

The downtown store will be the ninth Schnucks store in the city and the 65th in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Schnuck Markets, Inc. operates a total of 103 stores (including five Logli stores) and 100 pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi.
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