Text 
Hispanic-themed market close
By SCOTT SCHWEBKEOGDEN -- A California firm that plans to open a Hispanic-themed market at the corner of 24th Street and Monroe Boulevard hopes this week to resolve differences with the city over a proposed property rezoning.
"We want to be part of the community," said David J. Spatafore, a Salt Lake City lobbyist hired by The Legaspi Co., of Montebello, Calif., to assist with the market dubbed Alta Ogden Plaza.
"We want it to be a win-win situation."
The property is among 40 parcels at eight locations that may be rezoned by the city council Tuesday from commercial to a newly created neighborhood commercial zone.
The aim of the rezones is to protect neighborhoods against incompatible commercial uses, said Greg Montgomery, the city's planning manager.
A Hispanic-themed market and clothing outlet will open by June inside a vacant IGA store at 24th Street and Monroe Boulevard, Spatafore said.
The market will be run by the Tenochtitlan grocery store chain that has operations in Salt Lake City and Utah County. The operator of the clothing store hasn't been announced.
The Legaspi Co. has been trying for more than five years to establish the market but has encountered difficulties.
"Our initial contacts with the local, Utah, national and international retail communities elicited very little, if any, positive response with regard to Ogden," the company wrote earlier this month in a report to the city council.
"It has taken an intense expenditure of time and money for a period of more than five years to obtain a satisfactory anchor grocery tenant with the potential and resources to succeed in this location."
To help the market succeed, The Legaspi Co. is negotiating with the city to modify a requirement that buildings in neighborhood commercial zones have brick exteriors, Spatafore said.
It's hoped that the market's exterior can instead be made of brick, stucco and stone so that it has a more earthy, attractive appearance, he said.
The Legaspi Co. is also asking for an exemption that would allow it to add a drive-through window at the Rite Aid pharmacy building it owns adjacent to the IGA building.
Spatafore said the company has had discussions with a lending institution that would need a drive-through window if it operated next to the market.
The Legaspi Co. is also concerned about parking stall requirements and a provision in the neighborhood commercial zoning ordinance for a single entrance to the market from 24th Street, Spatafore said.
"We are working with the city to allow two points (to enter and exit the parking lot) on 24th Street."
Add Your Comment
I am a believer that everyone should have an opportunity to grow, calling someones store tacky is rude and offensive. We should be more open to ideas that will help us be more the america we used to be. a place where people find opportunity and if they provide a good product or service they will grow. If the so called "tacky" mexi marts are growing you should see if its because people have enjoyed them and found something useful in them. there was a time when people called a produce shop on washington blvd ugly and unatractive, however many people seem to enjoy shopping for thier produce thier for many years. Open your mind and look for the good in things rather than sterotype others.
Please read our posting guidelines before reporting a comment.