Freshgrocer has building problems

When The Freshgrocer opened nearly two years ago, the University-owned building was considered a state-of-the-art facility, complete with shiny checkout counters, elevators to the parking garage and even a conveyer belt to carry groceries to patrons parked on the second floor. Less than two years later, the store is plagued with problems, perhaps due to faulty construction. A major concern is the building's three malfunctioning elevators, two of which do not work due to water damage, according to Manager Ross Del Romano. Vice President for Facilities and Real Estate Services Omar Blaik said the control panels on the elevator shaft will be replaced, costing the University tens of thousands of dollars, which is covered by insurance. He explained that the problems are due to water damage and that the University has already "made corrections and totally rebuilt the roofing to prevent water leakage." According to Del Romano ,the repairs to the elevators will begin on May 15 and continue through the summer, with one elevator being repaired at a time and the other two operating regularly with the help of technical crews who will be on site to assist. "I would not define [the elevator repairs] as problems that are of a big magnitude," Blaik said. "Freshgrocer has been doing tremendous business. I would not consider it anything serious that is affecting their business." But Del Romano said that the building also has problems with the plumbing, floor and conveyor belt. These technical difficulties, which Del Romano called "extremely abnormal," have drawn criticism from some customers. "It's even unheard of," he said. "I've had a lot of customer complaints." The building, situated at 40th and Walnut streets, is owned by the University, and The Freshgrocer rents the space. Penn was in charge of the initial building plans and is responsible for maintaining the elevators and the vestibule, Del Romano said. However, The Freshgrocer is responsible for maintaining the inside of the store, Blaik said. Del Romano said he believes that many of the store's problems have been present since its opening. "The conveyer belt to the garage never worked," he explained. In fact, Del Romano said, the opening of The Freshgrocer was delayed for almost a year because problems -- such as the irregular flooring, which has still not been resolved -- were discovered. "We opened anyway, in good faith," he said. Del Romano is not sure whether the University was aware of the likelihood of these problems while designing the building, but said that they may be due to faulty construction. Blaik contended that correcting minor problems after a building is complete is common practice, citing the Kimmel Center as an example. "There are some issues that need to be revisited after a project is open," Blaik said. "I would not consider any of [the problems] as out of the ordinary," he added. "Some of it may have been design-related, and some of it may be the usage of the space that is not being used the way in which it was planned. "When you have projects that have retailers as part of a mixed-use development, there is an additional level of complexity" due to the fact the tenant has its own internal designer in addition the the University's design team, Blaik explained. This may lead to problems of coordination between the landlord and the tenant's plans. "I don't know what's going on within the University," Del Romano said. "What I do know is that some items were taken out of the original plans. The University was over budget anyway." Because The Freshgrocer is a tenant of the University, "all we can do is lodge our issues with them, which we have been continually doing since we opened," Del Romano said. Blaik said that the University is in contact with the store's operators, but does not believe that any problems, other than the elevator repairs, "are significant or substantive."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.