High-end grocery store to open in Springfield
October 26, 2015
Whole Foods and Trader Joe's may have blown their opportunity to be the first such high end market in Springfield after an announcement that The Fresh Market had signed to be one of the tenants in the Glenstone Marketplace, the site of the old Howard Johnson's/Clarion Conference Center on Glenstone Road in the southern end of the city. Opening will be in fall 2016.

The specialty grocery whose closest store is either St. Louis, Rogers, Arkansas or Overland Park, Kansas defines "fresh" as more than just a name but a part of their culture. As part of the local communities in which they are located as well as the global community, they claim to create a responsible environment--reducing energy consumption and waste generation, being proactive about what, where and how ..the items in their stores are sourced and actively participating as a partner to support national causes and community organizations. Community responsibility means donations to local food banks, No Kid Hungry, to the American Red Cross for disaster relief and other organizations that provide assistance for those in need.

Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, the grocery chain will occupy about 21,000 square feet of the 100,000-square-foot building at 333 S. Glenstone Ave. Other tenants negotiating for space have not yet finalized agreements.

Incentive for redevelopment came after the city of Springfield Council voted last June to approve a community improvement district for this area just south of Erie Street. What this means is that any future stores in what is now called the Glenstone Community Improvement District will be charging additional sales tax to refund public improvements made by the developers, Brad Thessing and Kevin Guffey. The improvements include repaving of a frontage road, relocation of electrical lines and construction of proper access to the site. This additional tax will be in force until the improvements are paid off or after 25 years, whichever comes first.

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