News Summary

The Super Imperial Market is set to open in Syracuse’s Valley Plaza area, bringing fresh food access to a community previously identified as a food desert. Spearheaded by advocate Rhonda Vesey, this store follows the closure of the last grocery option in 2018. With a $2.1 million renovation and support from local initiatives, the store will offer a wide range of products and emphasize community engagement through local hiring and events.

Syracuse

A grocery store named Super Imperial Market is set to open in the Valley Plaza area of Syracuse, aimed at providing fresh food access to a community previously dubbed a food desert. The new store emerges as a product of dedicated advocacy spearheaded by Rhonda Vesey, following the closure of the last grocery store, Tops Friendly Markets, in 2018.

The establishment of Super Imperial Market involves a significant financial investment, with a $2.1 million renovation planned for the former Tops space. This initiative reflects an urgent response to years of declining business opportunities and growing issues of crime and poverty within the neighborhood.

Rhonda Vesey, founder of Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now (FAHNN), has played a critical role in the movement to restore fresh food access to the area. In addition to advocating for the new grocery store, FAHNN has organized local farmers markets since 2022. These markets have served as vital platforms to help mitigate the lack of fresh food availability in the Valley neighborhood.

Store Offerings and Community Engagement

The new grocery store is poised to cater to the community’s needs by providing an array of offerings, including fresh produce, meats, prepared hot foods, and essential grocery staples. In a bid to ensure that the store operates effectively, efforts are being made to maintain low theft rates, mirroring successful practices from other stores managed by Kaid in Buffalo. The store is also gearing up to tailor its product offerings to better reflect local tastes and needs.

Vesey has utilized her relationships with local officials and community groups to galvanize support for the grocery store project, which has received a substantial financial boost through a $1.7 million grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Food Access Expansion Grant Program. This financial assistance has been pivotal in bringing the grocery store project to fruition.

Community Initiatives and Future Plans

Community engagement is at the forefront of the plans for Super Imperial Market. Vesey and her team have committed to hiring local residents and addressing the specific needs of the neighborhood as a core part of their operational philosophy. To reinforce the connection with the community, a meeting will be held at McKinley-Brighton Elementary School on October 27, allowing residents to meet the store’s team and discuss their expectations.

In addition to the grocery store, there are ongoing efforts to enhance food access and community involvement through various initiatives, including a turkey giveaway event scheduled around Thanksgiving. The project is not only focused on immediate food access but also aims to contribute to the long-term sustainability and improvement of the neighborhood through ongoing community programming and the introduction of a “mini regional market.”

Historical Context

The opening of Super Imperial Market holds significance as it follows years of fluctuating food access in the Valley neighborhood, which has grappled with the absence of grocery options since the closure of Tops Friendly Markets. Rhonda Vesey’s grassroots campaign exemplifies the collaborative use of community resources and local governance in restoring critical services to neighborhoods that have experienced economic distress.

As the community awaits the store’s opening, the hope is that the Super Imperial Market will not only restore access to necessary food items but also invigorate the local economy and foster a renewed sense of community spirit among residents. The focus on low theft rates, local hiring practices, and community engagement represents a proactive approach to overcoming the challenges faced in this once vibrant area of Syracuse.

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Additional Resources

• Syracuse.com: Aunt Rhonda’s Grocery Store Initiative
• Syracuse.com: Amazon’s E-Commerce Expansion
• Syracuse.com: Amanda Coyle’s New Role
• Wikipedia: Food Desert
• Google Search: Community Engagement in Food Access

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