Plans shaping up for downtown grocery store
Plans for Roanoke’s first downtown grocery store at Sixteen West are humming along, as are plans for a cafe and a wood-fired pizza restaurant.
The Sixteen West development on Church Avenue (most recently the Downtown Sports Club) is already home to Carilion’s RAC Xpress, Core Chiropractic and Wellness Center, and eight one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The grocery store, cafe and restaurant are expected to open this spring, said Amelia Glaser. She and her business partner, Mark Linson, are opening the businesses.
Glaser, of Salem, described the grocery store as a specialty cheese shop that will also carry fresh, local produce and dry bulk items as well as staples such as bread and Homestead Creamery milk. The grocery store will have a salad bar and offer meals to go, Glaser said. The store is named S&W Market after the S&W Cafeteria that used to be in the Church Avenue building.
Glaser is a self-described cheese specialist who’s worked at Fresh Market and Ukrops. She said she’s always wanted to bring a specialty cheese shop to downtown Roanoke, and the grocery store provided an opportunity to do that.
Cafe 16, will serve Floyd County’s Red Rooster coffee, as well as tea, smoothies, pastries and breakfast foods, Glaser said. To-go items, such as wraps, will also be available.
The restaurant, Cork and Crust, will feature tapas and wood-fired pizzas, as well as wine and craft beers.
We previously reported that Comfort Cuisine, a Roanoke catering company, was opening the grocery store. Phone numbers for the business and business owner are disconnected. Several of the businesses listed as pick up points on Comfort Cuisine’s website told me they haven’t seen the owners in months. If I find out more I’ll post an update.
Update 2:45 p.m.: John Garland, who developed Sixteen West, told me in an email today that Comfort Cuisine is no longer in business.
February 2, 2012 - 12:17 PM
I wanna know whats going on with the old Woolworths storefront– i heard theyre putting it back there– whats the dealio– thx
Zombie
@Zombie: I’m expecting to talk to the developer, Bill Elliot, later today. I’ll let you know,
They are very ambitious! I hope it does well!!
@Zombie: Developer Bill Elliot says those storefronts are available for rent. He’s hoping a retail operation will lease the space facing Campbell Avenue. There is another available storefront on Kirk Avenue, and he said that would be suitable for an office.
I work out at RAC Xpress early and wonder at what time the coffee shop and grocery store will open? Will I have to make one trip or two for exercise and groceries?
@Rupert: I’ll ask Amelia and get back to you.
A cheese specialist! Yum. This development sounds great.
A cheesy deal is more like it,overpriced cheese,bread and milk.And where is everyone going to park…they building a parking deck too? That will fit right in to downtown’s yuppie douchebag feel.
I am liking this more and more. There is nothing like real, fresh cheese.
I guess Famous Anthony’s decided not to re-open in Christiansburg. Sign on the building says El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant is coming soon.
What’s going on at the old Blueberry Hill? Lots of drywall work.
My Mother would take me by bus to the A&P store on the market.We would buy our canned goods then go to the Farmers Market for fresh veggies. That tells my age.