City Run Grocery Store

There’s been some tossing around in the last year of having a grocery store run by the City of Eureka. In broad strokes, would you support a city run grocery store? Why or why not?

In broad strokes, I support the underlying goal: ensuring access to fresh and affordable food.

Baldwin, FL opened a city-run grocery store in 2019 after losing its only grocery store in 2018. I find it fascinating that a city had the motivation and support to embark on such an endeavor to provide for its residents — filling in an otherwise unfulfilled need/service. Baldwin Market closed in 2024, however, as residents couldn’t afford the prices since the city was unable to secure the bulk pricing of larger grocery companies.

Rather than look to the city to assume the full responsibility, I would be inclined to support a public-private partnership similar to what is currently proving successful in Atlanta, GA with Azalea Fresh Market.

What I see in our city is less an access issue (ENF, Co-Op, Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Target and Wal-Mart, and various neighborhood markets) and more an affordability issue. Imagine if we could coordinate a similar model as Azalea Fresh Market with our local farms through our various economic development commissions and local governments — affordable, local, fresh foods.