Raleigh downtowners long for supermarket in heart of city

When they look at all the new supermarket options now available in the Triangle area, people in downtown Raleigh are wondering when they’ll get a neighborhood grocery store.

The closest supermarket—Harris Teeter at Cameron Village—is only a few miles away, but downtowners have long talked about the prospect of a grocery store closer to the heart of the city.

Amazon’s same-day delivery service offers groceries delivered in as little as an hour, but shoppers still like the convenience of hands-on grocery shopping, according to Bill King, with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

King said Prime Now – Amazon’s new service – hasn’t curbed grocers’ appetites to move to downtown Raleigh.

King said an announcement could come later this year, but it may not be a traditional supermarket format.

Some grocers interested in downtown Raleigh specialize in fresh food and have stores that feel like a farmers' market, King said.