Charleston’s East End would support a new grocery store, according to an East End Main Street feasibility study.

The East End, the market analysis says, is missing out on between $7 million and $10 million in revenue – a conservative estimate – by not having a full-service grocery store. A 20,000- to 25,000-square-foot store would be successful in the area.

“The grocery store idea has been a part of our outlook for quite some time,” said Ric Cavender, EEMS program director. “This analysis has confirmed residents’ desire to have a store on the East End, and now we can explore ways to make that happen.”

East End Main Street and its parent organization, the Charleston Area Alliance, today released the results of the feasibility study, conducted by the CLUE group out of Washington, DC and Urban Development Services out of San Antonio, Texas. EEMS hosted a public presentation Monday evening to announce the findings.

The EEMS Grocery Store Task Force this year hired Scott Day of Urban Development Services and Josh Bloom of CLUE to conduct neighborhood surveys and study buying patterns. The methodology included competitive analysis of existing food stores, analysis of sales potential, focus groups, assessment of potential sites, research on potential recruitment and consumer surveys. More than 800 people participated in surveys.

“We received an overwhelming response to the surveys, which were conducted both online and door-to-door,” Cavender said. “The consultants evaluated price points across the Charleston Metro region, buying power of the East End residents and shopping habits. This is a well-rounded, extensive study, and we are confident in the conclusions.”

At one time, the East End was home to two grocery stores, but both had closed by 2001. Foodland on Bigley Avenue and Capitol Market now are the nearest options.

“We’ve heard the demand for years,” said Alliance President and CEO Matt Ballard. “We hear about the need every day. This new data confirms it. A grocery store would be a boon for the East End economy and could spur growth in the area.”

According to the analysis, about 75 percent of grocery shopping trips made by East End residents are to stores outside of the East End area. It concludes many residents would opt to shop at East End stores, meaning current buying power justifies pursuing at least one grocery store for the region.

Several parcels in the area would be optimal sites for a store that serves the whole East End neighborhood and is walk-able for most East End residents and area employees, the study says. It suggests recruiting a “niche chain” grocery store and/or a business focused on organic foods.

“Because these two grocery stores concepts would be addressing different audiences, the two stores could be pursued separately or simultaneously,” the study says.

“We’re excited to move forward on this project,” Cavender said. “The message we’ve received from residents is loud and clear – the East End needs a grocery store. Now we need to work together to make that happen.”

Alliance Chairman Jack Rossi appointed Charleston City Council member Marc Weintraub as the Grocery Store Task Force’s chairman. The task force’s other members include Rod Blackstone, Lori Brannon, Pat Brown, Clifton Clark, Mary Anne Crickard, Mary Jean Davis, Mary Beth Hoover, Darrell  Rolston, Mary Russell, Jim Snyder, Keeley Steele, Jonathan Steele and Emily Wall.

For additional comments, contact Ric Cavender at (304) 550-5135 or Matt Ballard at (304) 767-8711.