Former Kroger on 15th Street demolished

1/30/17, 5:00 PM

Originally from https://www.wrdw.com/content/news/Kroger-on-15th-Street-to-close-at-the-end-of-February-412191273.html

Sunday, June 25, 2017

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- The former Kroger location in downtown Augusta that closed back in February is being demolished.

Demolition started last Thursday. Patricia Blount's family have lived in the same house since she was 10 years old, and she said a lot has changed.

"We were here when we built that Kroger right there, and we're here when they are tearing it down," Blount said.

Blount said she has to drive three and a half miles to get groceries in North Augusta, something she didn't have to do before.

"A lot of times I didn't feel like driving, and I could just walk to Kroger across the street," Blount said.

She said it's inconvenient for her, but even worse for a majority of the people living in the area.

"I just hate to see it leave for other people that are not able," Blount said.

Ian Mercier is the President of the MCG Foundation, which is in charge of the property.

He said the concrete coming down is a step in the right direction

"Progress is happening but that tangible, we have a store and its being built in a day, is still off in the distance," Mercier said.

For the mean time, Mercier said he has been working with the city and several local foundations like Golden Harvest and Augusta Locally Grown to fix the food desert problem in the area.

"We are interested in helping however we can to create a temporary solution for the food needs," Mercier said.

He said that help might come in the way of a food pantry so people can get low cost canned goods and produce.

Blount said she is happy to hear about that but sad to see what she sees when she looks out her front porch.

"Just gloomy, everything gone," Blount said. "Just memories now that's all."

Thursday, June 22, 2017

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- The former Kroger location in downtown Augusta that closed back in February is being demolished today.

News 12 NBC 26 cameras were rolling as demolition crews began tearing down the building from back to front.

MCG Foundation, owners of the property, intended to demolish the store back in April. They said they received interest from other grocery store tenants in the property.

We've reached out to MCG Foundation to find out if there's an update on the future of the property.

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- People are making do since the 15th St. Kroger closed their doors, but people say they are still struggling.

"It's been very, very hard for the people in the neighborhood since they closed," said Tamera Walker.

Walker counts herself lucky. She can drive to the North Augusta Kroger. She sees people every day who can't.

"So many elderly people in the neighborhood who will ride their wheel chairs or catch the bus right there and it was more convenient," said Walker.

A month after closing The MCG Foundation CEO and President says they don't know when a grocery store will move in, but there has been interest.

"We have some that are ready to start building today. They obviously see a need. So they are interested in building today," said CEO Ian Mercier.

Mercier says there's no timeline and no firm plans on which grocery store will set up shop.

"I don't want to name who they are just now. But its a matter of aligning the plans of the store and what type of store they want to build and how that fits in with the development.," said Mercier.

Once they pick, the building process can take a year or more.

"Last thing we want to do is build a store here and two or three years later they say we can't afford to stay open and they vacate," said Mercier.

"Why would you take the only grocery store close to this area and convenient for people," said Walker.

Mercier says MCG Foundation wants to demolish the old Kroger store by the end of April.

Salvation Army says there has been an increase in people coming into their soup kitchen since the store closed it's doors.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- For 8 years 60 year old veteran Saundra Everett's been able to walk from work, cleaning rooms at the Courtesy Motel, to the grocery store.

"I make a little money every week. I try to wait so I really need something then I'll come and get it in bulk," said Saundra Everett.

Without a car, she carts her groceries home.

Her trip ,and many others, just got a lot more complicated with the closing of the 15th street Kroger.

"You putting everybody else out. The handicap people, the elderly. What are they supposed to do? Take a cart and push it down to the store," said Everett.