Clark’s Market Snowmass sprinting to open mid-July

Construction of the new Clark’s Market in Snowmass Village is slightly behind schedule.

When renovations began on Sundance Liquor & Gifts’ new space at the front of the Snowmass Center, there were some surprises at the condition of the space in the 35-year-old building. The liquor store wasn’t able to relocate until June 1, a full month later than expected, pushing back the expansion of the grocery store into that space.

However, the grocery had some of the same issues — with heating and cooling, wiring and plumbing, among other things — but Clark’s was able to learn from Sundance’s situation and prepare to address them, said Tom Clark Jr., president of Clark’s Markets. Now, crews of 15 to 25 people are working seven days a week to bring the grocery to life by mid-July.

Clark’s Market Snowmass will become the flagship for the small company, which started in Aspen 35 years ago. At 14,310 square feet, it will be about 30 percent larger than Village Market, which leased the space for 35 years.

The new grocery will be accessed by large sliding glass doors facing into the hallway of the Snowmass Center. The low ceilings that used to exist over the cashier stands and the back area of Village Market have been raised to the same level of the rest of the space, creating “a sense of openness,” Clark said.

Patrons will walk into a greeting station and coffee, smoothies and product samples.

“You’ll have a hard time getting into the store without getting some samples,” Clark said. He said he asked the owners of Peach’s in Aspen what machines they used for their coffee and is using the same ones in the new grocery.

There also will be a cooking and dining area for Stonewall Kitchen, a specialty-foods company created in New England, as well as a large floral area to the right of the entrance.

The produce area also will be set up on that side, with large LED lights spotlighting the food. In fact, LED lights will be used on the aisles and in the refrigerated cases, saving about 45 percent on energy for lighting.

The compressors that power the cooling in the grocery are also more efficient. Where a grocery store that size might require a room full of compressors traditionally, Clark’s Snowmass has only two.

Fresh cuts

Moving along the back wall, Clark’s will offer cuts of meat prepared on-site, as at its Aspen store. However, there also will be a staff person to make cuts on request.

Similarly, there will be sushi and sandwich stations that offer already-prepared items, or they can be made fresh. And there will be a bakery offering fresh goods such as breads and doughnuts.

The dairy section will be in the back left — where Sundance’s beer coolers were — complete with a refrigerated stockroom to hold extra items in busy periods.

Additionally, Clark’s will allow patrons to order dinners for pickup. And, once things start running smoothly, it will be able to deliver groceries, something Clark expects second-home owners, visitors and property managers to take advantage of.

Clark’s Snowmass will not sell beer or tobacco. However, it will partner with Sundance to offer food and beverage tastings and cookouts in the Snowmass Center parking lot.

“This is our new flagship store,” Clark said. “This is what we hope our stores are going to start looking like.”

He said he doesn’t want a cigarette stand being the first thing his customers see upon entering the store.

Warming up to the new guys?

When Clark’s Market won a bid for the grocery space over Village Market last fall, many Snowmass Village residents expressed outrage and disappointment. Clark said he was surprised at being treated like “an outsider.”

“I grew up here,” Clark said. “My picture’s on the Aspen High School wall. My dad started our company in Aspen 35 years ago, and then the fact that I live in Snowmass Village.”

Clark’s and Related Colorado, which owns the building, have held numerous community meetings to discuss the grocer’s plans and hear feedback from residents. At the end of every one of those meetings, Clark says he has had people come up to him and say that he’s addressed their concerns with the change.

One of those issues was over the destiny of the employees of Village Market. Village Market hired a lot of seasonal employees, and Clark’s only offers full-time employment. But most of the department heads are returning to work at the new grocery, he said.

Another problem for some residents was that Clark’s originally planned to extend into the hallway that runs across the front of the grocery and connects the post office to the heart of the center. There are also two office spaces along the hall.

“Sundance has been a part of the Snowmass Village community for almost 35 years and will continue to do what is best for the community,” said Sundance owners Barb and Steve Wickes in a comment on The Aspen Times’ website. “We just remodeled our store two years ago and had no intentions of moving. However, with the recent expansion plan of Clark’s Market, their store most likely would have moved into and across the hallway. We understood the value of the hallway due to numerous locals and second home owners informing us that the hallway needed to be preserved. And for many of the locals, this is their ‘Main Street’ in Snowmass Village.”

Clark’s Market opened an express store in Base Village in April and has mailed out 10 percent discount coupons to Snowmass Village residents. Clark’s Express, one of the ideas that Related Colorado President Dwayne Romero said made Clark’s stand out when bidding for the Snowmass Center lease, is staying open permanently and offers basic groceries and other necessities.

jbeathard@snowmasssun.com