Final results of a study to investigate feasibility of a Downtown grocery store recommend immediate actions to recruit while the market continues to develop.

The 145 page study, commissioned by The City of Oklahoma City, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Downtown OKC Inc. was conducted by consultant Larry Kilduff of The Kilduff Company.   The study shows that there is currently no statistical unmet demand for a full-service grocery store in the downtown area. However, Downtown Oklahoma City’s ongoing revitalization, increasing residential base and strong potential for growth do support the case for immediate action to adopt and implement a recruiting strategy. 

“The research clearly tells us that now is the time to get started on this project.  We can’t lose focus on residential growth downtown, but we can’t delay pursuing more retail over the long term,” said Dave Lopez, Downtown OKC Inc. president.

The findings indicate that even with Downtown’s momentum and a focused recruitment effort, the process to secure a grocery store could take three years or longer.  The study states that the type of grocery store that is likely to be best suited for a downtown Oklahoma City location would be a specialty store—such as a Whole Foods, Central Market or Trader Joe’s—that could draw customers from downtown and the greater metro area.

The study indicated two possible areas that fit the needs of a grocery store location, the area of 4th and Walnut and in Automobile Alley at the intersection of 10th and Broadway.  Both are close to residential and daytime employee population, both have heavy traffic, and both feature good access and visibility from I-235. 

The study analyzes specific market segments within a specific drive-time of the proposed grocery locations.  These demographic groups indicate the profile is one of a more upscale community within the twenty minute drive-time.  These findings suggest that the Downtown OKC trade area is positioned to attract a more upscale grocer to areas being revitalized.  

Following the release of the study's preliminary findings, a contingent composed of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Mayor Mick Cornett and City staff attended the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) convention — the largest gathering of retail real estate professionals in the world.

“We made some promising contacts,” said Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President and CEO Roy Williams. “We’re working on bringing them to Oklahoma City soon for a visit, so they can see first-hand what the Metro has to offer.”

Private enterprise should lead the recruiting of a downtown grocery store, but civic leadership—and possibly infrastructure assistance—from the city also would be needed to succeed, the study says.  Because of this recommendation, Mayor Mick Cornett felt it important to attend the ICSC conference and provide leadership to the project.

"A downtown grocery store will continue our momentum towards creating a downtown where our citizens can work and live," said Cornett.  "We experienced a fantastic reaction at the conference.  It was obvious that national retailers are beginning to hear about the Oklahoma City success story.  We're going to continue working with them, and I have every confidence that we are going to make this happen."

A copy of the report can be found here.

For additional information on the report and City leadership’s efforts to recruit a grocery store, please contact Russell Claus with the City of Oklahoma City’s Urban Redevelopment Division at (405) 297-1628 or russell.claus@okc.gov.