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Mixed use zoning and some rules on what businesses can open would go a long way. Where I live I can walk to a small downtown that spans a few blocks with a trai

Mixed use zoning and some rules on what businesses can open would go a long way. Where I live I can walk to a small downtown that spans a few blocks with a train station. Unfortunately there is no where to buy groceries. There's like 3 ice cream shops, 3 pizza joints, and 9 salons though.

ajmurmann 1y ago
Is there no demand for grocery stores? Seems like they naturally would pop up to fill demand
- bombcar 1y ago
  Grocery stores are pretty low-margin, and need a certain amount of demand (for the size Americans are used to). Some convenience stores get moderately close to being a grocery store. It'd be an interesting experiment to see how few products you could carry (and of course, only one of each type) and have people still willing to shop there.
  - ajmurmann 1y ago
    American-sized grocery stores are relatively new though. When I lived in Germany downtowns had plenty of smaller, specialized stores. There'd be several small butchers, small bakeries and sometimes even a fish monger. Stores that carried produce would usually beer less specialized but there still would be plenty of small ones like Spa and Edeka used to have small locations in walkable areas. And of course proper markets at various frequencies.
  - goosejuice 1y ago
    > It'd be an interesting experiment to see how few products you could carry Liquor store comes to mind. There are two cigar shops, two wine shops and a beer shop downtown. Just weird priorities I guess.
    - bombcar 1y ago
      I meant specifically what the smallest size you could get and people would still see you as a grocery store. Basically, what is the minimum things you need for them to carry?
- goosejuice 1y ago
  We have a very large number of grocery stores. They just aren't in walking distance of the downtown area. So there's demand, but apparently not enough for a bodega with produce.

ajmurmann 1y ago

Is there no demand for grocery stores? Seems like they naturally would pop up to fill demand

bombcar 1y ago
Grocery stores are pretty low-margin, and need a certain amount of demand (for the size Americans are used to). Some convenience stores get moderately close to being a grocery store. It'd be an interesting experiment to see how few products you could carry (and of course, only one of each type) and have people still willing to shop there.
- ajmurmann 1y ago
  American-sized grocery stores are relatively new though. When I lived in Germany downtowns had plenty of smaller, specialized stores. There'd be several small butchers, small bakeries and sometimes even a fish monger. Stores that carried produce would usually beer less specialized but there still would be plenty of small ones like Spa and Edeka used to have small locations in walkable areas. And of course proper markets at various frequencies.
- goosejuice 1y ago
  > It'd be an interesting experiment to see how few products you could carry Liquor store comes to mind. There are two cigar shops, two wine shops and a beer shop downtown. Just weird priorities I guess.
  - bombcar 1y ago
    I meant specifically what the smallest size you could get and people would still see you as a grocery store. Basically, what is the minimum things you need for them to carry?
goosejuice 1y ago
We have a very large number of grocery stores. They just aren't in walking distance of the downtown area. So there's demand, but apparently not enough for a bodega with produce.