Roundy's Supermarkets, owner of the Copps and Pick 'n Save chain stores, announced Friday it is in negotiations to lease retail space for a grocery store in the new University Square development.
Susan Springman, president of Executive Management Inc. and project developer for University Square, said Saturday Roundy's Supermarkets is planning to sign a lease in coming months. EMI will not reveal which chain will use the space for another 30 to 60 days, but plans to market the store to the needs of an urban area like downtown Madison.
The grocery comes in response to growing pressure to locate a grocery in or near the campus area.
The need for a grocery store is pretty high on campus,"" Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, said.
Judge said that while students can use their meal plan in cafeterias and restaurants, they are not able to get groceries on campus or within walking distance of campus.
""What many students do is they get a bus or get a taxi back, which is pretty expensive and tough to do if you're on a low income,"" Judge said.
The University Square Development, which includes the Steve Brown Lucky Apartments, is located on the corner of University Avenue and Lake Street. The new grocery will occupy two stories and take up most of the available retail space.
""It's the idea that it's a service that the students have repeatedly said that they want,"" Gestina Sewell, chair of the Associated Students of Madison.
Sewell supported the idea of a grocery store on campus but said ASM may stop searching for a grocer to occupy Union South since University Square has signed one.
""It doesn't matter who provides it. We don't want to be redundant or do anything that would incur more costs for students,"" she said.
Springman said EMI knew they wanted to include a grocery in the project and had approached other grocery providers to fill in the space.
University Square is divided into two separate buildings. One side will house the grocery store in addition to apartments, a food court and other retail space. The other will provide space for the relocated University Health Services offices, the UW Bursars office, UW Financial offices and the Student Activity Center.
The Roundy's grocery store will open shortly after the Lucky Apartments are available for rent in August.
