Save-A-Lot is now open at the corner of Bull and 40th streets in the space formerly occupied by David's Supermarket.

The building had been sitting empty for a number of years, so it's good to see activity there again.


I'm not a fan of surface parking lots on key corners in commercial districts, but Save-A-Lot's is fairly small and decently landscaped.


The focus is on low prices. There's less variety than in larger stores, and various efficiencies are in place that limit the need for labor.

The new Save-A-Lot has opened in one of Savannah's most diverse neighborhoods.



An increasing number of young professionals and college students occupy apartments and houses in the neighborhood, a trend encouraged in part by the presence of SCAD's Arnold Hall. Businesses like Foxy Loxy and Butterhead Greens have thrived off this new population.



White, black, old, young, native, transient, poor, wealthy, working class, employed, unemployed, self-employed - all that and more can be found within a few blocks of the new grocer.


I think it's safe to say the store will need to appeal to most if not all of those constituencies if it's going to thrive.


However things turn out, Save-A-Lot's opening is welcome news as we begin 2013. It's just one of various significant investments in the greater downtown area announced last year.


But cities don't go from zero to 10 in a flash. Blighted buildings in urban neighborhoods don't typically turn into luxury supermarkets overnight.

Here's to positive incremental steps in 2013.

City Talk appears every Sunday and Tuesday. Bill Dawers can be reached via email at billdawers@comcast.net and www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 E. 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.