New Grocery Store for Old Co-Op Site

Henry's Farmers Market, which tries to replicate the shopping experience of produce stands and neighborhood butcher shops of the 1950s, is set to open next summer on the 2.8-acre site that housed the former Co-op grocery store. 

That is if the city gives an OK to a proposal submitted by Hall Equities Group. The developer has filed an application for a General Plan Amendment and a design review. Hall Equities wants to raze the 24,862-square-foot Co-op building and replace it with three new retail buildings totaling 34,598 square feet.

The anchor tenant would be the 25,000-square-foot Henry's Farmers Market. 

Henry's stores, which were established in 1943, sells produce, fresh meats, and deli foods, as well as vitamins, supplements, and all-natural foods, including bulk grains, nuts and candy, whole grain sprouted breads.

Developer Mark Hall said his company had four grocery retailers interested in the site. "All were smaller 'neighborhood market' type concepts," he said. "We felt that Henry's was the best fit for us from a business standpoint, and was an excellent fit for the site and the particular market area which they will serve."

He adds that Henry's is "at the cutting edge" of the fresh produce "locavore" movement.

Beyond bringing this grocery store to Walnut Creek, Hall said his company is very excited to spearhead the effort to clean up the Co-op eyesore, "which is a true blight to the immediate neighborhood and north Walnut Creek generally."

The Co-op closed down in the 1970s, and has been vacant ever since. The site is currently designated for "mixed-use residential." Development of the site has been complicated by height restrictions imposed by Measure A. Under Measure A, a new structure there can only be 20 feet high, a restriction that city staff has said would limit its potential as a site for a new housing complex.

Hall Equities needs that land use designation to change to "commercial."  Hence, the request for the General Plan amendment.