Students who regularly travel off-campus to purchase groceries may no longer have to once a new grocery store takes over University Square.
Fresh Madison Market, which is slated to begin construction later this month, will be coming to the unoccupied space in University Square with a tentative opening date as early as January 2010.
After negotiating with the landlord of University Square for the past six months, Jeff Maurer, owner and operator of the store, said the leasing has been completed and the financing has finally been approved.
""The city has been very cooperative in getting the project started,"" Maurer said. ""It's an important project for them, the students and the downtown residents.""
Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8 said he is excited for the grocery store mostly because it is going to bring convenience to students.
Although Maurer has always been in the grocery business, he said this would be the first time he has owned his own store.
Maurer also said that while the store will be a full-service grocery store, it would not have as much variety as a larger store simply because of the limited amount of space. However, there will be a bakery, deli and meat and produce departments.
""A lot of the food will be prepared by our staff right on site ... and hopefully that will be a healthy alternative for students, faculty and downtown residents,"" he said.
In addition, Maurer will be applying for a beer and wine license through Madison's Alcohol License Review Committee.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, and member of the ALRC, said he did not see the beer and wine license as being controversial.
""Unlike many other supermarkets in Madison, he is not applying for a license to sell hard liquor so I think my ALRC colleagues will look favorably on that,"" he said.
The ALRC will consider Maurer's proposal in mid-October and the Common Council will likely put the license into effect by early November.
Maurer is looking to employ up to 60 part-time employees, and hopes the majority of them will be student workers.
