Tag Archives: Fresh Grocer

Temple student robbed in Progress Plaza parking lot

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UPDATE: Per a TU Alert issued around 9:50 p.m. Friday, Philadelphia police had arrested three females in connection with the robberies.

Temple and Philadelphia police searched this evening for two suspects in connection with the robbery of a female Temple student around 4 p.m. today in the parking lot of Progress Plaza on the corner of Broad and Oxford streets.

Charlie Leone, executive director of Campus Safety Services, said in an email that the two suspects, armed with a box cutter, approached the student and fled with her bag, which contained an iPad and $300. The student was not injured.

The entire incident happened in about 15 seconds and was captured by security cameras, Leone said. Temple Police have reviewed the footage and confirmed that the suspects were the same people from yesterday’s attempted robberies, he said.

Around 4 p.m. yesterday, a female described by police as around 18 years old and 5 feet 3 inches tall struggled for a bag with a female around 20-24 years old before slicing her arm and forehead with a box cutter.

The attempted robbery occurred in the 1400 block of Diamond Street and was followed by another on the 1500 block of North Broad Street. The victim from the Diamond Street incident, who is not affiliated with Temple, was sent to Hahnemann University Hospital and was not seriously injured.

Leone said the suspects in both Thursday and Friday’s incidents drove a 2005 white Buick LaCrosse with a sunroof and the license plate number JRH-9730.

According to a TU Alert which was sent out about today’s incident shortly before 4:30 p.m., the suspects fled west on Oxford Street in that car.

After today’s robbery, Temple Police sent a description of the suspects and their vehicle city-wide through the Philadelphia Police communication center, Leone said. Temple and Philadelphia police are currently collaborating to arrest the suspects.

Bystanders in the area said they were not aware of the robbery.

A security guard at Fresh Grocer who wished to remain anonymous also said he was unaware of the robbery.

“If there’s two armed robberies in the area, I don’t understand why it’s not on the news, or why there isn’t more security around here,” he said.

Lian Parsons can be reached at lian.parsons@temple.edu or on Twitter @LIan_Parsons.

Grow your own food

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Apparently someone thinks you should grow your own food.

On the side of the Fresh Grocer on Broad and Oxford Streets, one of the store’s trucks was defaced with the words “Grow your own food.”

The Fresh Grocer has become a popular stop for students since its opening almost a year ago. While it is the nearest grocery store for students to shop in, many have made complaints that its prices are too high.

What do you think about the Fresh Grocer? Is it worth the money, or should students find an alternative?

Finally some progress at Progress Plaza

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Progress Plaza, at long last, appears to be living up to its name.

The plaza, constructed in 1968 and located at Broad and Oxford streets, has seen many changes over the past decade, but perhaps the most anticipated change will be the addition of a much-needed supermarket.  Construction has begun on The Fresh Grocer, which will help satisfy the needs of many North Philadelphia residents, including Temple students.

A sign posted on the chain link fence surrounding the construction site reads that the building will open in January 2010.

Hopefully, you haven’t graduated by that time.

For more information on the project, visit www.progressplaza.com.