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I was taking a sneak peek at the City Plan Commission’s agenda for Thursday and noticed a few items of intrigue — sent one to Pete, which he’ll no doubt get to shortly, concerning an application for a specific use permit for a new joint down in Deep Ellum. But there’s also this item of interest that involves the fate of the 24-year-old Simon David on Inwood Road: Randall’s Food & Drugs, owners of the Simon David and Tom Thumb name since 1992, are looking to tear down the grocery store and replace it with a larger one. (A Simon David was built on the spot in 1961, then replaced with the current model in ’85.)
Houston-based David Hardin, who handles real estate development for the chain, referred us to local PR contact Connie Yates, with whom we left a message. But the 32-page summary provided to the commission, which includes a new ordinance and development plans, gives you some idea of what Randall’s wants to do with the property:
The applicant is proposing to create a new [Planned Development Distirct] to provide for the demolition and expansion of the existing food store. The site will include three tracts with the westernmost tract (Tract III) being improved with landscaping to serve as a buffer from the new store with widened sidewalks and perimeter planting areas around the store’s perimeter. It should be noted the store has been located within this residential community in excess of 24 years and the scale of the proposed new construction will be consistent with what has existed.
The plan commission staff recommends approval. No word on when the teardown would commence.
Update at 5:30 p.m.: Yates responds: “As David confirmed we are proposing an on-site replacement store … We do not have any information to release at this time, but I will put your information in my media contacts and be sure to send you information when it becomes available.”
