While many of us were lamenting the lack of quality supermarkets and grocery stores left behind in the wake of recent closings such as the infamous Buy for Less on N.W. 23rd and Penn, it was seemingly forgotten that there are plenty of other areas of the Metro where their only source of regular sustenance, if they’re lucky, is in the form of a corner convenience store or two spread out among the fast food graveyards.
One such area that has historically been hungering for a place to purchase said provisions is the long strip of road that makes up N.E. 36th, from just under the 235 exit on down to Martin Luther King and probably beyond. You’d think with the many houses and apartment complexes that make up the neighborhoods of the area that there would be something, but, for years now, the closest you got was the Valero that used to have the pizza shop in it. And even the pizza shop done left town.
Coming back from a funeral the other day, I noticed that the beautifully refurbished and remodeled Northeast Town Center shopping center was not only open for business but that Save-A-Lot--a smaller, more value-oriented chain that I remember seeing in Denver near the Casa Bonita I used to heavily frequent--had prominently moved in and was more than ready to serve the neighborhood and, being in dire need of groceries myself, serve me most specifically.
Located at 1124 N.E. 36th St., the parking lot was eerily barren and, for a brand-new store celebrating a grand opening, the inside even more so. Brightly lit and dutifully clean with that appealing "brand-new store" scent still very fresh, the wide open spaces and shoulder-level shelving gave a good idea of what was going on here—think Aldi’s, only not as tightly stuffed into a darkened sarcophagus of savings. There’s plenty of space to mill about and enjoy the low prices without fear of a shopping cart-based clipped heel or two.