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For those of you – like me – who were hoping the former Carnival on 8th Avenue at Allen and Park Place would be replaced with something neighborhood-oriented like, perhaps, another grocer (I’d been hoping for something like a Sprouts or Fresh & Easy), or had been hoping to see the old ’60s-vintage grocery building get demolished and replaced with something not situated behind a big barren parking lot, here’s a bit of disappointing news. The former Carnival (which began life as a Buddie’s supermarket when first built) has been purchased by Cook Children’s, who will renovate it for office space. Good to see the building being reoccupied, I suppose, but it’s still a bit of a letdown compared to a grocer or other similar type of business. Cook Children’s will renovate the buildings but keep the current big ‘ole parking lot, which also disappoints me and my nerdy architecture/urban design sensibilities. As a new resident of the Near Southside, I’d been hoping to see the return of a grocer that could be easily walked and biked to.

It may come in time, though – I’ve heard things about other efforts to bring a neighborhood-scaled grocer to the district. I’ve been sworn to secrecy for now, but I’m optimistic (as is my way). More to come as things develop.