Reynoldsburg: Grocery store to open in former Big Bear site

Valu King, a subsidiary of Giant Eagle grocery stores, is expected to open this summer in the building that once housed a Big Bear store at the corner of Brice Road and East Livingston Avenue.

[LCC]

I don't think there is really a lack of grocery stores in the area unless you don't have a car. There are a couple of Krogers and Walmart isn't too far. It sucked when I lived near the high school and only had a bike for transport.

[Food Perks]

This is welcomed news. Thank you Mayor McCloud and all others who worked to accomplish this.

[JEAN burns]

yes this is a great thing for Rey noldsburg , since there have been lots of store gone in the last Ten yrs ,,I hope it has a good busness as big bear did i for one will use it

[common sense]

The core reason for this area's decline must be addressed at the same time. The criminal element from the apartment complexes which surround this store cannot be ignored. They are havens for gangs and are the chosen abode for registered and unregistered sex offenders.

The Home Depot made the correct decision to place cement barriers between it and Eastgreen. It would be wise for Valu King to do something similar with the Century City apartments behind it to keep its workers and shoppers safe.

An increased police presence in the form of a police substation is a must. The old Schmidt's would have been perfect. Unfortunately, well-intentioned politicians may have jumped the gun on its removal.

[Ho Hum]

So are the concrete barriers going to keep the trash from century city out of the Valu King lot? No. So why be bothered to put up the barriers? All it's going to do is prevent so many cars tearin through the parking lot. You could get robbed or have your car stolen in any parking lot, in any area, at any time of day or night, so why would that be the biggest concern right now? It could happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime... if that was the top priority of what stores looked at I'm sure a lot of them would have pulled out of most areas by now.
I think it's a good idea to put a new grocery store there, people in that area clearly don't have high incomes so the lack of travel to get food from somewhere other than Aldi's and Big Lots and K-Mart is probably welcomed. And on top of that this has the potential to create some jobs for people in this area.
I think this is a positive thing.

[DumDum]

Now I know why Kroger purchased the old BB loaction in Mill Run and is holding on to some of their old stores, like the one on Sawmill Road across from the Marketplace store. They want to keep Valu King from moving in.

[Faye]

Good idea!

[Dave]

Besides being a grocery store, the fact that a business and jobs will generate taxes must be acknowledged. Income to the city is a real positive. You know they need it so they can waste more money on projects like the landscaping of Main Street. Even though all those darn brick walls block drivers vision, they are darn pretty.

[joshua Crislip]

It would only be a good thing if the prices match or beat Wall Marts prices.

[Oh Come On]

joshua Crislip wrote:

It would only be a good thing if the prices match or beat Wall Marts prices.

How long have you lived in this country that you cannot spell Walmart correctly?

[TheReynoldsburgW anderer]

While it will be nice to not have to travel across town to get food stuffs once again, i still feel that there IS a lack of grocery options in this area. The addition of one store isnt giving people options its just putting a store closer to people who were left stuck with out one close by when Big Bear pulled out.

[HuberHoney]

Bravo to the city. At least there will be SOMETHING there and that's better than a vacant storefront. I think the residents in that area, at least the non-criminal ones will gladly appreciate this. Good job to all who made this happen!

I do agree with the above poster, a "sub-station" would be a great idea in that area and it really wouldn't cost the city a dime to have it.

[beau]

You can not have police sub-station without officers to staff it. The city has actually decreased the number of officers and is cutting funding and contracts. An average of five officers per shift for the entire city is not enough to change the current situation.