SitemapA community marketplace is planned for the former Bottom Dollar grocery store site at 2649 Glenwood Ave. that closed nearly nine years ago. Rose Carter, executive director of ACTION — Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods — said the plan is to expand the organization’s mobile market to the South Side location about three days a week and offer a location for others to sell food and items.
“ACTION’s been pushing for a brick-and-mortar grocery store since 2017, but we’ve been unable to get one to commit,” she said. “We’ve had pop-up markets and the mobile grocery store and we’re going to be expanding and creating a community marketplace.”
The marketplace would probably open in the latter part of 2024, Carter said. The mobile market, which started in May 2022, is a van that brings grocery store items to those throughout the city. The community marketplace effort is a collaboration between the city, local businesses, nonprofits and others and is “aimed at nurturing a sense of belonging, fostering community engagement and ensuring access to essential resources for all,” she said. Carter added: “This space will not only provide immediate relief but also serve as a catalyst for long-term positive change.”
Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th Ward, who represents where the property is located, said: “It’s an answer to our discussions of our area being a food desert. This is a starting point. It will be a food market and will address our needs for a grocery store.” Davis said she plans to give a portion of her ward’s $2 million American Rescue Plan allocation to help the marketplace. “I’m prepared to help make this a reality,” she said.
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