Lucky’s moves in

Market set to fill lengthy vacancy left by former Reider’s Grocery in Concord Twp.

The leasing signs in the windows of the former Reider’s Grocery have finally been removed. Lucky’s Market, owned by Clevelandbased Dave’s Markets, will officially fill the 35,800-square-foot space formerly occupied by Reider’s that remained vacant for approximately three years.

“It is with great excitement that we would like to announce Lucky’s Market Concord, coming to the Gristmill Village Shopping Center in the spring of 2021,” said Aaron Saltzman, member of the ownership family, in a news release dated Sept. 15.

Saltzman is a fifth-generation member of the family-owned grocery chain begun in the late 1920s by Alex Saltzman.

The news release went on to say that “customers can look forward to the freshest farmer’s market style produce, natural and organic foods, high-end meat cut daily by butchers on site, freshly prepared foods from our kitchen and healthy living products. Other store highlights will include an extensive beer and wine assortment, an emphasis on local offerings and enough of the grocery staples to round out your shopping experience.”

While explaining the store’s concept, Concord

Township Administrator Andy Rose noted that “it’s closer to a Heinen’s than a Marc’s.”

He added that a grocery store has been the most requested item from residents for the past few years.

Lucky’s Concord site is the 16th store in the family’s business. There are now three Saltzman-owned Lucky’s in Ohio in addition to the 13 Dave’s Markets established throughout Northeast Ohio.

Lucky’s was founded in Colorado in 2003 with a focus on affordable organic foods offered in tandem with familiar family favorite brands.

The company eventually expanded to 39 stores nationwide before filing for bankruptcy in early 2020. Most of the stores were closed after Kroger’s, a former majority stakeholder in the company, pulled its investment.

At a bankruptcy auction in March 2020 the Saltzmans acquired two Ohio Lucky’s stores which remain in operation at 11620 Clifton Blvd. in Cleveland and at 2770 North High St. in Columbus.

Concord Township officials publicly announced the arrival of the full service store at a board of trustees meeting on Sept. 16.

“It’s nice to see that it’s going to be a local owned grocer,” said Trustee Morgan McIntosh. “I think that’s really important these days.

“It’s exciting to see they’re going to take a fresh look at that space. I know there’s going to be a lot of change as far as what goes in there.” McIntosh added that township officials were able to relay specific concerns and requests regarding a new grocery store because of the plentiful input residents have provided and that representatives from Dave’s Markets have been receptive and enthusiastic.

Trustee Carl Dondorfer noted that the business has already been working with architects to optimize a design.

The lengthy delay of landing a new grocery store to take the place of Reider’s was due in part to the foreclosure of the Gristmill Village Retail Center.

Its subsequent sale took place in May 2019 which allowed township officials to assist in acquiring a new tenant for the space.

“It’s exciting and something the community has been desperate for…for a number of years,” McIntosh said.

JEAN BONCHAK FOR THE NEWS-HERALD The former Reider’s grocery store in Concord Township’s Gristmill Village has been vacant since October 2017. Lucky’s Market is set to fill the space in spring 2021.