Administrators push to bring grocery store to area

Many students have complained about the lack of adequate grocery stores on and around campus. College senior Micah Selya often makes the 10-minute drive to the Pathmark grocery store at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue to stock his refrigerator. Selya is one of the many students forced to shop off campus because of the limited number of grocery stores on and around the University campus. But administrators -- who acknowledge that University City and West Philadelphia are underserviced by area grocery stores -- have begun efforts to attract a store to the area, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. "The University is very interested in exploring ways to bring a terrific neighborhood grocery store to this area," Fry said. He added that administrators have begun "preliminary negotiations with providers." Possible options include an outlet from the Fresh Fields/Whole Foods grocery store chain, which opened a new store near the Philadelphia Museum of Art January 8. "Among others, that's an option that looks particularly attractive," Fry said. A spokesperson for the Austin, Tex.-based chain -- which operates 16 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region -- said the chain hasn't held any discussions with the University about a possible move to the area. But Fry said attracting a business to campus creates a "tricky proposition." "We have to convince the market it is worthwhile pursuing this area," he explained, adding that stores have "not been interested" previously. Several students expressed confidence that a large grocery store would thrive at Penn. "I think a grocery store would do well on campus," College sophomore Jason Mirvis said. "There are things people need that they can't get from the grocery stores on campus." But a lack of available on-campus space makes it even more difficult for the University to bring grocery stores to the area, according to Ed Datz, who works at University City Associates. UCA manages the properties in Hamilton Village and the 3401 Walnut Shops at Penn complex. "There has been exploration with bringing stores in the past -- but there's limited available space," Datz said. "That's something that is still a consideration." And UCA General Manager John Greenwood -- who described site restrictions as a "hurdle" -- added that UCA has not identified a possible campus location for a grocery store. Greenwood said site selection for a grocery store becomes difficult in this "very dense area" because the stores require extensive parking and building space. But he described the University's current efforts to attract a grocer as "proactive." "We are trying to deliver to the students things that we think will make the campus a more attractive place," Greenwood said. "UCA and Penn want to make the West Philadelphia area a more desirable place." Students have often expressed dissatisfaction with their current grocery store options -- including Thriftway, Campus Market and Wawa convenience stores -- which they say do not meet their needs. The Thriftway Supermarket at 43rd and Walnut streets poses both an inconvenience and a safety hazard, according to Nursing freshman Matija Cale, who said she is "uncomfortable" walking to the store, especially at night. "I've been to Thriftway a few times, but it's kind of dirty and not in a very nice neighborhood," she said.