The Grocer set to open in South Memphis following $1M investment

The Grocer, a new grocery store in South Memphis, is slated for a soft opening by the end of March.
 
Located at the intersection of Mississippi and South Parkway, in a one-time fish market, the grocery grew from the South Memphis Farmers Market, a project of The Works, Inc., a community development corporation.
 
The market was implemented in 2010 by the South Memphis Revitalization Action Plan (SoMe RAP), and “intended as a short term, immediate solution to address some of the need for food security in the neighborhood that residents identified, and it’s just become huge,” said Curtis Thomas, deputy executive director of The Works.
 
SoMe RAP is a resident-led effort to transform South Memphis into one of the region's premier urban neighborhoods of choice by mobilizing local residents, institutions, and their allies to implement a comprehensive economic and community development strategy. Healthy living, including access to a wide selection of healthy foods, is a key component to the effort.
 
The retail side of the store is 2,000-sq. ft. and there is also a 1,200-sq. ft. test kitchen for demonstrations and classes, Thomas said, to “learn how to shop smarter, plan a menu to minimize food waste, maximize their food budget while at the same time cooking some of their favorite foods a little healthier.”
 
Funding was provided through a $350,000, gift from The Plough Foundation for renovation of the building, and a $788,000, Community Economic Development program grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for startup of the store.
 
The Grocer will serve a formerly underserved area of town. A bus stop in front of the store will get a customer to the Kroger on Union or in Southgate Shopping Center, but it will take 45 minutes with two stops, says Thomas.

Many of the vendors who regularly provide for the farmer’s market will do so now on an ongoing basis, six days a week. Dry goods such as flour, eggs, milk, cooking oil, cereals and meats will be available as well, and the original farmer’s market will continue during its season from May to November. Employees will be drawn from residents of the surrounding neighborhood. Store manager Devon Marzette has already been hired with more employees to be added down the road.