The parking situation will be interesting. The building is much larger than the previous structure and that parking lot was too small if you ask me. So small that it probably lost me about $700 a few years back. A friend and I attended a Bwood/NCC playoff game, when we got into the lot we struggled to find a spot. We finally found one, and to the dismay of a very upset Kroger patron we parked, then proceeded to get into a verbal spat for a minute or two. Upon entering I purchased a split the pot and my ticket was one number above the winning number. That altercation possibly cost me that night.

Just an update...I'm still on schedule. :D

 

I heard you guys were actually way ahead of schedule.

 

I too am interested in seeing how the parking, gas pumps and Beechwood tennis courts all get worked into the space around the new building. I hated seeing the trees go down. They were a good buffer to the expressway noise.

I heard you guys were actually way ahead of schedule.

 

I too am interested in seeing how the parking, gas pumps and Beechwood tennis courts all get worked into the space around the new building. I hated seeing the trees go down. They were a good buffer to the expressway noise.

 

As far as the schedule goes, apparently there's a little mis-communication on things. Overall, Kroger is ahead of the originally proposed schedule from back in January or February. Back then, they had projected for an opening date the week before Thanksgiving. However, after the project went out to bid later than planned, Kroger decided to go back and ask for pricing to accelerate the construction schedule from 7 months to 5 months. That being said, under the current schedule, I have to have things complete and ready to turn over to Kroger by the end of September, and the new store is slotted to open in mid-to-late October.

 

The drawing in this post shows you how the fuel station and tennis courts fit into the scheme of things - the tennis courts are being rebuilt to the north, nearer to the expressway, as part of a deal between Kroger and Beechwood.

As a lifelong shopper in the Expressway Plaza, I also would like to see a better entrance/exit to the place. Not sure how I would change it, but people get too agressive (including me) when trying to get out. Too congested in that area.

 

Despite the per person, square feet assurance, I cant believe there will be enough parking. Perhaps for weekdays, but not for weekend/holiday shopping. I am also guessing that Krogers will not have the room to allow people to park there during Beechwood events, which will be a huge problem since Beechwood is undergoing construction of its own, limiting parking spaces. In the past, Krogers has been very generous about that.

 

I wish Krogers could buy that Marathon station and use it for their gas pumps. I am sure it would be outrageously expensive though, and not worth Kroger's investment. However, I do believe that it will hurt that Marathon terribly. Their gas has been the most convenient one in town and therefore the most expensive for years. I know I can't wait to get that discounted gas.

As a lifelong shopper in the Expressway Plaza, I also would like to see a better entrance/exit to the place. Not sure how I would change it, but people get too aggressive (including me) when trying to get out. Too congested in that area.

 

They are adding a right-turn-in/right-turn-out entrance and exit at the north side of the parking lot. I don't know if that will necessarily solve the access issues to and from the parking lot, but I certainly think it will be of some help. As far as the parking for Beechwood goes, I agree, it's going to be pretty darn miserable for football season this year. My thought was that it might not hurt to try arranging a park-and-ride shuttle from the old Thriftway lot. That place is dead enough...I don't see anyone complaining about folks parking there.

I love the idea of a right turn in/out! Remkes in Ft. Mitchell has one and it is great. I especially love it because I turn in right on my way home from work and turn right to go home. Perfect for ME! Glad Krogers was thinking about ME! :sssh:

 

 

Not to :deadhorse:, but here I go. One more parking question. Do you know how many parking spaces per square foot the old store had? Believe it or not, parking has been a big discussion among my friends and I would like to make the comparison. It will be my last parking question/comment I promise.

I love the idea of a right turn in/out! Remkes in Ft. Mitchell has one and it is great. I especially love it because I turn in right on my way home from work and turn right to go home. Perfect for ME! Glad Krogers was thinking about ME! :sssh:

 

 

Not to :deadhorse:, but here I go. One more parking question. Do you know how many parking spaces per square foot the old store had? Believe it or not, parking has been a big discussion among my friends and I would like to make the comparison. It will be my last parking question/comment I promise.

 

A lot of folks don't believe me when I tell them, but there are actually going to be over 100 more spaces at the new building. There were only 221 spaces allotted for the Kroger store previous to the rebuild, and the new parking lot will have 334 spaces for Kroger. The southernmost 3 aisles worth of parking (the three rows that I boxed in red on the drawing of the old plaza below) have always been allotted for use by the other plaza tenants. These are staying unchanged, and then there have been added parking aisles on the north side of the lot where everything has been extended towards the expressway, there has been parking added along the sidewalk between the parking lot and Dixie Highway, and there has been parking added by the pharmacy drive-through and fuel center.

 

Colonels_Wear_Blue, Looks like you all are about done, (I hope as I need food, lol).

Colonels_Wear_Blue, Looks like you all are about done, (I hope as I need food, lol).

 

It's getting close. We're aiming to have a couple days shaved off our schedule, but with the work Kroger will still have to do once we finish - moving in fixtures and stock - it's still looking like it's going to be sometime in October when you finally get to buy your groceries there again.

Turned over the store building to Kroger yesterday. I only have punch-list items to complete at this point. There's still a bit of site work to be completed at the main entrance and the southwest side of the property (kind of by the new loading docks), and depending on when the landlord decides we can proceed, we still have to mill down and cap the remaining parking lot with new asphalt. The fuel center and the rest of the building interior is the responsibility of Kroger.

I was at the pre-opening party tonight at the new Kroger, very nice store.

I was at the pre-opening party tonight at the new Kroger, very nice store.

 

Daaaang, I didn't even get an invite to that, haha.

Daaaang, I didn't even get an invite to that, haha.

 

Not using our Kroger's Plus card, are we?