Cosentino's Grocery downtown

[Beermo]

The white aspect has more to do with the FACT that most using sidewalks or riding public transit in this city are of color. Most with personal transportation-- those planning to use the Cosentino's grocery parking garage-- are white. The KCMO urban pedestrians are treated once again as second class while the suburbadroid drivers (mostly white) are catered to in the most dense, pedestrian oriented intersection in the metro. Failing to acknowledge the HUGE racial divide and racism in this city gets us nowhere as it relates directly to the lack of urban amenities. This metro will never get anywhere as long as true urbanism is associated with poor, black people that white people can just drive past. In all honesty, a sparkling light rail line(s) going up and down Main or Troost would've done more for race relations than anything in the last 50 years.

I think the store is kick-ass. I'm just put-off that Cosentino's doesn't have the BALLS to put the registers in the front of the store where they logically belong. It's really just insane to have that suburban mindset even when you are surrounded by transit and highrises. It is my hope that Cosentino's cannot accommodate the customers at the front entrance and is forced to install more in-line checkout lanes and minimizes the ones attached the garage. How do we lease spin-off retail storefronts around the grocery if everyone parks at the back entrance? It's no different than Hy-Vee building in a new shopping center and having everyone enter/exit the store through the back door ignoring the small shops around it.  

interesting how the placement of cash registers triggers a manifesto against racism. then again it's also interesting how white folks are again left out and made to beg for public transportation and sidewalks.

i'm just put off that trailerkid doesn't have the BALLS to exit his trailer and hit the pay phone and call al sharpton up to help remedy the situation.  

i'm also put off that trailerkid doesn't use his humor to bring more laughter to other threads.

i do enjoy watching folks attempt to justify driving to a grocery store store because of what one idiot says on a forum. i've had to explain things that i've done in life, but driving to the grocery store will not be one of them, especially to a kid in a trailer.

[KCMax]

I think the irony is that the parking garage will probably be well frequented by black residents on the east side who have precious few grocery options in their neighborhoods.

[voltopt]

Either way it will be a fabulous community asset, whether it is accessed from the garage or the street corner.  The fact that there are options is of itself a progressive stance.
The racial politics and passive aggressive segregation of Kansas City is well known by most people who post here.  I imagine the "white people" comments are suggestive sensationalism designed to bring these taboo subjects into the primary discussion.  I tend to agree with this tactic - but only when applied in a thoughtful way to a relevant subject.  In this thread it seems designed to derail a topic, not further a discussion. 

[trailerkid]

i agree with your sentiments regarding the racial dynamics in this city, but i doubt even a grad student in race theory would unearth race bias in the orientation of cash registers at the cosentino's!   :lol:

i would also highly doubt that many transit users of any color will be taking the 12 over to cosentino's to buy groceries.  it's an mid to upscale grocery store.  true to urban form, it will cater to residents and others in the vicinity.  thus, yes, it is catering to loft/apt dwellers and downtown office workers - which, as you may have noticed in your many years living in kcmo, are a diverse lot. 

the downtown cosentino's does not need to appeal to the 12th and chestnut or 33rd and bales crowd - or the 55th and grand crowd for that matter.  those folks are free to go there, of course, but an urban grocery by definition is going to serve a pretty local population. 

I don't know what the "33rd and bales crowd" implies...working poor people of color I'm guessing? Those that work at "unskilled" retail jobs maybe? Remember that Cosentino's claimed to carry cheap to high end. That was criteria the store director talked about in that video blog. The store isn't supposed to be Whole Foods crowd only, although it definitely appeals to that bland and useless segment of the population by offering an attached parking garage.

The point is there is no effort to detach privileged whites from his/her automobile even when it's subsidized by the city. Cosentino's and orientation towards the parking garage is reinforcing racist norms and suburban perceptions. I pray there is a charge for that parking.

See...I can get threads just as stupid as the rest of you while actually talking about the city instead of religion, the Chiefs, or the need for more Starbucks on the KS side.

[chrizow]

I think the irony is that the parking garage will probably be well frequented by black residents on the east side who have precious few grocery options in their neighborhoods.

what?  tk said that black people don't use cars!

actually, the "east side" has quite a few grocery stores (or good access to ones in midtown), albeit not of the Cosentino's Gourmet Market ilk. 

* Thriftway on Main
* Thriftway on Prospect
* Thriftway at 39th and Elmwood
* Price Chopper at Indep Ave and Topping
* Westport SunFresh
* Aldi on Paseo
* Aldi on Indep Ave
* Aldi on Troost
* Save-A-Lot on Truman Rd
* Save-A-Lot on Troost (is this still open?)
* Linwood Super Foods (i know)
* the new Sun Fresh at Blue Parkway and Elmwood
* AppleMarket at 47th and Forest
* Myriad neighborhood-level mexican, middle eastern, and corner markets on the east side and northeast
* that grocery store at, i believe, 31st and bales or something
* various stores in western independence, far east kc, western raytown etc. that are closer to parts of east and northeast KC than 12/Main

I'm not saying that residents in east KC are not underserved in many ways, but there are definitely grocery stores there.  i don't see why the downtown Cosentino's has to be oriented for these folks? 

[trailerkid]

what?  tk said that black people don't use cars!

link?

Privileged white people don't use transit (i.e. buses) like people of color in this metro. We wouldn't even have any urbanity left at all if it wasn't for the courage of the city's transit riders. Parking garages on every block and cash registers facing parking garages reinforces de-urbanization.

MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO DRIVE ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE.

In real cities people don't drive everywhere. They do that in Phoenix.

[bbqboy]

I don't know what the "33rd and bales crowd" implies...working poor people of color I'm guessing? Those that work at "unskilled" retail jobs maybe? Remember that Cosentino's claimed to carry cheap to high end. That was criteria the store director talked about in that video blog. The store isn't supposed to be Whole Foods crowd only, although it definitely appeals to that bland and useless segment of the population by offering an attached parking garage.

The point is there is no effort to detach privileged whites from his/her automobile even when it's subsidized by the city. Cosentino's and orientation towards the parking garage is reinforcing racist norms and suburban perceptions. I pray there is a charge for that parking.

See...I can get threads just as stupid as the rest of you while actually talking about the city instead of religion, the Chiefs, or the need for more Starbucks on the KS side.

Again, why should a private, for profit business be saddled with the responsibility of changing social norms?

[voltopt]

I'd venture that the downtown Cosentino's is geared towards its demographics - which includes a large group of people who would be considered "poor" or "disadvantaged".  Of course many of the people who use the store will be the sushi & soy milk type, to generalize a bit.  But it is also adjacent to almost every bus line in the city - and it will be the most comprehensive, well put together store for miles around.  Don't be surprised if it reflects the true character of greater downtown and not just the single/condo set.  For this reason, in addition to the commuters who work downtown and the urban loft dweller, the store should be very successful.  

[trailerkid]

Again, why should a private, for profit business be saddled with the responsibility of changing social norms?

Because it was SUBSIDIZED by taxpayers.

Further, you are assuming that "private, for profit business" doesn't thrive with urban design. Walk through a couple urban Safeway or Jewel stores.

[Beermo]

The point is there is no effort to detach privileged whites from his/her automobile even when it's subsidized by the city. Cosentino's and orientation towards the parking garage is reinforcing racist norms and suburban perceptions. I pray there is a charge for that parking.

and the point of your post is to dream up something so nutty that it seems true.

good job and i really must salute you in taking one of the most inoffensive things (grocery store), twisting it around, straightening it out and then turning it into a scathing rebuke of whites on wheels. so much so in fact that they are now apologizing for not only driving to the store, but for being white. clearly you have figured out what makes the pea-brains on this board tick.

[chrizow]

I don't know what the "33rd and bales crowd" implies...working poor people of color I'm guessing? Those that work at "unskilled" retail jobs maybe?

no, i used 12/Chestnut and 33/Bales (and 55/Grand) as examples of areas of KC that are far away from the Cosentino's, thus the Cosentino's does not need to try and accommodate them.  thanks for the marxist/race-theory reading of my comments though.  why would an upscale grocery downtown need to try and attract people from several miles away - who travel by car as well as bus?  and do you really think the people who choose to travel to the downtown Cosentino's by transit will really notice or be offended by the orientation of the registers?  again, it's still the most urban grocery store built in at least 75 years in a several hour radius of KC.  the "working poor people of color" have many (suburban-style) groceries in their neighborhoods (see above) - at least one of which was "subsidized" by taxpayers.  this doesn't mean they can't or won't go to the downtown cosentino's of course, but i just don't see why the cosentino's needs to think about the needs of folks who live far away.  the downtown store is primarily for condo dwellers, conventioneers, and downtown workers. 

The store isn't supposed to be Whole Foods crowd only, although it definitely appeals to that bland and useless segment of the population

seriously?

The point is there is no effort to detach privileged whites from his/her automobile even when it's subsidized by the city. Cosentino's and orientation towards the parking garage is reinforcing racist norms and suburban perceptions. I pray there is a charge for that parking.

this is beyond ridiculous. 

(1) do you think people of color do not drive in this city?  have you ever been to a grocery store in KCMO?  serious question.  the large parking lots of midtown and east side grocery stores are teeming with "working class people of color" who traveled there in personal vehicles.

(2) the downtown cosentino's is, again, probably the most transit-friendly grocery store in the entire metro area.  the orientation of the registers, and presence of the parking garage, does not change this. 

(3) grocery stores in urban areas frequently have parking garages (or surface lots!) attached to them.  have you ever been to a Dominick's or Whole Foods store in Chicago?  The Wedge or other groceies in downtown/uptown Minneapolis?  what about Fairway or Zabar's in Manhattan?  they frequently have parking garages or parking lots.  while i would like to see a 100% auto-free society one of these days, i don't think that the Cosentino's is deficient b/c it offers parking just like similar stores in much, much more dense and urban cities.

[trailerkid]

and the point of your post is to dream up something so nutty that it seems true.

good job and i really must salute you in taking one of the most inoffensive things (grocery store), twisting it around, straightening it out and then turning it into a scathing rebuke of whites on wheels. so much so in fact that they are now apologizing for not only driving to the store, but for being white. clearly you have figured out what makes the pea-brains on this board tick.

Visit an urban grocery store in any one of the dozens of US cities that have them. Cosentino's is one of the most beautiful, but they are the exception when it comes to designing checkout around a parking garage.

Again, the store is beautiful with windows well-integrated to the street level. My only small issue is the checkouts and the thinking behind them.

[Beermo]

stop defending yourselves from things you haven't done. it's sad and unbecoming.

[voltopt]

Because it was SUBSIDIZED by taxpayers.

I'd venture that this grocery store is a step in the right direction, but not the penultimate moment.
The mindset of the past 50 years has been convenience for automobiles.  We all know that the movement and storage of personal vehicles, coupled with a latent fear of racial differences, has been the driving factor in the destruction and deurbanization of Kansas City.
This store is not the ANSWER to our present auto-reliance and ignorance of thoughtful development, but it is a step in the right direction because it contributes to a more urban future.  Lets say its 50% correct, instead of 0% correct, like Sun Fresh.  The current design of the store will encourage further urban development whilst ensuring financial success - and that means we can continue to expect more urban solutions and less of a reliance on autos as our local population matures towards a more pedestrian lifestyle.  
Obviously this store will not solve our urban problems - but don't fail to see the good it does, and the potential it advocates.  We need to continue to educate our populace that we are in a process of rebirth - its obvious we have a long way to go - and this process requires fundamental changes in how we live.  It doesn't happen overnight - but don't lose sight of the forest for the trees.  

[chrizow]

Visit an urban grocery store in any one of the dozens of US cities that have them.

with the exception of some stores in manhattan that i've been to, 100% of grocery stores i have been to in other large cities have parking for people who choose to drive - often free or validated parking. 

* whole foods and dominick's in the north and northwest sides of chicago
* dominick's on the south side of chicago
* the wedge and two other groceries i went to in minneapolis
* two safeways i saw (but did not shop at) in san francisco
* whole foods, trader joes, fairway, etc. in manhattan (some had parking, some didn't).  newer grocery stores i saw in w-burg and downtown brooklyn had parking garages.

[KCPowercat]

I'm so confused...I just wanted a grocery store...I don't care where the registers are...I assume if I am walking or driving, they will check me out where ever the registers are located and I will be free to use any of their exits.

My question is why the the lights in the store WHITE?

[shaffe]

I think a "development" thread has finally achieved the average absurdity level of most "sports" threads.

[voltopt]

with the exception of some stores in manhattan that i've been to, 100% of grocery stores i have been to in other large cities have parking for people who choose to drive - often free or validated parking. 

* whole foods and dominick's in the north and northwest sides of chicago
* dominick's on the south side of chicago
* the wedge and two other groceries i went to in minneapolis
* two safeways i saw (but did not shop at) in san francisco
* whole foods, trader joes, fairway, etc. in manhattan (some had parking, some didn't).  newer grocery stores i saw in w-burg and downtown brooklyn had parking garages.

Not to further this arguement, but I went to two Safeways on Capital Hill in Seattle whose entrances faced a parking lot on Broadway - this stretch of city is similar in scale to Midtown Kansas City and is about 2 miles from downtown Seattle.
Also, the Whole Foods in downtown Austin faces a massive parking lot, as does a handful of CVS off or near Halsted in very urban North Chicago...

[WSPanic]

link?

Privileged white people don't use transit (i.e. buses) like people of color in this metro. We wouldn't even have any urbanity left at all if it wasn't for the courage of the city's transit riders. Parking garages on every block and cash registers facing parking garages reinforces de-urbanization.

MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO DRIVE ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE.

In real cities people don't drive everywhere. They do that in Phoenix.

Yeah - no one drives in LA. Or Chicago. Or Atlanta. Or Detroit. You have an oversimplified definition of urbanity that applies to very few cities. This isn't Europe.

Because it was SUBSIDIZED by taxpayers.

And most taxpayers are car-dependent drivers.

[voltopt]

Yeah - no one drives in LA. Or Chicago. Or Atlanta. Or Detroit. You have an oversimplified definition of urbanity that applies to very few cities. This isn't Europe.

And most taxpayers are car-dependent drivers.

Your comment about Europe reminds me - the Tesco in central Prague has checkouts facing the parking garage, not the main street entrance (although they are close to each other)