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Sunday, May 19, 2013
7-Eleven opens in downtown Sacramento, minus the alcohol
by Cindy Baker, published on October 29, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Storyline: Midtown News
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After a push by local residents, a 7-Eleven convenience-store chain opened a new location just across from the convention center on the corner of J and 14th streets. They'll serve Slurpees – but no beer, wine, or Lime-A-Ritas.
The Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau initially opposed the 7-Eleven, but changed its position when the store’s franchise owner, Imran Lohdil, opted to not offer alcohol at the new location.
“Our initial concerns were about the sale of alcohol from that location, especially late in the evening and with it being so close to the convention center,” said SCVB spokesman Mike Testa, “but we’re really pleased and very comfortable with the way that things have turned out.”
Author, local historian and Midtown Neighborhood Association Secretary William Burg spearheaded the effort to bring 7-Eleven to its new home, arguing that a convenience store that is open 24 hours would be good for neighbors, the state workers who frequent the area and those who are traveling to the capital city on business.
“I spoke in favor of it,” Burg said. “There has been a need for something like this. On the planning side, we (the MNA) were mindful of the safety and well-being of those in that location, because with it comes lights, activity and people. Those are all things we need in the downtown area.”
While the business has been navigable for the last three weeks, a celebratory grand opening was held on Friday.
“It’s been really busy this whole time since we’ve opened,” said 7-Eleven employee Gavyn Gofal. “I think the neighborhood really needed something like this. Everyone’s been saying how much they like having us here.”
From a late-night toothbrush run to the early-morning donut craving, the well-known chain fills what many have seen as a gap for downtown workers and residents.
“I think it’s a good thing,” said Land Park resident and downtown commuter Bob Perez. “After 5 o’clock, it’s nice to have something open for the people who work, who walk around, who stay in the hotels down here. It’s good to generate life in downtown.”
Correction: This article has been corrected to reflect the fact that the grand opening was held on Friday, not Saturday.
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Obviously this wasn't just about alcohol sales, because the CVB and Sheraton still objected even when the applicant decided against pursuing an alcohol permit. But one thing to keep in mind is that, at other downtown stores (whether or not they sell liquor) you can see who hangs out there only BECAUSE the lights are on. There are also people hanging out in the darkened streetcorners, the difference is that you can't see them. Late-night business doesn't create homeless, nor encourage it--it merely makes an already-existing problem more visible. And one assumes that the more visible the problem becomes, the harder it is to ignore, and the closer we'll get to addressing it instead of pretending it isn't there.
They also weren't alone in their opposition. A representative of the Sheraton Hotel was also present at the January 12, 2012 Planning Commission meeting and spoke in opposition to the 7-11, and he had a letter of support from Sacramento's local hotel association, who opposed the store on the same grounds as SCVB--they felt it would attract the wrong element by being open late.
So, really, no, it wasn't "government" that opposed this 7-11, it was the private sector. Government supported it, residents supported it, but there is an element of the local business community that feels late-night businesses in downtown Sacramento are inappropriate. They were the ones who tried to prevent this store from opening.
The neighbors would like a small grocery store!
My point regarding grocery stores isn't necessarily about 24 hour access, just a store that has more food to offer. I see alot of people from my neighborhood 'grocery' shopping at rite-aid. Yuck! 9 pm closing seems OK. I don't really need ricotta cheese at 3 am. We're stuck with the Grocery Outlet, which isn't too bad, but you can't always get regular items.
If the 24 hour access thing about Denny's moving to Richards is true, it seems very backwards. I used to go to that Denny's in the day, and there really weren't homeless folks there, if that's what they were worried about. Did it turn into a gang haven or something potentially violent at night? It was dirty, but that is the blame of management. And what about tourists whooping it up in Old Sac? They should be able to go have a late night breakfast somewhere within walking distance.
A better downtown grocery store would be a welcome thing--there are limits to what neighborhood markets can stock, although there are still some small markets in Midtown and Southside that make an effort to stock more foodstuffs than chips, candy and a few canned goods--some even offer fresh produce. A move to a more traditional/urban type of downtown grocery store is important--although, in my opinion, what we really need is a full-time downtown farmer's market!
You know, Farley's on K might be a good place for this. Maybe worker bee business during working hours and neighborhoodies after that. Which they already have, they just need to add a big 'produce' aisle. I think they're open until 9pm?? Shoot, grab some lettuce and veggies for dinner after having a beer at K-Bar. Maybe someone could convince them with this whole Farm to Table thing the City wants to promote. Ideally the tiny market on 13th and E could become a perfect candiate, too. I suppose there isn't much markup on produce? Of this, I know nothing...
The real thing missing downtown is residents--back in 1950 there were 58,000 people living in the central city, mostly downtown, today there are about 35,000 people, mostly midtown, due to redevelopment. We had plenty of those "San Francisco style" corner markets then, and a huge, two-story enclosed farmer's market at J and 13th. But when you lose the people, neighborhood businesses fall by the wayside. Until we get the population back, neighborhood retail is tough to support--and without neighborhood retail, it's tough to attract the population. And it certainly doesn't help when the local powers-that-be still think that nobody should live downtown!