Frys plans to open grocery store downtown

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Fry's Food and Drug revealed plans to build a first full-service grocery store in downtown Phoenix.

The store will be built near Cityscape and the Collier Center on a lot between Washington and Jefferson that is used for parking. It's something many downtown residents, students, and workers have been wanting for a long time.

As of now the Safeway Store at 7th St and McDowell is the most ideal option for shoppers in downtown, but it's not the most convenient.

The boom in housing downtown Phoenix has brought in a lot more residents over the past few years, and for those residents, one of the only things missing has been a grocery store.

"I do all my grocery shopping at CVS across the street, it's a little inconvenient as the closest grocery store is down the road," said Devon Norris.

Fry's is planning to build a 55,000 square foot location east of Cityscape, for nearby residents they say it's about time.

"You see all the new apartments going up; there's going to be a large influx of people coming in. I think having a new place to go, that's centrally located, is going to be a huge benefit to all those new people," said Maxwell Morris.

Students at ASU's downtown Phoenix campus are also looking forward to having a major grocery store within walking distance of the Taylor Place Dorms.

"Oh it was a journey when I first heard I was like are we going to take an Uber or the light rail, and then the light rail takes forever, it's just exhausting," said Kelsey Reynolds.

Right now the only quick option for groceries in downtown is the CVS store where many do their shopping.