The new Mariano’s grocery store slated for 16th and Clark streets is a good thing. While the South Loop has a wealth of grocery stores along Roosevelt, including the brand-new Trader Joe’s, adding another one to the neighborhood still can’t hurt.

When people from other parts of the city look at the South Loop and cry foul for the wealth of grocery stores and other resources in the South Loop, it’s misplaced. Yes, the people in the area do tend to have more cash, but the neighborhood has incredible density. All these new high rise towers came out of nowhere, and 10 years ago there were practically no supermarkets in the area.

Think about the density of units in the area. It’s by far one of the densest neighborhoods in Chicago. One of the larger high-rises on South Michigan Avenue has enough density to support a small grocery store in and of itself.

There’s definitely a market for groceries, and we don’t think it’s exhausted yet. Let’s let the economy dictate that.

Aside from that, the location of the new store is a good one. The particular corner of the South Loop that Mariano’s is aiming at is quiet and somewhat dirty. It seems to be primed for development, and plans have borne that out lately. The proposed (but now dead) skate park across the street drew a lot of attention, showing how much locals are interested in the area.

By building a new grocery store here, Mariano’s will effectively expand the viable business areas in the South Loop southward, perhaps creating a new economic district in the process. We hope this store goes forward quickly, and other developments swiftly follow it.

It is indeed too bad, though, that the company’s proposed store in Bronzeville isn’t moving forward. But Mariano’s has done all it can for that. They’ve signed a lease and committed to the space. It’s now incumbent upon Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) and the project’s developers to get moving.

But you can’t blame Mariano’s in this case. In fact, they should be commended for their confidence in the Illinois economy, making a push into the state from their native Wisconsin as so many other businesses are threatening to leave.