Delmar Farm & Food, a multi-use farmers’ market/grocery/restaurant project that would have made its home at 6045 Delmar Blvd., near the Delmar Metro station, appears to be dead. Jon Parker, who has spearheaded the project, shared the news with supporters via an e-mail sent last night.
In what he referred to as an “interim report,” Parker stated: “We have ended our negotiations with Washington University. They have allocated building funds to other residential projects and commissioned a study to explore the retail environment in The Loop which will be completed in October 2011. Without their upfront funding to whitebox the building shell, our project appears dead.” Washington University currently owns the property which was formerly occupied by Dobbs Tire and Auto Service.
Parker expressed his disappointment, noting that, “It would have created a fantastic sales/marketing platform for our regional agricultural entrepreneurs. It would have generated jobs in the city (without the need for public subsidies), and it would have had a very positive impact on the community and a positive return for our investors.”
While Delmar Farm & Food has fallen through, Parker noted that he and his business partners are seeking another location for a new retail business. “The new business could be anything from another business like we proposed for the Delmar property to something closer to my old Parker’s Table … or something in between.”
Parker operated the wine and gourmet food shop Parker’s Table until he closed the Clayton store in early 2009.
More as we learn it.
This article appears in February 2011.