Bowdeya Tweh

btweh@enquirer.com

The signs of life outside the former Keller's IGA store are hard to ignore.

New paint is being added to the exterior of the 319 Ludlow Ave. building. Electrical wiring upgrades are underway to feed power to new equipment. Skylight installation work is underway.

For organizers of an effort to return a full-service grocery store to the Clifton neighborhood, construction activity represents progress toward a goal more than two years in the making.

"It's very exciting," Clifton Market board member Marilyn Hyland said. "We're growing the community while we're growing our grocery store."

The process didn't come easy. There was a concern about whether the building's previous owner would sell the property to the market development team. Questioning the development team's lack of experience in operating a grocery store, city leader shut down plans for the market to get a $550,000 city loan and later a $400,000 grant. A majority of council members backed the grant, but the money didn't survive a June 2015 veto from Mayor John Cranley.

The Clifton Market development team in 2014 began to solicit donations and ownership investments for what was planned as a cooperative store. Since that time, the group hosted several information events around the neighborhood including the Esquire Theatre across the street. And store advocates promoted the co-op concept through social media, while also working to engage nearby business owners to get them excited about the $5.6 million project.

Those efforts helped the group land enough money to buy the building, obtain store development financing and obtain a property tax break through the city.

"It means everything to our business district, which has hung on but without a market has been really, really rough," said Vice Mayor David Mann, who lives in Clifton.

Currently, there are about 1,250 owners in the Clifton Market, Hyland said. Shares are $200 each; the group allows owners to pay $25 every three months over two years. The development team's goal is to have 2,000 share owners by the time the store opens in September. But Hyland acknowledges it might take until year's end to reach that mark.

Earlier this year, the market's development team hired Keith Brock as its general manager. Brock had been store director at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market in Symmes Township and Centerville.

Brock said he plans on hiring his management team in late July and beginning making other staff hires about a month later. At least 75 people could work at the Clifton Market, he said.



Most food co-ops take at least five years to launch, Brock said, but the Clifton Market's development push could be complete in about half the time. That said, the fast fundraising timeline doesn't make the store immune to market realities.

Grocery stores operate with slim profit margins because of high overhead and fixed costs, meaning a large, steady base of customers is needed to sustain it. The market is targeting residents of nearby neighborhoods, University of Cincinnati students and the thousands of people who work in Uptown Cincinnati neighborhoods such as CUF.

Pricing will also have to be competitive with alternatives. Within two miles of the Clifton Market are two Kroger stores – one currently operating in Spring Grove Village and one slated to reopen next year in Corryville.

Brock acknowledges getting people to change their shopping habits can be difficult.

Clifton Market is expected to have 23,000 square feet of retail space featuring organic and locally sourced produce, a butcher, seafood, a deli, a bakery, beer and wine, household cleaning products, health and beauty products, baby food and pet supplies. Signature salads, a juice bar and bread from Sixteen Bricks will be among market attractions, Brock said.

Hyland said cooking and nutrition classes and wine, beer and cheese tastings will be hosted regularly in a cafe space at the front of the market.

"It will be able to compete because of its uniqueness," Brock said. "It will be a destination shop. The people of Clifton and surrounding areas can't wait until this market to open."

For more information, visit cliftonmarket.com