CINCINNATI -- Quick access to breakfast, beer and Band-Aids at The Banks could be less than a month away.
An official opening day for Street Corner market has not been established, but the convenience store could begin operation any time between April 1 and May 1.
PKG General Contracting workers are nearly finished with framing and drywall for the market, which will take the place of an Orange Leaf frozen yogurt store that closed in 2016.
"They're hitting all their targets with being on time," said Neal Sebastian, one of the market's four investors.
Street Corner market will open this April or May in Orange Leaf's former location at The Banks.
Street Corner is a specialty-based convenience-store franchise with more than 40 locations around the U.S. The "urban superette" coming to The Banks is a model geared toward mixed-use developments and promises to cater to riverfront residents, workers and Game Day visitors.
"I just knew that there was a need for this concept down here because there's such a lack of it," said Sebastian, who lives at The Banks.
Hamilton County Development Company (HCDC) Vice President Harry Blanton echoed his sentiment.
"There's obviously a need down there for a grocery," he said.
The primary factors at this point in determining the market's opening date are the timing of the store receiving its liquor license and investors' comfort levels with their level of training. The investors are not obligated to open the market until May 1.
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Although The Banks has seen its share of turnover in businesses, Street Corner's ability to complement the existing services could increase the store's viability.
"It's a good addition to the mix," said Doug Moorman, vice president of Development Strategies Group LLC. "It's valuable because it's not competing with any of the other businesses there."
In addition to providing a service not currently available in the area, the store's investors aim to complement surrounding bars and restaurants with their hours of operation. Although business hours are yet to be finalized, the market is expected to open at 7 a.m. most days and close as late as 2:30 a.m. on weekends.
Street Corner market will be an "urban superette," catering to visitors, residents and workers at The Banks.
Herky Pollock, an executive vice president and northeast director of the Retailer Services Group of CBRE, handles retailer leasing at The Banks and is optimistic about Street Corner's staying power.
"They're a good example of a retailer that could survive in that environment," he said.
One of the main components to staying in business at The Banks is meeting consumers' day-to-day needs.
"The key at The Banks that we're finding is those that cater to consumers on non-game days and game days alike," Pollock said.
The daily customer base from GE's Global Operations Center is another factor that could lend itself to success not only for Street Corner but for other businesses at The Banks, too.
"Increasing that daytime population certainly increases chances for viability," Moorman said.
Recognizing the business turnover in the area, Street Corner's investors were careful to request some protections from penalties in the event of default within the first three years.
"It seems like the three-year mark is kind of that do-or-die landmark date for these businesses around here, whether they make it or they don't," Sebastian said.
With the research he and his partners have done and attention to inventory, he's hoping those protections won't be necessary.
"I think with the right management and the right motivation, and changing your concept when you see that it might need to be changed due to customer supply and demand, is the key to success," he said.
