LET'S BAG SOME GROCERIES

At the International Council of Shopping Centers' convention this year, the focus was on bringing more grocery stores to the city, said the WaTimes.

"This is the year of the grocery store," Keith Sellars, director of retail development at the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, said before the convention. "We have nine meetings with grocery stores." Sellars added that the District turned down Save-A-Lot, fast-food chains and some other retailers. Years ago we would have loved to grab any new grocer, but now we can be selective.

The focus on groceries seems well founded. A grocery store really can anchor an neighborhood with restaurants, bars, drugstores etc. Bring on the groceries and the rest will follow with absolute certainty.

Still too bad about Balducci's. Good news that Trader Joe's is close to opening.