What Lee's Market closing means for Marmalade neighborhood
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The former Lee's Market on 4th West. Photo: Kim Bojórquez
Lee's Market at 4th West Apartments has shuttered its doors less than three years after it opened in Salt Lake City's Marmalade neighborhood.
- Its last day of operation was Oct. 28.
Why it matters: The closure means the growing area will revert back to its status as a "food desert," leaving residents with no options in the neighborhood to buy nutritious, fresh or affordable food.
- The closest convenience stores to the neighborhood are now Smith's in Rose Park, Rancho Markets in Fairpark and The Store at The Gateway.
State of play: President and CEO of Lee's Marketplace Jonathan Badger alerted residents at 4th West and Hardware Apartments of the closure in an Oct. 27 email obtained by Axios Salt Lake City.
- Badger cited a lack of foot traffic from surrounding areas, the COVID-19 pandemic and public accessibility issues.
What they're saying: "The urban store format you would find in a high-density city like New York, Chicago or Boston was a test for our company. Unfortunately, we found this style of shopping is not yet conducive to the Salt Lake City area," he wrote.
- In a separate email sent to residents, 4th West Apartments' property managers said they would offer residents "a $200 credit toward a grocery store subscription service of their choice to help soften the inconvenience created by this situation."
Between the lines: The store's opening in February 2020 — about a month before COVID-19 took hold — was met with an enthusiastic response from the local community.
- A pending pedestrian bridge located nearby aimed to improve walkability in the neighborhood.
Details: The 9,800-square-foot store was frequented by apartment residents, West High School students, and downtown workers looking for a quick bite.
What's next: 4th West management told residents they were already looking for potential replacements.
Yes, but: Shoppers can still get their Lee's fix at their 725 N. Redwood Road, North Salt Lake location.