Cosentino's Grocery downtown

[beautyfromashes]

You're forgetting about alcohol too.  You're heading home after the concert and decide to get a bottle of wine and sit on the front porch.  That's the place you're going to go.

[schugg]

Even though the store itself closes 10, when does the actual prepared-foods section shut down?

I'm wondering about the possible market for people who want a light meal after getting done seeing a show at the Sprint Center or Midland Theater.

I walked in at 9PM tonight and they were still serving the food but the meats department was starting to shut down.

[trailerkid]

Do other lunch spots have a right to complain about Cosentino's for a decline in business? Everything from Winstead's to Bar Natasha blamed their closing on KC Live.

^Could you guys stop bringing that shit up.  Is idiotic to go there and to pander to those who bring it up.

I wasn't looking for any sort of pandering from these boobs when I brought up anti-urban and defacto classist/racist design paradigms. It's obvious many are incapable of having frank and thoughtful discussion on this board...only cheerleading.

[schugg]

A few pics from earlier tonight:

but where will we park?  lol



Their carts WILL not be all over downtown like TKC thinks.



Mother and child to go shopping.



high shot of salad bar and stuff.



Sushi 

[ignatius]

I ran into the guy stocking wine, whom I've seen before somewhere - I think he's a sommelier.  I asked him about stocking some better midrange ($25-$40) frenchies like from sancerre region, chateauneuf de pape, gigondas rhones, vouvray, etc.  He said they were great suggestions and would bring them in.  He said they are testing the hood to see what they want.

They are very open to carrying anything that is asked for.

[Tom in KC]

I was down there today at about 2PM.  There had to be 300 people there.  They were also erecting the steel support for the AMC Theater sign, which was pretty cool to watch.  I moved here from Portland a little under a year and a half ago and after seeing some actual vitality downtown today, this is the first time that I have thought, "Hmmm, it might be interesting to stick around for a couple more years to see what happens."  When I first moved here, I was riding around downtown on my bike looking at buildings and stuff (architects love to be dorky like that ) and there were cool buildings but the whole thing was just dead and it was depressing.  Now, it's much better because there are actually people around, and it's pretty exciting!

Also, I would have to say that it's maybe 3-5% more expensive to shop there, compared to Sunfresh, which is where I usually go.

[enough]

i wandered through with a friend at lunchtime yesterday.  two observations:

1 - we entered from the sidewalk on 13th at main, but the store seems oriented to the parking garage -- which is not friendly to people approaching on foot from main or walnut.

2 - i had the impression that if i removed any product from a shelf it would spoil their decor.

[mean]

Stopped in for the first time today. Great store! The place was freaking packed, just mobbed with people, but even so the service was friendly and the checkout lines went quickly. It will be so nice to have this on the wife's bus route home every day. Much better selection (obviously) than the Apple Market on Indy Ave. Prices were competitive with other stores, although some things were a bit higher. Nothing outrageous, and no $8.50 apples--the apples were around $3 per pound.

1 - we entered from the sidewalk on 13th at main, but the store seems oriented to the parking garage -- which is not friendly to people approaching on foot from main or walnut.

That's where we went in, the revolving door. Didn't seem hostile or unfriendly to me at all. I thought it rather inviting, even.

[hawkgolfer]

Most apples are $1.69 a pound?  Geez people are whacko

[geeman68]

WELL.  After lunch on the Plaza today, I met up with some friends for coffee at Cosentino's.  We were there from 3 to 5 having coffee and desserts.  The red velvet cupcakes are yummy!  Store was busy busy with lots of different people the whole time we were there.  The AMC logo signage is up on the south and east side of the building and the support steel is up for the BIG MARQUEE.  It is going to be great!

[ChandraNH]

I went  this morning.  Parked in the garage right outside the doors with no trouble.  The place had a ton of people milling about, browsing, buying.  Great selection of food (though as previously noted, not much variety in brands).  Beautiful store and the staff were super helpful.  Great selection of deli meats (try the Finocchiona, pork salami with fennel.  Excellent!) and cheeses. 

I don't think I paid that much more than I normally do and combined with a trip to the City Market for my basic veggies it's actually more convenient.

I could totally see people stopping in after an event at the Sprint Center or a night at the P&L (or if the riverfront were developed into a park-like area) to pick up a baguette, 1/4 pound of salami/cheese, some olives, fruit and water.

One thing I wish they'd change is to lower the produce bags to the bottom of the produce section.  Given where they currently are (for the cold produce items), I can't reach them (I'm 5 feet tall).

The only hiccup is having someone bring my groceries out to my car since you can't take the carts beyond a certain area.  She wouldn't accept a tip and I felt horrible that she had to come out with me.  And I forgot to get my ticket validated, but since the reader was having problems, the girl stationed there just opened the gate for me when she saw that I had a grocery receipt and told me to remember to get it validated next time.

[beautyfromashes]

Also, I would have to say that it's maybe 3-5% more expensive to shop there, compared to Sunfresh, which is where I usually go.

My wife said the same thing.  I said, "I could care less, this is our new grocery store."  She smiled at me like I was a little too into it...I probably am.

[kcdcchef]

all i can tell you downtowners, is shop there for your every goddamned need, and shop as late as you can. make sure the PM stays the norm, and make sure they survive. even when the hiccups occur.

i go buy every damn thing i can at the rosebud market in pittsburgh. prices too high, stock in consistent, but it is a downtown grocer, and i want them to make it.

when i lived on QH, i bought every single thing i could to help the qh pharmacy survive as a viable grocer. others didnt, only bitched about them. you have gotta support this thing. it is all ritz/glamour/hype/problem free right now. that will die down. and then, you gotta stay behind them.

good for you bfa, and many others in this thread. trust me, the other places ( sunfresh ) will survive, fuckem. this place needs a grass roots effot to keep em going full strength.

this forum alone has the core to do that. now go to it guys!!!

[doc]

i wandered through with a friend at lunchtime yesterday.  two observations:

1 - we entered from the sidewalk on 13th at main, but the store seems oriented to the parking garage -- which is not friendly to people approaching on foot from main or walnut.

2 - i had the impression that if i removed any product from a shelf it would spoil their decor.

I've been there several times this week and only entered through the 13th Street doors.  I felt well oriented and didn't find it difficult to navigate based on entering that way.  I simply don't understand the first comment.

With regard to point #2, I assure you the Cosentinos are happy to restock if you take something from the shelf.  That's an odd observation.  Are you saying if it was messy and unorganized it would look more consumer friendly?

[DiggityDawg]

Went there for the 1st time yesterday - I may still hit Slum Fresh & Price Chopper when they have a great sale on something I need to stock up on ( like, say, Cheerios ). But for everything else, this new store is the place for me. Loved it.

And thanks to whoever it was that posted about using the Walnut garage entrance...in & out with no problems.

[hawkgolfer]

I see they have the frozen buffalo meat patties for $5.99 a pound from the KC Buffalo Company.  Does anyone else know where to get fresh buffalo meat or the like in KC?  Thanks

[ignatius]

^The Consentino's in Brookside. 

Sat mornings in City Market there is a guy from south of the metro who sells Buffalo meats, but I'm not sure if he's there in the winter. 

[bahua]

You're forgetting about alcohol too.  You're heading home after the concert and decide to get a bottle of wine and sit on the front porch.  That's the place you're going to go.

Nobody's going to stop there after a concert when it'll have been closed for an hour.

That said, later hours than 10pm may eventually be justified to the management. I hope they are.

[aknowledgeableperson]

do you read the newspaper?  there have been more armed robberies, carjackings, and other shenanigans in olathe in the past year than the p+l district area.  i wouldn't be surprised if the store is robbed eventually (all stores are, sadly), but cmon, are you satisfied with espousing inaccurate, stereotypical, alarmist tripe?

Let's compare size and population of the two.  Doesn't really compare.  Try something else besides Olathe.


Talk about a lame comparison.

[chrizow]

Let's compare size and population of the two.  Doesn't really compare.  Try something else besides Olathe.


Talk about a lame comparison.

no.  i'm not saying it is statistically accurate to compare the downtown area with olathe.  i am simply pointing out the hypocrisy in joining the "THE P+L DISTRICT IS DANGEROUS!!!" chorus when there have not been many significant reports of shenanigans down there.  by contrast, random suburban crimes have been in the news a lot in the past year or so. 

i'm talking about the stories we're telling in the metro area, not making statistical comparisons.  there could be 50 carjackings in Overland Park this month, and a lot of people in Overland Park would still say "OMG DOWNTOWN IS DANGEROUS!!!"