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Smiles in the aisles
  
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By CYNTHIA LESCALLEET
The cheery red benches and bike racks will be back as a neighborhood market returns to Edloe Street in West University Place.
Developer Jim Reid, a former owner-partner of now defunct JMH Market, plans to open a similar community hub (and grocery store) called Matthew’s Market.
“It worked before, it’ll work again,” he said of the concept.
As the venture’s name suggests, it will occupy the building formerly occupied for decades by Matthew’s Motor Co.
Reid said he’ll “change the use, but not the name.”
As a developer, he prefers to preserve older buildings and convert them for today’s uses.
Reid was a former partner-owner of JMH Market from 2004-2006. The venture at 3636 Rice Blvd. closed at the end of 2007.
Its absence cut a hole in the community, Reid said. Matthew’s Market is his privately funded solution.
“It has been a vision of mine since JMH closed,” he said. “It’s so deeply missed — and so deeply needed.”
More than a business, JMH was like a church, he said, where the community came together. He relished being in the midst of it.
Reid’s plans for Matthew’s Market might sound familiar to local residents.
“It’s a stretch to call it a grocery store,” he admitted.
In addition to providing food and sundries:
He wants it to be somewhere children gather.
He wants its shelves to be full of the kinds of food and other goods residents use (and even request).
And he wants area youths to get their first jobs working there.
At 6,200 square feet, the store will include an interior covered patio and such child-friendly amenities as a sandbox, game area and space for team parties. And food, of course, both prepared, convenient, gourmet and fresh.
The infamous Icee machine will return. It reportedly generated the highest sales in the country for that company.
Having been down this independent grocer aisle before, Reid said he learned a few things that will make Matthew’s Market more efficient than its predecessor, such as electronic scanning for inventory control and less space devoted to frozen foods.
And the candy will be kept behind the counter rather than out on display, removing any temptations for passersby to grab and go. In-house charge accounts return, with restrictions.
Like Reid’s other properties in the Rice Village area, the market will tap Hill Country motifs, such as flagstone and dark wood elements, highlighted with the red accents and hand-crafted signs that are his company’s stylistic signature.
As a pedestrian-friendly business, parking is in compliance with West U code, he said. In addition to the parking spaces at the store is on-street parking, he said.
Reid expects to open in time for West U Little League and West U Softball seasons, about March 1.
Recently, Reid was at his office desk working on plans for the project when he was visited by a series of former JMH colleagues, who stopped in to just say hello. Greg Jones, Betty Lanclos, Morris Loden and Doris Price each arrived independently at about half-hour intervals, Reid recalled.
The coincidence was spooky, he said, but sent him a message he’s on the right track.
The group has re-teamed up, he said.
Looking ahead to opening in the midst of an uncertain economy, Reid said “We need this more than ever.”
When that first child rides up, parks his bike and walks in, “I’ll know it’s a success.”
Developer Jim Reid, a former owner-partner of now defunct JMH Market, plans to open a similar community hub (and grocery store) called Matthew’s Market.
“It worked before, it’ll work again,” he said of the concept.
As the venture’s name suggests, it will occupy the building formerly occupied for decades by Matthew’s Motor Co.
Reid said he’ll “change the use, but not the name.”
As a developer, he prefers to preserve older buildings and convert them for today’s uses.
Reid was a former partner-owner of JMH Market from 2004-2006. The venture at 3636 Rice Blvd. closed at the end of 2007.
Its absence cut a hole in the community, Reid said. Matthew’s Market is his privately funded solution.
“It has been a vision of mine since JMH closed,” he said. “It’s so deeply missed — and so deeply needed.”
More than a business, JMH was like a church, he said, where the community came together. He relished being in the midst of it.
Reid’s plans for Matthew’s Market might sound familiar to local residents.
“It’s a stretch to call it a grocery store,” he admitted.
In addition to providing food and sundries:
He wants it to be somewhere children gather.
He wants its shelves to be full of the kinds of food and other goods residents use (and even request).
And he wants area youths to get their first jobs working there.
At 6,200 square feet, the store will include an interior covered patio and such child-friendly amenities as a sandbox, game area and space for team parties. And food, of course, both prepared, convenient, gourmet and fresh.
The infamous Icee machine will return. It reportedly generated the highest sales in the country for that company.
Having been down this independent grocer aisle before, Reid said he learned a few things that will make Matthew’s Market more efficient than its predecessor, such as electronic scanning for inventory control and less space devoted to frozen foods.
And the candy will be kept behind the counter rather than out on display, removing any temptations for passersby to grab and go. In-house charge accounts return, with restrictions.
Like Reid’s other properties in the Rice Village area, the market will tap Hill Country motifs, such as flagstone and dark wood elements, highlighted with the red accents and hand-crafted signs that are his company’s stylistic signature.
As a pedestrian-friendly business, parking is in compliance with West U code, he said. In addition to the parking spaces at the store is on-street parking, he said.
Reid expects to open in time for West U Little League and West U Softball seasons, about March 1.
Recently, Reid was at his office desk working on plans for the project when he was visited by a series of former JMH colleagues, who stopped in to just say hello. Greg Jones, Betty Lanclos, Morris Loden and Doris Price each arrived independently at about half-hour intervals, Reid recalled.
The coincidence was spooky, he said, but sent him a message he’s on the right track.
The group has re-teamed up, he said.
Looking ahead to opening in the midst of an uncertain economy, Reid said “We need this more than ever.”
When that first child rides up, parks his bike and walks in, “I’ll know it’s a success.”
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