Emergency Exits at Culinaria Blocked (Updated)
It hasn’t taken long but the new Culinaria grocery store downtown is already using emergency exits for storage:
The same exit is also blocked outside:
Blocking these exits is unacceptable.
– Steve Patterson
UPDATE 9/1/09Â @ 1:50pm:
At my request, City inspectors visited Culinaria this morning and I’m told all exits are now clear of these obstructions. I have not been there to verify but will do so soon and report if anything is not OK.  – SLP
Have you called the fire inspector’s office? You ought to report it to be sure it is prevented next time. Tragedies do happen with lack of prevention.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstlouis.missouri.org%2Fcitygov%2Fdps%2Fdps.htm&ei=cxacSoG8H6CntgfK-IW_BA&rct=j&q=st+louis+fire+inspector&usg=AFQjCNGcvLPZhmEIysZvTVSo08LNC10I2g
Deputy Fire Chief Charles E. Coyle, Fire Marshal
289-1960
The Bureau of Prevention has four major divisions; code enforcement, fire investigation, health & wellness, and public education. The code enforcement division is responsible for enforcing provisions of; the fire prevention ordinance, the commercial structure carbon monoxide detector ordinance, the residential structure carbon monoxide detector ordinance, the smoke detector ordinance, and the hazardous material ordinance. Enforcement of these provisions is supported through the many functions. Some of the functions include: fire protection system plan review; inspection of existing structures; review of applications for permit; and many others. These functions, as determined by the Fire Chief, are the minimal requirements to safeguard life, property, public welfare, and firefighter safety and health, from the hazards of fire and explosion.
Love your site… so glad that I bumped into it! Linking if you don’t mind. As far as Culinaria goes… I have not yet ventured down there?! Too much hype. I may once everyone realizes it’s just a Schnucks in a fancy ballgown ;).
A little over 4 million in subsidy for the Schnucks, not including the amount for the Century demolition. Schnuck themselves spent 3.4 million.
Every time I visit Culinaria, it’s packed. Let’s hope the success builds. However, with so much success, it does beg the question – did they need a subsidy?
The financial performance of the store is measurable. The subsidies are measurable. Wouldn’t it be fair to structure the public financing in such a way that if the store’s profits exceed projections, taxpayers get some refund on their subsidy?
Why should Schnucks be allowed to make higher than an industry standard profit and receive subsidy?
Of course, we won’t know the real numbers until after a year of operations. And some years will be up years and others down years. But if downtown supports the store, and its an over the top, better than expected success, shouldn’t taxpayers get some sort of return on their investment as well?
Or, how about dedicating a share of the excess profits to hanging more flower pots from light posts, etc?
The flip side of the argument would be that Schnucks took the risk, they didn’t know if they’d make a dime, they probably guaranteed the TIF and other incentives, and so if there’s an upside, they should get it.
Maybe there’s some common ground in the middle somehow whereby the city and Schnucks share in the upside?
Who knew? Downtown grocery shopping is a hit!
Downtown grocery shopping was a hit before Schnucks.
Blocking an emergency exit is completely unacceptable and hopefully the Schnucks folks will rectify the situation. I went to Culinaria last week and I have to say that I was impressed with the interior of the store, but the front door is so awkward. It isn’t visually appealing, it is barely functional, and I don’t see how anyone who is handicapped could be happy with it (Steve, I believe that you alluded to this issue in an earlier post). I’m also wondering when the “newness” factor will wear off but judging by the activity in Culinaria at 1:30 p.m. on a Thursday, it may take awhile.
On a side note, I didn’t buy anything in Culinaria but instead went across the street to City Grocer…oops…City Gourmet to check out what they have done to compete with Schnucks. I was happy to see that CG has a sandwich/stir fry/burrito bar where you can order your favorite of the three and pick out the ingredients. I asked a worker at CG how their business has been lately and he said that they have suffered a steep dropoff (of course this would happen, but I had to ask). He isn’t sure what’s going to happen to CG’s business in the near future and I can only hope that CG can find a niche market with customers and stay open to compete with Culinaria. We’ll see.
Douglas Duckworth, you are ridiculous. Nobody that lived downtown did all of their grocery shopping in what would be considered “downtown,” unless everybody was paying $4 for a tube of toothpaste at City Grocers.
City Gourmet needs to lower its prices before they get my business.
I commend them on keeping in the game, but I find them really overpriced on almost everything. Their sandwiches and wraps are a bit pricey for what they are.
Even before Schnucks was a player, I didn’t visit City Grocers that often because of their pricing.
I’m glad to have a grocery store downtown that is comparable to what I have by my city home…I just wish the store had been built without public money.
And by the way, the exits were clear when I was at Culinaria around 2:30 this afternoon.
I think that Craig Heller was going to expand into the Syndicate — offering more goods and services.
How about the large crucifix above the Customer Service desk? That should be blocked!
kassa – yes, if it is not your religion, it should be blocked! It is a private business and they can do as they please. People like you are sick in the head.
Regarding City Gourmet – their prepared foods are no more or less expensive than any other place downtown. I don’t understand the “too expensive” argument in regards to lunch. For example, you can do pick-your-own vegetables and have meat and sauce added, for $7.50. If you’re hungry, you can pack your bowl and get well over 2lb of food for that. Burritos are enormous, and the value is similar. And it’s all very good.
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