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In Akron's Bowery redevelopment project at Lock 4, a grocery store is planned for the ground floor of the historic Landmark Building. The Bowery includes redevelopment of the 12-story Landmark and five smaller retail buildings from 164 to 184 S. Main St. for commercial use and residential housing.

(The Bowery Development group)

AKRON, Ohio - A grocery store is slated for downtown Akron, as part of the $33 million Bowery redevelopment project.

"A fresh food producer is critical for the success of this project," said Beth Borda, vice president of development for DeHoff Development Co. "It's going to be one of our main goals."

The project -- which includes a grocer on the ground floor of the 12-story Landmark building and five smaller retail buildings between Bowery Street and the Akron Civic Theatre -- is led by the Bowery Development Group comprising Canton-based DeHoff and Geis Construction.

The city has wanted to develop this strip since 2008 as demand has steadily grown for downtown residential housing.

Opening a grocery store downtown goes hand-in-hand with boosting residential development, said Danny Basone, owner of El Gato Taqueria and the Lockview on Main Street.

There's a misconception that downtown is like a college town, when in reality many professionals live there, he said.

"We need a proper grocery store," said Basone, who has lived downtown since last June. "It would be cool to walk to a store that had a little bit of everything. Not a Circle K and not a high-end store. We'd want a familiar name."

The Bowery project is considered central to the transformation of Akron's downtown business district. The developers are in the early stages of talks with businesses to fill approximately 60,000 square feet with boutique offices, retail shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

And for the first time in more than 100 years, businesses will open their doors at the canal level on the backside of the buildings at Lock 4 Park. The developers would like to involve businesses associated with the Towpath Trail and the Ohio & Erie Canal, Borda said.

For the first time in more than 100 years, businesses will open shop at the canal level on the backside of the buildings at Lock 4 Park.

The floors above the commercial spaces will provide about 85 market-rate and affordable residential units.

Developers say they can't yet reveal which grocers are being considered for the Landmark.

"It's a little bit of a chicken and egg scenario," Borda said. Residents considering a move into downtown want assurances they can walk to buy fresh and prepared food, and grocers want to be know there will be a population to support it, she said.

But with downtown market-rate housing planned by the Testa Companies for the City Center Hotel and the Law Building soon to be redeveloped to include housing, it makes sense to include a grocer for an urban population traveling mostly by foot to buy food a few times a week.

"It's different than a suburban population that might go to the grocery store to buy enough for a week or even two weeks," Borda said.

The Bowery project is being funded primarily through state and historic tax credits, and private funding. The developers expect to close on financing this fall, break ground in spring 2018 and finish in spring 2019.

cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate.

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