At the heart of east Greensboro on Phillips Avenue lies a decrepit shopping center, only anchored by a Family Dollar surrounded by two dead anchor stores. One of these stores, a now boarded up Winn-Dixie, closed in 1998 leaving the neighborhood with no grocery store within walking distance. The city of Greensboro recently poured some life into the shopping center, called Bessemer Center, by building a brand new public library branch, and now they hope to sprout some new life on the retail scene as well.
City leaders say that low traffic counts is the reason that the center hasn't seen a new store, but locals cite the blight and crime in the area to be contributing factors. However, in recent years efforts have been made to renovate housing projects and reduce crime in the neighborhood. The Winn-Dixie label scar reminds us of what used to be, but come the end of this year that may change as a new grocery store may fill this space.
What are your thoughts on what might materialize at the center? Could it be a full-line store such as Food Lion or a discounter like Save A Lot, Bottom Dollar or Just Save foods. Leave a comment below.
10/6/2011 Update: Save A Lot will move into this shopping center.
1/12/2012 Update 2: Save A Lot has pulled out of this project... we will follow up.
1/12/2012 Update 2: Save A Lot has pulled out of this project... we will follow up.
4 comments:
Why do 70's strip malls age better even when they're dead and decrepit like this?
Perhaps because they were built better to begin with than today's structures?? The only explanation I can think of...
The center needs a regular grocer like Lowe's Foods, Food Lion, and Harris Teeter, providing both groceries and pharmacy.
JT. The pictures you're looking at were taken after the facelift.
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