Note: Due to electronic shenanigans beyond my knowledge, my camera card decided to encode all my photos of Cosentino's Market in weird text. If I get the problem worked out today, I'll post them immediately.
I just got back from Cosentino's Downtown Market and can safely report that it is a very good grocery store. It's noticeably bigger than the Cosentino's in Brookside and designed in the style of urban grocers in Chicago, with enough salad-bar offerings and prepared food to serve an army. More than that, though, this is the grocery store downtown needed.
Walking in, the first thing you notice is that you're standing in a large open area devoted to
ready-to-eat foods. There's sushi from Kaiyo,
a pasta station, a truly impressive salad bar that stretches well
beyond the advertised 20 feet, and a bakery case filled with
goodies from local makers like Coca Dolce, and homemade gelato.
This is
by design, owner John Cosentino told me. "We knew our crowd would be
more urban, quicker on the go. People that don't eat in as much. They
can come in and get something here in minutes that's just as delicious
as something made at home." Store manager Mark Lenz later added, "We anticipate a lot of our day business will be office workers ... our floral section is expanded and at the front of the store, so you can get your secretary or boss something over lunch."
As much as office workers will use Cosentino's Downtown Market, the real reason downtown needed Cosentino's is for the back two-thirds of the store. It contains a normal grocery selection, with shelves full of toiletries and condiments and a dozen types of peanut
butter. Lenz explained that the shelf layout was modeled after the Brookside Cosentino's. "It doesn't look like it when you enter the store, but they're [the two Cosentino's markets] very similar. I like to tell people we have $40 vinegars, and just a shelf below there's the $2 vinegar ... at every opportunity we've tried to include local suppliers and in the produce area. It's unbelievable what you can find."
On the south side of the store is a full liquor selection. In addition to having more wines, Lenz said he purposely stocked a lot of single-can beers like Chimay and Young's Double Chocolate Stout. "I understand there's beer geeks just as there are wine geeks. I'm not one of them but I know what they look for, and we try to have that."
The space also benefits from smaller touches like a second-floor dining area, with flatscreens and couches, and murals painted by Buck Arnhold on the ceilings. "My grandfather was a church artist, and this store is dedicated to him," Cosentino said. "We've tried to have the murals symbolize his paintings."
Forgetting murals and couches, Cosentino's Downtown Market is just a grocery store, which is what makes it so great. Walking through the aisles by myself, I could have been in any grocery store -- but I was in the heart of of downtown. A full shelf of toilet paper may not sound like much, but if residents can do all their grocery shopping downtown, who's to say they won't do the rest of their chores in the area, too?
Right before I left, I told Lenz how nice and spiffy the store looked and how all they needed now are customers. "We're here," he said. "Now I hope they come in." -- Owen Morris
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to the original 'anonymous'..........oh darlin'........the 'upkeep' has more than lasted. it is exceptional. have you been there recently? i go there for lunch at least 3-4 times a week, as well as shopping after work before going home. this store is always gorgeous, clean, well stocked. the employees are exceptionally friendly and helpful. the produce manager even special ordered a hard to find item i needed for a recipe i wanted to make......ordered it just for me! they have started hosting 'wine tastings'....i hate to even call it that because along with trying six or so wines, you get to enjoy samples of wonderful dishes prepared by the catering staff at the store that are paired with the wines of the evening...all for $10 per person!! i heard that they recently won some kind of 'grocery store of the year' award from...i think...the national grocer's association (?). last time i was there (yesturday) my co-workers and i went up to the sixth floor of the building....there are a pool and a park up there!! well, the pool is being built, the park is not completely landscaped yet....but oh my, how beautiful both will be when they are finished! and on the ROOF! wow!, i say. so...from what you said, original anonymous......i wouldn't trust anything you say! :)
the "up keep" won't last???
Have you ever been to a Consentino's store? They're always spotless and kept up better than most grocery stores in the metro area. You're crazy.
My lucky year, a wonderful downtown store that carries Shatto Milk. We are so excited and look forward to visiting the Market a lot!
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