Pick 'n Save picks new location

Greenfield — On the surface, it doesn't appear the commercial area on 76th Street near Cold Spring Road would change all that dramatically following news of Pick 'n Save's possible move across the street.

Roundy's, which operates the Pick 'n Save chain, plans to move its store at Spring Mall, 4200 S. 76th St., to a site now occupied by another strip mall across the street.

That strip mall is anchored by a long-since-shuttered Sentry Foods store. But while one empty storefront would be filled, another would emerge at Spring Mall, and it remains to be seen how long it would stay that way.

Future up in the air

Assuming Roundy's goes through with its plans, Mayor Michael Neitzke said the future of the 85,000-square-foot space in Spring Mall all depends on the owners of the mall, Australia-based Centro Properties Group.

Over the past five years, city officials and Pick 'n Save have pressured Centro to make improvements to Spring Mall, but none has occurred because of the ownership group's tenuous financial state, Neitzke said.

Other tenants of Spring Mall include T.J. Maxx and Walgreens. Neitzke said a number of local and regional developers have been interested in buying the mall but have been rebuffed.

He doubted any investment will happen until Centro's financial situation improves.

"It seems like nothing at Spring Mall that requires any investment will happen until Centro's finances and future get settled," he said. "Hopefully sooner than later."

A Centro Properties representative did not respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, no plans for a new Pick 'n Save have been formally submitted to the city yet, said Chuck Erickson, Greenfield planning and economic development director.

Meeting set for Tuesday

The company has scheduled a neighborhood informational meeting on Tuesday at City Hall, Erickson added.

The 53,000-square-foot strip center across the street is owned by an affiliate of Learsi & Co. of Deerfield Ill., according to a Journal Sentinel report.

"While I haven't received plans for the new store across the street yet, I think that redevelopment can only be a good thing for the city," Neitzke said. "I think everyone would agree what was the old W.A. Grant store has served its useful life as a Pick 'n Save all these years."

A spokeswoman for Roundy's did not return a call requesting comment.