Archer Grocery to fill grocery store void downtown
8.10.2011Blake Ewing announced at a press conference this morning that his next entrepreneur effort will be a grocery store in the Brady District downtown. The grocery store will fill a much-discussed need for downtown patrons looking to purchase just a loaf of bread or some orange juice.
Ewing said he hopes to have an “old school market feel” that will be delightfully shocking to shoppers.
“We’re creating the truly unique type of experience that causes someone to come back again and again,” said Ewing.
The approximately 4,800 sq. ft. space will have a fresh flowers section, a full-service deli offering high-quality meats and sandwiches, a coffee shop, a newsstand-inspired point of sale for magazines and small items like gum, a warm buffet line full of chef-prepared meal options and Ewing’s personal favorite – a cereal wall that will offer multiple kinds of cereal for a quick breakfast.
The interesting space also includes a mezzanine level where Ewing hopes to have couches and bistro seating, creating an atmosphere that will encourage guests to linger.
Ewing partnered with the Schneider family to put the grocery at street level in the Detroit Lofts building located at the intersection of Detroit and Archer Streets.
Admitting that his expertise isn’t in grocery stores, Ewing said he addressed the supply-demand issue that has prevented other grocers from entering the market by incorporating what he does know, restaurant service, and tying the two together to sustain the demand relationship.
Archer Grocery will have its own chef, who will coordinate the grocery section with the menu being offered. Ewing said he plans to offer warm meals from breakfast until the late evening and will meet the needs of alternative eating habits such as vegan or vegetarian. The grocery section will include both fresh and frozen items that could be found at your typical local grocer.
“Adding a grocery store downtown has been discussed for quite some time by both downtown residents and businesses,” said Delise Tomlinson, executive director of downtown development for the Tulsa Metro Chamber. “And as the activity downtown continues to grow, the need for a grocer is quite obvious. Archer Grocery will fill an obvious gap in what is offered in downtown Tulsa and we’re looking forward to its success.”
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