I received some solid information from an anonymous source that the Homeland on Classen and about NW 17th is finally realizing it is downtown's grocery store (at least for the time being). They also realize they also serve the nearby upper income Mesta Park and Heritage Hills neighborhoods. They are meeting with some reps from Chamber of Commerce and exploratory committees to see what they can do to improve the store, including it's look.

I'll post more info when I hear more.......Stay Tuned!

Cool. That's really a close enough location. If there were a market where you can pick up quick things like milk or dinner fixings closer in, that Homeland is certainly close enough for staple buying trips.

Betts, agreed it will do for now until we get one downtown. Sage Market will be a quick fix for milk, eggs, bread and Homeland (if revitalized) can be the once a week stop. Hopefully we'll get a trolley stop there soon.

I like that store quite a bit actually. They carry different thigns than Walmart.

Living only 5 blocks away (it is at 18th & Classen, btw), it is the main place my wife I have shopped for many years. My main complaint about store is that it tends to have fewer choices (of the same product) than larger stores ... it's pretty good size but not huge. It has a small deli but nothing special ... but I rarely want anything from the deli, so that's not important to me. The Wal-Mart Neighborhood store west of Penn on NW 23rd has better choices and lower prices, but we keep going to the Homeland store to support the neighborhood store.

I was in that store last night and was actually quite impressed. It is small but is very clean and not bad looking. We are looking at moving closer to downtown and would not mind shopping there at all.

I think a facelift of some sort would go a long ways. But if they could make it more upscale like the one at May & Britton, that would go a long ways towards changing their image. They could also pick up some organic and specialty items.

I think a facelift of some sort would go a long ways. But if they could make it more upscale like the one at May & Britton, that would go a long ways towards changing their image. They could also pick up some organic and specialty items.

They do have quite a bit of organic and specialty items, but they could/should add more. I agree, it needs to be upscale like May and Britton. I like that one as they have items similar to Whole Foods, olive bar, grain bar, etc.

That has been my preferred store for some years now due to location. I wish that it were larger with more choices and I wish that it carried more meat selections, specifically lamb cuts and flank steak.

More solid and anonymous sources....

their JENO's Pizzas are $1.25... which is absurd! however, if neighborhood market or wal-mart is out of them... i'll pay the extra 25 cents.

btw, i think the place is kinda gross.

Anyone have any photos of this store?

I drive 10 blocks to visit Homeland on 18th to avoid the Walmart a few away. Less choices but I would rather have smaller lines and less evil walmart any day. I was upset when walmart ran our local IGA out of Business. The city really messed up on letting walmart ruin the area and run out lots of local businesses.

There's a lovely Homeland at 12th and Alameda in Norman. I heard it used to be an Albertson's- the interior is really nice: very clean, cool decor, little coffee shop in the middle. Something like that would work well as a downtown aesthetic I think.

There's a lovely Homeland at 12th and Alameda in Norman. I heard it used to be an Albertson's- the interior is really nice: very clean, cool decor, little coffee shop in the middle. Something like that would work well as a downtown aesthetic I think.

no, it would never work downtown.

it would only work if everything in the store cost *at least* 3 times the amount it does anywhere else in the city and if there was an enforced dresscode of only outfits that cost at least $500, nothing off-the-rack.

otherwise it would clash with everything else being built and opened downtown.

Why do so many resent anything nice going in downtown and want everything on the cheap? There is a place for both, but we need to aspire for OKC downtown to be other than cheep city. Attracting people who spend money and let people make a profit attracts more businesses and gives more people an opportunity to make a good living.

no, it would never work downtown.

it would only work if everything in the store cost *at least* 3 times the amount it does anywhere else in the city and if there was an enforced dresscode of only outfits that cost at least $500, nothing off-the-rack.

otherwise it would clash with everything else being built and opened downtown.

What are you trying to say?

I drive 10 blocks to visit Homeland on 18th to avoid the Walmart a few away. Less choices but I would rather have smaller lines and less evil walmart any day. I was upset when walmart ran our local IGA out of Business. The city really messed up on letting walmart ruin the area and run out lots of local businesses.


Less choice??? Funny, I shop at Homeland because I think they have a better selection. Especially if you cook and need something special.

I'm with you platemaker. They might not have the sheer volume of selection, but their brands are better, in my mind.

They actually do have a reasonable selection of things. There was only one thing at the store the other day that I wanted which they were currently out of. They have a reasonable selection of organic goods that wal-mart doesn't carry, and they also don't carry the screaming children, annoying employees, and people who take up entire aisles like wal-mart does!

I received some solid information from an anonymous source that the Homeland on Classen and about NW 17th is finally realizing it is downtown's grocery store (at least for the time being). They also realize they also serve the nearby upper income Mesta Park and Heritage Hills neighborhoods. They are meeting with some reps from Chamber of Commerce and exploratory committees to see what they can do to improve the store, including it's look.

I'll post more info when I hear more.......Stay Tuned!

Another update, again from an anonymous source I've heard Homeland might even shut down this store completely and reopen a more modern store downtown that would cater to a more urban crowd. I suppose time will tell where this story leads........

the homeland store on 18th, near classen, is pretty cool. the downside, I always get the itchies from my bullet proof vest while shopping, on a positive note, I always have plenty of takers for my spare change while walking through the parking lot.

Another update, again from an anonymous source I've heard Homeland might even shut down this store completely and reopen a more modern store downtown that would cater to a more urban crowd. I suppose time will tell where this story leads........

That would be very cool. I keep thinking surely one of the local chains has the vision to do this.

the homeland store on 18th, near classen, is pretty cool. the downside, I always get the itchies from my bullet proof vest while shopping, on a positive note, I always have plenty of takers for my spare change while walking through the parking lot.

I go there all the time... it is NOT that bad. Just not really pretty on the outside.

the homeland store on 18th, near classen, is pretty cool. the downside, I always get the itchies from my bullet proof vest while shopping, on a positive note, I always have plenty of takers for my spare change while walking through the parking lot.
My conclusion, then, is that you might just be a bit paranoid and/or maybe a bit sheltered in your exposure to a wide range of income groups (no disrespect intended). I shop there probably 3 times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, for short or long trips and have been doing so for about 20 years. Of course, I live in the general neighborhood, about 4-5 blocks east, so maybe it's just that I'm used to the perils which concern you. :) I've lived in my present home on NW 19th for about 12 years now and I have never had any "crime" problems (other than the white guy living diagonally across the street who seems hell bent to get into trouble), even though the Mesta Park area is definitely a mix of high, medium, and low income people -- quite a melting pot, really. I'm in the medium group. While I've never considered the Homeland store to be "cool" (it's just an ordinary and nothing special grocery store), it's my neighborhood store and I tend to favor it for convenience and to support it staying there. Prices are somewhat higher than other places for the same things (my wife seems to think that her darn cat has to eat a small can of some kind of canned cat food 2x daily ... the same cans are 20 cents less per can at the Walmart grocery on NW 23rd, west of Penn); but, generally, I'm happy with it -- its produce is quite good and its meats are at least average if not a little better. But, ain't no way that it's ever going to measure up to, for example, an H-E-B in Texas. Not gonna happen (nor is any other Homeland in Okc, for that matter).

But ... concern for safety issues? That has never even entered my mind. And it's pretty rare that I'm encountered by a homeless person looking for a handout there ... it has happened, and when it does I sometimes I give a little, but that sort of thing doesn't happen nearly as frequently as I experience it downtown. I don't recall a person asking for a handout in the last 6-10 months at the Homeland.

the homeland store on 18th, near classen, is pretty cool. the downside, I always get the itchies from my bullet proof vest while shopping, on a positive note, I always have plenty of takers for my spare change while walking through the parking lot.

Oh you have got to be kidding .. have you ever been to a real big city? That part of town is fine. Yes, you are in a city and should watch out for yourself, but it's nothing like you described one bit.

There are much worse parts of OKC than that area, even the area that my parents live by is probably worse and I know it is further west of them on NW 10th Street in the area where the pizza delivery driver was killed. I would have no issues buying a home in either area east or west of Classen by that Homeland.

OMG... I was just at the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market ar 23rd and MacArthur.... talk about gross!!! Just had to point out that not all Wal-Marts are shiny!

OMG... I was just at the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market ar 23rd and MacArthur.... talk about gross!!! Just had to point out that not all Wal-Marts are shiny!

right exactly why city council needs to stop giving them the ok. The grocery's in that area they ran out of business were much better kept up.

When that one first opened it was pretty nice, now it looks about the Wal-Mart store that was in there before it moved to I-40 & MacArthur.

That neighborhood market didn't run anybody out, the Homeland at 23rd & Ann Arbor was doomed by management, Snyders was very good until ownership changed, Crest in there is better than the Snyders.

I shop that Wamart quite frequently, and its no more gross than Homeland.

You drive over to 23rd and MacArthur from J-Park?

I was in the 18th & Classen Homeland at 8 am getting some last minute cooking things this morning and met Brian Davis, TV announcer for the Thunder! I told him that I thought he was doing a good job and welcome to Oklahoma City. He was very friendly and gracious. No homeless or worrisome people were observed. ;)

You drive over to 23rd and MacArthur from J-Park?

My bad. This Homeland is usually compared to the nieghborhood market at 23rd and Penn. I didn't read that post very well =)

I'd just like to echo the sentiments about the safety of the Homeland at 18th and Classen. I, too, shop there quite a bit and I have never been asked for change or even approached by anybody that I can remember. Safety is never an issue for me at that store. Sure, maybe everyone doesn't look or dress like me, but I don't take that as a reason to feel unsafe.

It can definitely use some sprucing up though. Most of our shopping is split between there, the Wal-Mart neighborhood market, and the Homeland on 39th and Penn. I think if any one of them upped their game a little bit, they could easily become the only place I shop.

My bad. This Homeland is usually compared to the nieghborhood market at 23rd and Penn. I didn't read that post very well =)

I thought so. :) On the contrary, the 23rd & Penn Neighborhood Market is shockingly nice, clean, and not overrun with people like every other Walmart.

i regularly hit up the neighborhood market at 23rd and penn quite a lot! i usually stroll in around 2 or 3 in the morning... and it's always quick and easy.

Another update, again from an anonymous source I've heard Homeland might even shut down this store completely and reopen a more modern store downtown that would cater to a more urban crowd. I suppose time will tell where this story leads........

I saw an old friend tonight who is one of the higher ups with Homeland and he said they have no plans to put in a new store downtown and when I asked why, he chuckled and said very matter of factly, crime.

He's also told me in the past that they have no interest in pushing for wine and view it as more trouble than it would be worth.

There's less crime downtown than at 18th and Classen or 39th and Penn.

I saw an old friend tonight who is one of the higher ups with Homeland and he said they have no plans to put in a new store downtown and when I asked why, he chuckled and said very matter of factly, crime.

He's also told me in the past that they have no interest in pushing for wine and view it as more trouble than it would be worth. Well hopefully, Central Market or Tom Thumb or WF will come into the OKC market and put Homeland out of business. When I lived in OKC, Homeland had some of the most gross, disgusting stores around. I just find it hard to believe that a higher up from Homeland would make such a narrow minded ignorant statement that wine would be to much trouble? Sounds like a typical, lazy minded idiot that does not want to have OKC progress into the 21st century. The liquor laws in Oklahoma are archaic and even my Texas friends are amazed how ignorant and dumb they are. Even though I wish OKC the very best it will always have to play second fiddle to a more pro business, progressive state like Texas.

Well hopefully, Central Market or Tom Thumb or WF will come into the OKC market and put Homeland out of business. When I lived in OKC, Homeland had some of the most gross, disgusting stores around. I just find it hard to believe that a higher up from Homeland would make such a narrow minded ignorant statement that wine would be to much trouble? Sounds like a typical, lazy minded idiot that does not want to have OKC progress into the 21st century. The liquor laws in Oklahoma are archaic and even my Texas friends are amazed how ignorant and dumb they are. Even though I wish OKC the very best it will always have to play second fiddle to a more pro business, progressive state like Texas.

Homeland isn't keeping anybody out of Oklahoma. Walmart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets are. Walmart now has a sixty percent market share of the grocery business in the state.

Texas's progressive liquor laws include dry counties still in the Dallas Metroplex.

Texas's progressive liquor laws include dry counties still in the Dallas Metroplex.
Close, most of the dry counties are out in the panhandle area around Lubbock. Dallas is wet/dry by voting district, so you could have three corners wet and one corner dry. That is why there are a bunch of liquor stores on Greenville just south of Royal Lane because the wet/dry line is on the creek that is just north of there. Most of the rest of Texas is just fully wet or dry.

The fact of the matter is, most states have some screwy liquor laws because those that do not want liquor to be available tend to have a large hand in writing the access laws. Oklahoma is unique because of the private package store lobby is so strong. In Boston, the Whole Foods did not have beer/wine as it is only sold in package stores.

I saw an old friend tonight who is one of the higher ups with Homeland and he said they have no plans to put in a new store downtown and when I asked why, he chuckled and said very matter of factly, crime.

He's also told me in the past that they have no interest in pushing for wine and view it as more trouble than it would be worth.

Maybe your friend is not in the know. I heard this from a very credible source as has Steve Lackmeyer and he did a post on his blog about it.

Just another thought on the downtown grocery store. What about the SE corner of 3rd and Walnut? There is that church just south, but all of the other surrounding areas are residential. It would be walking distance for Deep Deuce, Brownstones, Maywood Lofts, The Leslie and close enough for Block 42 as well. According to the OKCA, it is owned by the City of OKC.

"I saw an old friend tonight who is one of the higher ups with Homeland and he said they have no plans to put in a new store downtown and when I asked why, he chuckled and said very matter of factly, crime."

Metro is right. Your friend may be a higher up, but he's clearly out of the loop.

"I saw an old friend tonight who is one of the higher ups with Homeland and he said they have no plans to put in a new store downtown and when I asked why, he chuckled and said very matter of factly, crime."

Metro is right. Your friend may be a higher up, but he's clearly out of the loop.

I have a lot of respect for you Steve and know you wouldn't report something like this without a good source.

My friend talked like he was very certain and he is on the risk management/store security side of the business.

I should see him again in the next week or so and I'll press him further.

If your source is correct, when do you expect an announcement?

Just another thought on the downtown grocery store. What about the SE corner of 3rd and Walnut? There is that church just south, but all of the other surrounding areas are residential. It would be walking distance for Deep Deuce, Brownstones, Maywood Lofts, The Leslie and close enough for Block 42 as well. According to the OKCA, it is owned by the City of OKC.

If memory serves right, this is the site they proposed to Braums a few months back. Braums wasn't interested in the downtown market. Not surprised with their backwards way of thinking on so many issues.

Metro, I don't think Braum's was uninterested. The considered it but ultimately decided they didn't want to be the first to take the risk downtown.

I wouldn't think the leisurely, nevah evah hurry pace that I tend to encounter in Braum's wouldn't gell well with a vibrant on the go area.

Could be wrong, but but even a turtle lover like me finds the pace slow, it's slow. :)

Thanks Southside. Again, I have no doubt as to what your friend is saying. But based on what you're saying, he's not privy to the talks that have been underway since September. Is it a done deal? No, so I can't say if there will be an announcement. But this interest is, according to some very, very good sources, on both sides. As for the crime issue, not sure how that's being calculated for NW 18 and Classen, but downtown residents like Metro might take issue with the perception downtown is any less safe or secure than the suburbs.

The last question on the Steve's blog entry got me to thinking about what COULD happen there.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l266/orangepower3000/ClassenTC-1.jpg

Heritage Hills homeowners will never let a streetcar go through Alice Harn Park.

I've talked to my Homeland friend twice since my last post on the subject.

The first time was about a week ago and I ask him to find out for sure whether or not Homeland was considering a new store in the downtown area.

I talked to him again today and he said that he had talked to those in the company that would have to be on board for it to occur and that Homeland is not considering putting a store downtown.

He pointed out that Homeland never builds new stores anymore because it is just too expensive. They look to move into grocery spaces where others have gone belly up and they can pick up the space cheap. They also prefer smaller communities where they don't have to compete with Walmart. He mentioned that they are about to take a big hit this coming year with Walmart building in two communities that are home to two of their most profitable stores.

He said the store on Classen is marginally profitable and has long had problems with employee theft and shoplifting.

I'll ask you to not shoot the messenger while I get in to my flamesuit.

Heritage Hills homeowners will never let a streetcar go through Alice Harn Park.

Ahh...you always say that... I bet it could happen.


Cuatro... I actually kinda like "Classen Town" for that area... including the Victoria Building etc... drop the 'center' part though.... that makes it sound so strip mall-ish (Downtown, Bricktown, Midtown, Chinatown [ehh... people call it that already anyway] and CLASSEN TOWN.

SouthSide Sooner, from what Steve and I have been told, it is a good possibility still and the right people are moving on it.

Not feeling "Classen Town" that just sounds cheesy. Classen Town Center may sound cliche, but at least it makes sense. Town Centers are very classic, no need to deny it. I suppose you could call it, Classen Plaza (since it's at the gateway to the Plaza District), now that might be more unique. Just some thoughts.

Ehh... Maybe SoAd (South of Asian Disrict) or WoSa (West of St. Anthony) ???

I really didn't care for the name either, it was just a sketch so whatever works.

But back to topic, I DONT think the Downtown Homeland possibility is dead, from what I hear from good inside sources, it's still alive and well. Steve seems to agree above as well.

Ahh...you always say that... I bet it could happen.


Cuatro... I actually kinda like "Classen Town" for that area... including the Victoria Building etc... drop the 'center' part though.... that makes it sound so strip mall-ish (Downtown, Bricktown, Midtown, Chinatown [ehh... people call it that already anyway] and CLASSEN TOWN.


I wouldn't allow that to happen...we'd have to bring back Sherman's neckties if that ever were to occur...LOL!

Today, well last night , this store was still selling boneless skinless chicken with a "sell by" date of 05/13. It wasn't marked down, or anything, pretty much masquerading as legit meat.

after watching this last weak:

The Trouble with Chicken | FRONTLINE | PBS (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/trouble-with-chicken/)

I am going to be very cautious with purchasing any stuff from their store. I don't know how they get away with this, I couldn't find an employee in the meat department to alert on their expired meat. Very disappointed.