MADISON, Wis. — City of Madison leaders announced Thursday they’re close to finalizing negotiations that would bring a full-service grocery store to the city’s south side.
The new 24,000-square-feet grocery store — if and when finalized — would be run by Kristie Maurer of Maurer’s Urban Market within the Truman Olson development project located at 815 Cedar St. Plans for the site also include 150 units of affordable housing.
“I am very pleased that we are delivering on the City’s promise to ensure that a full-service grocery store will continue to serve all South Madison residents from now into the future,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
While an opening date hasn’t been finalized, city leaders said the new market would open prior to the closure of the existing Pick ‘n Save located on South Park Street, next to the Truman Olson site.
Efforts to find a replacement for the soon-to-close grocery store have faced several roadblocks in recent years since area residents raised concerns that development projects would turn the area into a food desert.
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Last year, Luna’s Groceries, a Madison grocery startup on the city’s southwest side, backed out of plans to take over a dedicated grocery space in the Truman Olson development project due to scale and timeframe limitations.
Maurer, a Madison native and owner of the planned store, said she’s “thrilled” to take on the project.
“This has been a dream of mine and I could not be more excited to be opening my first grocery store in my hometown,” she said. “You will be able to find all your everyday staples, plus a large selection of fresh produce, meat and seafood, and a large deli/bakery offering.”
Before the project can move forward, city leaders will need to finalize their purchase of the grocery store space from the building’s developers. The city will then lease the space to Maurer’s Urban Market, ensuring the neighborhood continues to have access to fresh food.
“South Madison has never been without a grocery store going back to the 1950s and moving forward,” District 14 Alder Sheri Carter said. “I was confident that we would deliver a full-service grocery store once again. I welcome Kristie Maurer to the vibrant South Madison community.”
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